Larry Smith (economics)
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Larry Smith is a professor of economics at the University of Waterloo. Throughout his several decades of teaching at the University, he has taught both introductory microeconomics, macroeconomics and entrepreneurship courses.
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[edit] Network of contacts
Throughout the several decades that he has taught and met with students to discuss topics (from economic theory to career related decisions), Smith has built up a network of dedicated individuals who report back to him on a regular basis regarding the economics of a particular country or industry that they are in. This network, according to Smith, is now international and spanning several industries. He receives regular e-mails from his "spies" updating him on the economic and social activities that occur in a nation, as well as other lesser known economic information. Throughout many of his lectures he mentions stories about his "spies", and some of the information that they told him in the past.[citation needed] He is funny too.
[edit] Advisor to University of Waterloo start-ups
Smith has also advised several of his former students as far as how to start-up a business, position the business and in general has given business advice to these start-ups. His advice is received by most as generally helpful in the business they are starting up, and has been used in the past to create powerful start-ups. The most famous of these start-ups is Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry. In addition, he has also been known to sit on advisory boards of start-ups during the financing stage (venture or angel funding), giving businesses advice on how to get the financing and also negotiating with businesses and investors so that a suitable agreement can be made on the side of financing a start-up.
[edit] Consulting business
Smith is also part of an economics consulting business called Essential Economics Inc. This business throughout the years has provided market research to companies and government organizations. Some of those reports are released publicly and can be found on the internet.
