Review of Strength in Adversity: A Study of the Alberta Economy” by Robert L. Mansell and Michael B. Percy

This review of Alberta\u27s economic fortunes in the early and mid-1980s by two of Alberta\u27s best academic economists will interest economists concerned either with western Canada in particular or with the problems of non-very- diversified regional economies in general. The book\u27s first two substantive chapters consist of a data-laden review of Alberta\u27s protracted economic downturn in the early 1980s and its recovery following 1985. Using simulations with a computer model of the Alberta economy, the authors find that the provincial economy\u27s performance was worse in the early 19808 and better in the middle 1980s than it would have been had natural factors alone, such as changes in resource prices and economic activity in customer markets, been the sole influences on output. The main non-natural influences were government policies and Mansell and Percy find that these made matters worse in the early 19808 and better after 1985