Archive for the ‘Debates’ Category
« Older Entries | Newer Entries »
The new arch capitalist is … your grandma
… capitalists aren’t who they use to be. Because more people are able to earn wages that allow workers to save for their retirement, the median pure capitalist — that is, someone who does not work and who derives her income from her asset holdings — is now a retiree, not a plutocrat. Plutocrats still exist, but any policy designed to suppress investment income is going to generate significant collateral damage among the elderly.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, tax
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Greed is not the only driver of economic growth
“… social entrepreneurs… confront the societal structures that leave too many behind, roll up their sleeves and set about the hard, exhilarating and important work of transforming what is into what can and should be.” Getting Beyond Better is not a how-to guide for young visionaries seeking to launch and sustain socially responsible businesses. Most of them learn by doing, help each other and rely on their energy, ingenuity and determination to prove a double bottom line — doing well and doing good — can work.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Sustainable development goals offer a path to prosperity
The Sustainable Development Goals take effect in January 2016, when UN member states are expected to enact policies and legislation to realize them and their associated targets…. a privileged country like Canada is in an ideal position to show leadership on these development goals, especially if we expect poorer UN member countries to do their part. Canada must work with other nations to create transformative change that protects what we have and leaves the world in better shape for our children and grandchildren.
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, Health, ideology, participation, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
TPP deal offers overdue opportunity for a new vision in agriculture
On a purely net basis, to be left out of a signed deal would have been tragic for Canada’s agricultural economy… now… it is time to redefine what competitiveness really means… When Europe ended the quota system this year, several programs allowed a number of farmers to fully prepare for the open market… We must be prepared to give industry the time and resources to foster better streamlining during the transition.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
In international trade, it’s not really all about exports
… in free trade talks, the concessions are actually the gains… It’s about acknowledging the central role of consumers, and of competition for consumers’ custom, in driving businesses to lower costs and raise productivity — to specialize in areas of comparative advantage, and reap economies of scale from longer production runs… The objective isn’t to increase exports, per se… Rather, it’s to change the composition of GDP: An economy that trades relatively more of what it produces and consumes will be more specialized, other things being equal, and enjoy higher productivity as a result. Which is ultimately what underpins wages.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, standard of living, tax
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
TPP deal a clear win for Canada
… almost all sectors of our economy stand to benefit.. It will now be up to our exporters to aggressively seize new market opportunities open to them… We will have to relax some protectionist measures propping up our least competitive entities, as will other TPP partners… On trade liberalization, we are actually moving at a much faster clip globally than domestically… some recalcitrant provinces should act to break down the shackles inhibiting competition in our own country.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Austerity’s vicious circle
… cuts target services for the most vulnerable… We lag in tackling inequality and poverty… Austerity creates a cycle of erosion and distrust. As public services are squeezed, we get less, we wait longer, we pay more out of pocket, we get angry with government and, ironically, become less willing to pay the taxes that would stop this erosion… The debate we need is precisely about what those wise choices are, about what and whom government is for and whether we are willing to pay the price for the Canada we want.
Tags: budget, featured, ideology, standard of living, tax
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Capitalism should be for the many, not the few, book argues
What role government must play is central to Reich’s just-published Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few. The title beguiles because, as we all know, we’re in a mess. “The issue of widening inequality, the decline of equal opportunity, the stagnation of median wages, [these] have become central issues”… The book runs much deeper than executive winnings. Bankruptcy rules that favour the big over the small, diminished union power, the agglomeration of market power into near monopolies…
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living, tax
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Minimum Wage Rates in Canada: 1965-2015
Minimum wages are among Canada’s oldest and most important social programs…. recent increase in minimum wages across Canada is likely due in part to the creation of poverty reduction strategies, which have focused attention on minimum wages… Currently only five jurisdictions index their minimum wage rates – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Yukon. The report also compares minimum wages in Canada to other countries.
Tags: economy, ideology, jurisdiction, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Debates | 1 Comment »
Recent Comments