Archive for the ‘Economy/Employment’ Category
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The economic case for a higher minimum wage
“The weight of evidence from the United States points to job loss effects that are statistically indistinguishable from zero.” … the growing group of minimum-wage earners, who currently comprise about 10 per cent of the workforce, spend a larger portion of their income than any other workers. When they make more, they spend more… higher wages improve businesses’ productivity by raising morale, reducing turnover and training costs and improving the quality of job applicants.
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, ideology, participation, standard of living
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Killing the entrepreneurial spirit
“The government’s proposals eliminate many of the bona-fide tax planning strategies that currently reward the business owner for risking his/her capital, for creating thousands of jobs across Canada and for contributing to Canada’s social security safety net, which is generally accessed by the middle and lower class. “The government’s actions will increase the overall tax burden for hard-working business owners and their private corporations and may create a disincentive for those who are considering pursuing their innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in Canada.”
Tags: economy, ideology, privatization, tax
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The case for raising the minimum wage
The comparative data suggest that, at a minimum, there is no consistent, long-term, economy-wide trade-off between a decent wage floor and jobs. Indeed, very low wages may discourage workers from accepting jobs, as seems to be the case for the many low skilled, male workers in the United States who have abandoned the job market in recent years… The main way the economy responds to a higher wage floor is through higher labour productivity or higher output per hour worked.
Tags: economy, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living
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The ‘duty to consult’ Indigenous Canadians, and its limits
“The duty to consult… is rooted in the need to avoid the impairment of asserted or recognized rights.” For a consultation to pass constitutional muster, it must be real and substantial. It can’t just be about collecting complaints and suggestions, and then ignoring them. The Indigenous community must be fully informed of the project’s details and consequences, and given the opportunity to respond. Depending on the evidence, mitigation measures may have to be taken.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, Indigenous, participation, rights
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Sears shows us the wisdom of defined-contribution pensions
Critics of defined-contribution plans dislike the non-specific dollar amounts that would accrue to retirees – again, contributions plus investment returns determine eventual pension paycheques. But… defined-contribution plans are more realistic given they are linked with market returns. Also… defined-contribution plans belong to individual employees from the start.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, pensions, standard of living
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Shrewd businesses support $15 minimum wage and decent work
A boost to $15 an hour also gets low-wage workers closer to realizing the benefits of the productivity gains that have been made over the last 40 years. Between 1965 and 1975, the minimum wage roughly tracked productivity gains as both increased over time. However, since 1976, the two have become decoupled and minimum wage earners have not been seeing gains in their pay cheque anywhere near what the economy has seen in terms of productivity growth.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, participation, standard of living
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Cancel the panic: Canadians have been borrowing like crazy for good reason
… even with any small forecast increases, interest rates remain low and the Canadian economy has performed adequately in terms of employment with relatively low unemployment rates. Moreover, while these macroeconomic factors are of concern, they should also be kept in context. Despite record high levels of household-sector debt, there are also record high levels of net worth.
Tags: economy, ideology, pensions, standard of living
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Temp agencies on rise as province seeks to protect vulnerable workers
It’s “like a huge warning bell to anyone who is concerned about (work) conditions and low wages and precariousness,” said Deena Ladd of the Toronto-based Workers’ Action Centre. “I think it’s a huge indication that corporations are shifting their responsibility to a third party for employment…” … “We seem to be growing into a society where agencies are proliferating, and these people are getting a little piece of everybody’s paycheques,” said Labour Minister Kevin Flynn
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, poverty, standard of living
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The Great Minimum Wage Debate: How to Balance Good Intentions and Evidence
As a whole, they show a range of results, with many showing small to no effects on employment from small wage hikes while others show negative effects among youth and new immigrants.
A further complication is that industries with the highest concentration of minimum wage workers are also the ones with higher potential for automation… no one can predict with confidence the exact effects from Ontario’s aggressive move from $11.60 to $14.00 per hour next January, and then to $15.00 per hour in 2019.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, immigration, participation, youth
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Bill 148 (The Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act 2017)
The Government needs to hear that the improvements to workers rights are widely supported in the community. We urge you to make a submission to the Committee supporting in principle Bill 148 while seeking further enhancements.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, jurisdiction, standard of living
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