Study
| EST. READ TIME 1 MIN.Canada had the third-lowest growth in per person GDP among 30 advanced economies between 2014 and 2022
We're Getting Poorer: GDP per Capita in Canada and the OECD, 2002-2060
- This research bulletin examines historical and projected trends in the growth of Canada's GDP per capita, and compares these trends to those in peer countries in the OECD.
- Canadians have been getting poorer relative to residents of other countries in the OECD. From 2002 to 2014, Canadian income growth as measured by GDP per capita roughly kept pace with the rest of the OECD. From 2014 to 2022, however, Canada's position declined sharply, ranking third-lowest among 30 countries for average growth over the period.
- Between 2012 and 2022, Canada lost ground compared to key allies and trading partners such as the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, with Canadian GDP per capita declining from 80.4% of the US level in 2012 to 72.3% in 2022.
- Looking forward to 2060, Canada's projected average annual growth rate for GDP per capita (0.78%) is the lowest among 30 OECD countries.
- Canada's GDP per capita (after adjusting by inflation), which exceeded the OECD average by US$3,141 in 2002 and was roughly equivalent to the OECD average in 2022, is projected to fall below the OECD average by US$8,617 in 2060.
- The root cause of Canada's declining long-term growth in GDP per capita—recent and projected—is very low or negative growth in labour productivity reflecting weak investment in physical and human capital per worker.
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Alex Whalen
Director, Atlantic Canada Prosperity, Fraser Institute
Alex Whalen is Director, Atlantic Canada Prosperity with the Fraser Institute and coordinator of the activities of the Atlantic Canada division.Prior to joining the Institute, Alex was Vice-President of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), which merged with the Fraser Institute in 2019. He is a graduate of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, and the School of Business at the University of Prince Edward Island. He brings prior experience as an entrepreneur and business manager to his work at the Institute. His writing has appeared widely in newspapers including the Globe and Mail, National Post, Chronicle Herald, Telegraph Journal, Calgary Herald, and others.… Read more Read Less… -
Milagros Palacios
Director, Addington Centre for Measurement, Fraser Institute
Milagros Palacios is the Director for the Addington Centre for Measurement at the Fraser Institute. She holds a B.S. in IndustrialEngineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Concepcion, Chile. Ms. Palacios has studied public policy involving taxation, government finances, investment, productivity, labour markets, and charitable giving, for nearly 10 years. Since joining the Institute, Ms. Palacios has authored or coauthored over 70 comprehensive research studies, 70 commentaries and four books. Her recent commentaries have appeared in major Canadian newspapers such as the National Post, Toronto Sun, Windsor Star, and Vancouver Sun.… Read more Read Less… -
Lawrence Schembri
Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
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