Eichenbaum, Alexopoulos, Kronick – Economists must convince the public that productivity isn’t just a number
Published in The Globe and Mail.
Since 1985, U.S. labour productivity has grown by roughly 100 per cent. In sharp contrast, labour productivity in Canada grew by only 40 per cent. Canadian workers are now only 70 per cent as productive as U.S. workers. And we’re not just falling behind the U.S. – the growth rate of our productivity is well below that of the U.K., Germany and France.
Economists have long been aware of our productivity malaise, but we need a broader audience. Public support can help solve the problem, and this requires showing Canadians how productivity gains improve their lives.
To see the benefits of higher productivity, consider the following example: Suppose a firm with 100 workers produces 100…
Oreopoulos, Skuterud – It’s Time to Relearn Some Basic Immigration Lessons
From: Philip Oreopoulos and Mikal Skuterud To: Immigration Watchers Date: July 15, 2024 Re: It’s Time to Relearn Some Basic Immigration Lessons At the crux of economic immigration policy is the question of whether immigrant selection should prioritize current labour market needs or the human capital of applicants. Does Canada need more farmhands and delivery riders, or do we […] Lewis, Dupuy – We must not let nostalgia cloud our vision for Ontario’s economic future
Published in TVO.
Despite bold promises and billions of dollars of support, Ontario manufacturing jobs remain around the same level as when Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives came to power. The province needs to move past the nostalgic view of the manufacturing sector and instead focus on an economy based on innovation and advanced technologies so it can thrive in an ever-changing global economy.
Manufacturing jobs hold a special place in Ontario’s economic, social, and political mindset because of the historical role the sector has played in driving growth, jobs, and prosperity. The sector has provided jobs across the province since the early days of industrialization in the 19th century, offering opportunities for…
Tingting Zhang – Five Ways to Address our Family Physician Shortage
From: Tingting Zhang To: Canadian Healthcare Observers Date: July 2, 2024 Re: Five Ways to Address our Family Physician Shortage Canadians are in a primary-care paradox. About 14 percent of Canadians aged 12 and older – approximately 4.6 million people – did not have a regular health-care provider in 2022, according to Statistics Canada. Even more alarming, about 6.6 million Canadians […] Mary Catharine Lennon – Signaling Quality in Labour Market Training
From: Mary Catharine Lennon To: Competition law observers Date: June 25, 2024 Re: Signaling Quality in Labour Market Training A highly skilled workforce is critical for driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and ensuring the overall success of the Canadian economy. Governments support this through investments in colleges and universities, skilled immigration programs, and support for training programs. Meanwhile, employability is […] Henry Lotin – Ottawa has No Process to Determine Skills for Half all Migrants
From: Henry Lotin To: Canada’s Immigration Watchers Date: June 3, 2024 Re: Ottawa has No Process to Determine Skills for Half all Migrants Federal officials do not collect complete skills data for about half of our permanent resident and temporary visa arrivals. Without accurate information on new arrivals’ skills, we cannot effectively gauge whether they are matched with employment […] Human Capital Policy Council
Canada’s human capital challenges are receiving increasing attention from policymakers, businesses and the general public. Education, skills development, immigration, advancing technology, income support and the functioning of the labour market are shaping economic growth and the prosperity of Canadians. Further, whatever success Canada has enjoyed in terms of generating opportunities overall, our economy would benefit from […] Tingting Zhang – Watch Out How Many STEM Workers We Are Admitting
To: Immigration policymakers From: Tingting Zhang Date: April 9, 2024 Re: Watch out how many STEM workers we are admitting The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce plays a crucial role in Canada’s economy, vital for innovation, technological development, automation, infrastructure, and a green economy. And rising demand means Canada has experienced a STEM skill shortage. […] Godbout, Samoisette – Maximiser le bon d’études canadien en l’offrant à tous les enfants de familles à revenu modeste
De: Luc Godbout et Luce Samoisette À: Chrystia Freeland, ministre des Finances et Marie-Claude Bibeau, ministre du Revenu national Date: 19 mars 2024 Sujet: Maximiser le bon d’études canadien en l’offrant à tous les enfants de familles à revenu modeste Il y a 20 ans, le budget fédéral annonçait une nouveauté afin de favoriser l’accès […] Godbout, Samoisette – On Its Anniversary, Has the Goal of the Canada Learning Bond Been Achieved?
From: Luc Godbout and Luce Samoisette To: Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance and Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue Date: March 19, 2024 Subject: On Its Anniversary, Has the Goal of the Canada Learning Bond Been Achieved? Twenty years ago, the federal government launched an initiative to promote post-secondary access for children from low-income families with a Canada Learning Bond […] Evaluating Wage Equality and Women’s Representation
A significant amount of research investigates gender wage gaps, and there are several hypotheses to explain their persistence, including glass ceilings or sticky floors. A glass ceiling exists when the pay gap is significantly larger at the top of the earnings distribution, while a sticky floor is when the wage gap is larger at the […] Tammy Schirle – Are Jobs Becoming a Little Less ‘Greedy’?
From: Tammy Schirle To: Canadians and policymakers concerned about gender equity Date: March 8, 2024 Re: Are Jobs Becoming a Little Less ‘Greedy’? Claudia Goldin, the most recent winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, has suggested a large part of the remaining gender gaps we see in the labour market are really driven by […]