In the 1980s, I was listening to a news broadcast that contained 3 stories of note:

• national economy is doing fine
• Saskatchewan provincial economy is doing great
• Saskatoon gets its first food bank

From that, I concluded that there are two economies that are either completely separate or only very loosely connected: the lived economy of the vast majority of the workforce and the financial economy of trading in stocks, commodities, and financial instruments.

Over the next few years, it became obvious to me that reporters, journalists, politicians, pundits, think tanks, and business groups care only for the economy of the financial sector. I've seen nothing since to make me change my mind.

How politicians view the economy: Yup, my stocks are up.

How regular people view the economy: Can I find a job, pay for rent, or afford a home? Can I pay for groceries and bills?

There’s a huge disconnect between how people try to grow the economy, and how the economy works for the people.