Decapitalization: Weak Business Investment Threatens Canadian Prosperity
Recent high inflation shows starkly that the Canadian economy’s ability to produce goods and services is not keeping up with surging nominal spending. One key suspect in the economy’s disappointing ability to produce is a declining stock of business capital per available worker – that is, member of the labour force. Business investment in […] Steve Ambler – Calling a Recession: A US Game with Fluid Rules
From: Steve Ambler To: Canadians Concerned about Recession Date: August 8, 2022 Re: Calling a Recession: A US Game with Fluid Rules The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) published its first estimate of second-quarter GDP on July 28, minus 0.9 percent on an annualized basis (a 0.23 percent drop quarter-over-quarter). The US has now […] Winner-take-all hasn’t hit retail yet – Financial Post Op-Ed
The retail trade data for February, released Friday, show a continuing rebound in in-person shopping relative to the online variety, as people-to-people interactions emerged from restrictions imposed during the pandemic.
Retail e-commerce — which includes when goods purchased online are subsequently picked up in a store — was a lifeline for Canadian businesses in 2020. But in-store shopping has come back with a vengeance. Despite the emergence of high-profile online suppliers, fierce competition remains the order of the day in retail.
Since peaking at 10 per cent of total sales by Canadian retailers in the first days of the pandemic, e-commerce’s share of retail sales has fallen sharply — to just over five…
Sylvain Charlebois – Canada’s Dairy Machinery Strikes Again
To: Canadians Worried About Inflation From: Sylvain Charlebois Date: February 3, 2022 Re: Canada’s Dairy Machinery Strikes Again The Canadian Dairy Commission’s record-breaking price increases for milk and butter took effect this week, granting dairy farmers 8.4 percent more for their milk, and more than 12 percent for butter. It is the highest increase since the commission […] Daniel Schwanen – Tackling Canada’s Commercialization Deficit
To: Ontario Ministers in Charge of Innovation Policy From: Daniel Schwanen Date: January 18, 2022 Re: Tackling Canada’s Commercialization Deficit In a previous memo, I illustrated Canada’s unique position as a world leader generating and exporting research and development, while at the same time being a net importer of intellectual property (IP). The issue has […] Daniel Schwanen – Canada’s Commercialization Deficit
To: Ontario ministers in charge of innovation policy From: Daniel Schwanen Date: December 17, 2021 Re: Canada’s Commercialization Deficit There is an extensive, almost century-old, body of literature on Canada’s struggles with innovation and related systems. The constant thread is that there is no lack of good Canadian ideas, research, or access to intellectual property […] There’s a more practical way to regulate Big Tech – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
As the refreshed Trudeau minority government pushes forward with what we presume will be revised versions of Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault’s controversial bills C-10 and C-36, we suggest it pause, breathe and consider a more poised approach.
The problems with online harms legislation (C-36) are being revealed through the responses of numerous civil and human-rights organizations. The issues connected to C-10 are more firmly embedded within the public memory because of the controversy that ensued last spring when Mr. Guilbeault sought to grant the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) authority over the internet, including personal social-media posts. Its stated intent, while lacking in…
Will there ever be another NHL franchise in Canada? The economics suggest not – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
A new NHL season has arrived – notably with the addition of the Seattle Kraken as the league’s 32nd franchise. The emergence of another American team in a league that only has seven Canadian ones, however, begs the question: What would it take for Canada to secure another NHL franchise? Will it ever happen? The answer requires examining the prospect of financial success.
A first core factor is market size and consumer demand. Having a large enough population with a passion for the sport is key to ensuring that there are not only enough viewers at home to satisfy TV advertisers, but that home arena seats can be filled every game night. Attending a professional sports event is expensive, so relatively high income levels are…
Daniel Schwanen – Reform of the Competition Act
From: Daniel Schwanen To: The Incoming Canadian Parliament Date: October 8, 2021 Re: Reform of the Competition Act Parliament will be considering, in due course, reforms to Canada’s Competition Act to modernize it for the digital age. This is welcome, as long as it does not create greater barriers to investment and innovation in digital […] Parisa Mahboubi – COVID Benefits are Ending. Will Workers Return?
From: Parisa Mahboubi To: Canadian labour force observers Date: October 4, 2021 Re: COVID Benefits are Ending. Will Workers Return? Canada’s COVID-related economic recovery measures are set to end soon. What are the likely outcomes and what are the potential steps the federal government can take to soften the blow? In the early days of the pandemic, the […] Matt Malone – Non-competes Are Holding Canada Back – So Let’s Ban Them
From: Matt Malone To: Canadians Concerned about employment law Date: September 22, 2021 Re: Non-competes are holding Canada back – so let’s ban them Canadian political leaders often talk about unleashing innovation. California did it with just 24 words. “Every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is […] John Lester – Canada’s Support For R&d Is Unbalanced. A Patent Box Would Help.
To: Canadians concerned about innovation From: John Lester Date: September 16, 2021 Re: Canada’s Support for R&D is Unbalanced. A Patent Box Would Help. Election platforms for both major parties contain pledges to reform Canada’s support system for research and development. That is good news, because there is much to improve. Canada provides too much R&D support to […]