Consulting

Approach

Robin's economic research and insights spell out the need for policy reform, put forward innovative policy solutions, and project the socio-economic impacts of policy change.

Need

Robin's research quantifies the magnitude and consequences of the policy problem, helping to raise awareness and motivate action to fix the issue.

Get in Touch

Solutions

Brining together subject-matter expertise with advanced economic modeling techniques, Robin designs policy alternatives that work better.

Impact

Leveraging Deetken Insight's deep catalogue of economic impact models, Robin calculates the economic and social impacts of policy solutions.

Case Studies

Innovation Science and Economic Development

Study of Competition Issues in Data-Driven Markets in Canada

ISED engaged me and co-authors Vass Bednar and Ana Qarri to examine whether the Competition Act and other policies that advance competition were fit-for-purpose for Canada's modern, data-driven markets. We took a case-study approach, examining specific, data-enabled business strategies to test whether the Act could address the competition issues they created. Canada's Competition Act had not been comprehensively reviewed in over two decades. This report helped instigate the government's recent comprehensive review of the Act, which brought substantial changes to the legislation.

British Columbia Expert Panel on a Basic Income

Covering All the Basics: Reforms for a more Just Society

To investigate whether the province should implement a basic income, the BC government struck the British Columbia Expert Panel on Basic Income. As a contributor to the Panel's study, I developed a model that simulated the cost, impact, and efficiency of over 1,640 versions of a basic income. These simulation results formed the core of the report and shaped the final recommendations. This study was instrumental in guiding decisions by leaders in the BC government, and policy development across Canada with respect to a basic income.

"Robin Shaban–possibly the most knowledgeable person about how to use the SPSD/M model in Canada. They created masses of simulations for us in short order, with good advice and good humour thrown in."

- Acknowledgements, Final Report on the Expert Panel on Basic Income

Ottawa Coalition for a People's Budget

Alternative Municipal Budget 2021

As Senior Economist at Vivic Research, I and the team coordinated and calculated an alternative budget for Ottawa. To put this budget together, we consulted deeply with 18 different community organizations, bringing together and reconciling their policy asks into a cohesive and balanced budget. To fund their progressive reforms, we modeled many new municipal taxes that the city could reasonably implement given limitations imposed by legislation. This document was a keystone to the coalition's advocacy efforts, helping to draw important media attention.