Faculty Publications

Post-Staple Bust: Modeling Economic Effects Of Mine Closures And Post-Mine Demographic Shifts In An Arctic Economy (Yukon)

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Polar Geography

Volume

33

Issue

1-2

First Page

39

Last Page

61

Abstract

This study uses input-output (IO) and demo economic modeling in order to simulate direct, indirect, and induced effects of mass mine closures and subsequent population change in Yukon during the cyclical economic crisis of the late 1990s. The goal is to further the knowledge of the anatomy of resource downturn and, more importantly, its extended implications in an arctic economy. Contrary to the stylized representations, the paper argues that Yukon's economy is particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in population number and structure, in addition to the resource sector itself. Specifically, the major impact of a resource downturn on regional economy is found in induced effects related to demographic shifts (aging and depopulation) in the household sector followed by changes in consumption. This article demonstrates that high-tech and high-salary industries, and services (most favorable for the future of the region) suffer the most from population loss and aging. To trace these impacts the study utilizes several variants of single-region IO models, including extended demo economic IO model known as the Batey-Madden or Type IV framework. In our formulation, this model emphasizes age-specific consumption and is designed to track induced changes in sectoral gross outputs resulting from income and demographic shifts. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Department

Department of Geography

Original Publication Date

3-1-2010

DOI of published version

10.1080/1088937X.2010.494850

Link to Full Text

Comments?

Share

COinS