Equalization payments are discouraging at least two provinces—Nova Scotia and New Brunswick—from developing their natural resources and generating prosperity for their residents, finds a new study by Ben Eisen and Mark Milke. The study, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Equalization Policy Crutch finds that on a wide range of economic measures, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick perform poorly compared to most other provinces.

Alberta has the highest level of economic freedom among all Canadian provinces and U.S. and Mexican states, finds a new study by Dean Stansel, José Torra, and Fred McMahon. This study, Economic Freedom of North America 2014, ranks jurisdictions based on their levels of economic freedom (measured in size of government, taxation, regulation, rule of law, etc.) using data from 2012, the most recent year of available data. It spotlights the 50 U.S. states, 32 Mexican states and 10 Canadian provinces.

On the strength of its petroleum reserves, Alberta remains the most attractive province for oil and gas investment in Canada, finds the Fraser Institute’s annual Global Petroleum Survey. Based on responses from petroleum executives and managers, this year’s survey ranks 156 jurisdictions worldwide on their relative attractiveness for investment.