| Fraser Institute

“New” industrial policies unlikely to succeed for same reasons that previous industrial policies failed—government lacks proper incentives and information to allocate resources efficiently

Industrial Policy as Zombie Economics is a new study that finds the “new” industrial policy model of increased partnerships between government and private sector, which is being pursued across developed countries, is likely to fail just as previous industrial policies failed. In particular, capital markets—and not government—are best positioned and incentivized to determine how financial capital and other productive inputs should be allocated in order to promote real economic growth and higher standards of living.

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96% of television news coverage of Ottawa’s child care, dental care and pharma care programs failed to report on costs

Media Coverage of Federal Spending Announcements on Child Care, Pharma Care, and Dental Care a content analysis of CTV and CBC television news coverage from 2021 to 2024, finds that of all the coverage that focused on the three new government programs, just 4.1 per cent of CTV coverage, and just 3.7 per cent of CBC television coverage reported the specific costs of the programs.

The Weakness of Corporate Investment in Canada, 2001-2021: Identification and Assessment finds that business investment in high-tech and innovative asset categories—crucial to raising living standards—has been significantly weaker in Canada than in the U.S. for the past 20 years, and the gap has grown larger since 2014.

Economic Freedom: What Is It? How Is It Measured? And How Does It Affect Our Lives? finds that higher levels of economic freedom lead to much higher incomes and much better health.

Understanding the Scale of Canada’s Federal Deficit finds that continuous annual borrowing by Ottawa to finance increased spending has driven federal total debt up to an expected 69.8 per cent of the economy or $2.1 trillion in 2024/25—and analyzes how in debt Canadian families would be if they spent and borrowed the same way.

A Transformational Tax Policy for Atlantic Canada: Corporate Income Tax Relief is a new study that finds reducing the corporate income tax (CIT) rate in all four Atlantic provinces to eight per cent—which would match the current lowest rate in Alberta—would result in large economic benefits, including economic growth and higher wages.

British Columbia’s Descent into Debt finds that the B.C. provincial government continues with its current fiscal plans, it will become the third-most indebted province in the country by 2029/30.

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“New” industrial policies unlikely to succeed for same reasons that previous industrial policies failed—government lacks proper incentives and information to allocate resources efficiently

“New” industrial policies unlikely to succeed for same reasons that previous industrial policies failed—government lacks proper incentives and information to allocate resources efficiently

96% of television news coverage of Ottawa’s child care, dental care and pharma care programs failed to report on costs

96% of television news coverage of Ottawa’s child care, dental care and pharma care programs failed to report on costs

Business investment in key sectors linked with higher livings standards significantly weaker in Canada than in U.S. for decades

Business investment in key sectors linked with higher livings standards significantly weaker in Canada than in U.S. for decades

People living in the most economically-free countries earn 7 times more money, live 16 years longer, than in the least-free countries

People living in the most economically-free countries earn 7 times more money, live 16 years longer, than in the least-free countries

If Canadian families spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would be $427,759 in debt

If Canadian families spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would be $427,759 in debt

Reducing business tax rate to 8% across Atlantic provinces would benefit workers; encourage growth and competitiveness in region

Reducing business tax rate to 8% across Atlantic provinces would benefit workers; encourage growth and competitiveness in region

British Columbia on track to be Canada’s third-most indebted province by 2029/30

British Columbia on track to be Canada’s third-most indebted province by 2029/30

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“New” industrial policies unlikely to succeed for same reasons that previous industrial policies failed—government lacks proper incentives and information to allocate resources efficiently

“New” industrial policies unlikely to succeed for same reasons that previous industrial policies failed—government lacks proper incentives and information to allocate resources efficiently

96% of television news coverage of Ottawa’s child care, dental care and pharma care programs failed to report on costs

96% of television news coverage of Ottawa’s child care, dental care and pharma care programs failed to report on costs

Business investment in key sectors linked with higher livings standards significantly weaker in Canada than in U.S. for decades

Business investment in key sectors linked with higher livings standards significantly weaker in Canada than in U.S. for decades

People living in the most economically-free countries earn 7 times more money, live 16 years longer, than in the least-free countries

People living in the most economically-free countries earn 7 times more money, live 16 years longer, than in the least-free countries

If Canadian families spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would be $427,759 in debt

If Canadian families spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would be $427,759 in debt

Reducing business tax rate to 8% across Atlantic provinces would benefit workers; encourage growth and competitiveness in region

Reducing business tax rate to 8% across Atlantic provinces would benefit workers; encourage growth and competitiveness in region

British Columbia on track to be Canada’s third-most indebted province by 2029/30

British Columbia on track to be Canada’s third-most indebted province by 2029/30