Two new essays—Towards a More Productive and United Canada: The Case for Liberalizing Interprovincial Trade by Trevor Tombe, associate professor of economics at the University of Calgary, and Barriers to Entry and Productivity Growth by Vincent Geloso, assistant professor of economics at King's University College—spotlight barriers to trade and competition, which can frustrate economic productivity and the possibility of a four-day work week.

The Issues Facing Canada’s Employment Insurance Program is a new study that finds the current design of Canada’s employment insurance program creates regional disparities, distorts labour markets, provides inadequate coverage for part-time workers and the self-employed, and will impose a financial burden on Canadians.

Extended Employment Insurance Now Open to All: Atlantic Canada’s Warning for Other Provinces finds that as unemployment rates increase and Canada’s employment insurance (EI) program automatically becomes more generous and accessible, many more people are now qualifying for much more generous benefits. This will add to Ottawa’s financial pressures and also risks increasing long-term unemployment, as was experienced in Atlantic Canada.