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1. Sensational headlines about economic growth breed complacency

   Appeared in the Financial Post, September 7, 2017 Given the sensational media headlines hyping Canada’s recent economic growth, it’s hard to blame Canadians for being complacent. “Canada's economy steamrolls ahead—4.5% annualized rate of expansion” ...

2. The market already rewards risk-taking—taxes don’t have to

   For most of my working life I’ve been a tenured university professor, which means I can’t be fired except for cause. In theory, the powers-that-be could shut down my department or, for that matter, my university. But both events are ...

3. Case for corporate tax cuts in Ontario strong—whether or not Trump makes the first move

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, May 24, 2017 According to Brad Duguid, Ontario’s minister of economic development, the Wynne government is keeping a close watch on President Trump’s proposed cut to the U.S. corporate income tax rate. Duguid suggested his ...

4. Morneau wrong about Canada’s economy and competitiveness

   Appeared in the Financial Post, April 13, 2017 Canada’s anemic economic growth should be of the upmost concern to Canadian policymakers. In 2016, the economy had one of its most difficult years, with growth at a mere 1.3 per cent. Looking forward, it ...

5. Innovators needed for an innovative Canada

   Appeared in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, March 29, 2017 One of the pillars of the federal government’s laudable focus on improving the economy, particularly for middle-class Canadians, is an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Indeed, it ...

6. To kill economic growth, hike the capital gain tax

   Appeared in the Financial Post, February 28, 2017 As the Liberal government finalizes its 2017 budget, there are increasing rumours that it may increase capital gains taxes. For a government squarely committed to improving economic growth and fostering ...

7. Upper-earners in Canada already pay a disproportionate share of taxes

   Fresh off his Christmas vacation on a private island in the Bahamas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embarked on a cross country tour, signalling that there may be further tax hikes on “wealthy” Canadians in the upcoming federal budget. In ...

8. The Joy of bourgeois virtues

   On a long plane ride back from Europe recently, I watched the film Joy. It stars Jennifer Lawrence as a housewife and mother with a penchant for inventing things and follows the story of her attempt to bring a self-wringing mop to market ...

9. Canada’s uncompetitive personal income taxes deserve more attention

   Conservative leadership hopeful Maxime Bernier today proposed a major plan to reform federal personal income taxes. It’s positive to see this issue appear on the policy agenda. Canada’s uncompetitive personal income tax system is too ...

10. Baumol’s ‘cost disease’ applies to labour-intensive industries

    William Baumol will not likely win the Nobel Prize in Economics next month (the award will be announced Monday, Oct. 10). That’s a shame. Bill, all of 94, has written 40 books, seven while he was over 80, together with some 500 articles. ...