Surprisingly, very little attention has been given in Canada to the ways other federalist countries manage programs similar to Canada's equalization program. Federalism and Fiscal Transfers is a series of essays by regional experts examining the experience of four other federalist countries --...

Economists often focus on marginal tax rates (the extra tax an individual (or firm) will owe to the government for engaging in a little more of the taxed activity) as particularly important for altering economic behaviour. The marginal tax rate is significant because it indicates the amount of...

This study examines the effects of worker choice laws in the US — commonly referred to as “right to work” (RTW) policies — and applies the findings to British Columbia and to Ontario. RTW laws have been enacted by 24 US states; these laws prohibit collective bargaining agreements between...

Canada and Australia share many common cultural, economic, governmental, political, and socio-economic characteristics, yet few researchers have carried out comparative analyses of their public policy experiences. These two papers — the first by Stephen Kirchner, the second by Sean Speer and...

The traditional definition of tax progressivity is being rewritten and this change could have serious ramifications for democratic decision-making. Up to now, tax progressivity has meant that, as an individual or household earned more income, they not only paid more in taxes but also paid a...

The governments of Alberta, Alaska, and Norway have all created funds in which to deposit some of the revenues they receive from non-renewable natural resource activities. Despite Alberta's rich natural resource endowments, its Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund is smaller than the others...

As British Columbia's provincial government continues to struggle with both deficits and finding ways to constrain spending, there is heightened interest in how wages and non-wage benefits (compensation) in the public sector compare with those in the private sector. While a lack of non-wage...