In a knowledge-based economy, business performance and overall levels of economic growth are increasingly dependent on the development and exploitation of intellectual assets. A number of OECD countries offer tax incentives to encourage and reward business expenditures on intellectual assets....

The knowledge created by private spending on research and development (R&D) generates benefits for society as well as for the firm performing the research, so there is a strong case for government intervention to encourage R&D. But intervening in the market has costs, and these costs may exceed...

Small business has a well-deserved reputation as the driver of job growth and as a key contributor to innovation. In the 12 years ending in 2013, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounted for about 90% of private sector job growth in Canada. What is less well-recognized, however, is...

The federal government implemented a new expenditure management system in 2007. Under the new system, departments are required to review programs on a four-year cycle to determine if they are aligned with federal responsibilities and priorities, if they are efficiently delivered and if they are...

In this chapter, I set out an approach for evaluating or assessing tax expenditures as part of an expenditure management system. I also make some recommendations on how tax expenditures should be included in one-off spending-control initiatives, and I discuss the merits of selected Canadian...