Sean Speer

Recent Research by Sean Speer

— Sep 25, 2014
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Quebec’s Tax Competitiveness: A Barrier to Prosperity

As the Quebec government orders a review of the province’s tax system, Quebecers continue to pay some of the highest taxes in North America, finds a new study by Sean Speer, Milagros Palacios, and Feixue Ren. The study, Quebec’s Tax Competitiveness: A Barrier to Prosperity, compares Quebec’s tax rates (personal, corporate, payroll) to other Canadian provinces and American states in 2014, and examines the effect on Quebec’s economic performance over the past 10 years.

— Aug 18, 2014
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The Cost of Government Debt in Canada

Interest payments on government debt in Canada consume a sizeable share of government revenue, leaving less money for public priorities such as schools, hospitals, highways and lower taxes, finds a new study by Sean Speer, Charles Lammam, Milagros Palacios, Hugh MacIntyre, and Feixue Ren. The study, The Cost of Government Debt in Canada, spotlights the growth of government debt in Canada since the 2008/09 recession, and the cost of interest payments on government debt.

— Apr 30, 2014
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Costs of Complying with Personal Income Taxes in Canada

This study builds on previous Fraser Institute research estimating the total compliance costs associated with Canada's tax system. It aims to estimate the cost of complying with the personal income tax system in 2012. It updates past estimates for the average amount of time and financial resources that Canadians spend to comply with the system, and then calculates aggregate compliance costs in Canada.