Jean-François Wen

Jean-François Wen is a Professor of Economics and a Research Fellow at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. He has published articles in leading journals on the effects of taxation and social insurance programs on economic performance and income inequality. He is a co-author of the textbook Public Finance in Canada and has served as a consultant for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund concerning policy reforms in various countries. Most recently, he co-authored a report on tax reform in Gabon that served as the basis of a workshop with government officials and privatesector representatives held last year in Libreville.

Professor Wen was previously a faculty member of the School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and an economist at the Bank of Canada. He has a Ph.D. from Queens University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Recent Research by Jean-François Wen

The Impact of Higher Interest Rates on the Cost of Servicing Government Debt

— Feb 24, 2016

The Impact of Higher Interest Rates on the Cost of Servicing Government Debt spotlights the interest rate risks faced by governments across the country using Ontario and Quebec—Canada’s two largest and most indebted provinces—as examples. It finds that a higher than expected rise in interest rates could jeopardize provincial government promises of balanced budgets and surpluses.

Ontario’s Debt Balloon: Source and Sustainability

— Feb 4, 2015

Ontario’s Debt Balloon: Source and Sustainability calculates that Ontario’s government debt has grown by $117 billion since the 2008/09 recession. The study also examines the source of the new debt and finds that 66 per cent of it is directly attributable to government borrowing to fund day-to-day expenses— not investments in infrastructure.

Capital Budgeting and Fiscal Sustainability in British Columbia

— Jun 3, 2014

In 2014/15, the BC government expects a surplus of $384 million in its operating budget ($184 million after accounting for the forecast allowance). Despite this surplus, provincial debt will grow by $1.9 billion.

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Recent Commentaries & Blog Posts

Ontario debt gouges tomorrow’s taxpayers for today’s spending

Jean-François Wen, Charles Lammam

Appeared in the National Post

Many Ontarians have likely heard a horror story or two about their government’s growing debt and the resulting strain on public finances. You can’t blame them. Sources of evidence abound.

More to BC’s government finances than meets the eye

Jean-François Wen

Appeared in The Province

Finance minister Mike de Jong recently issued a flurry of press releases touting the high credit rating of the BC government by various rating agencies. In one release he said: “The judgment of the rating agencies is an objective confirmation that by balancing our budget and keeping our debt affordable for British Columbians, our finances are on the right track.” Statements like these can mislead British Columbians about the actual state of BC’s finances, which may not be as rosy as the minister lets on.

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Jean-François Wen

Recent Research by Jean-François Wen