In our first episode of Progressive Political Economy, D.T. Cochrane, senior economist at the Canadian Labour Congress, dispels the misconceptions behind Canada’s “productivity” crisis.
Economic data shows us that corporate tax cuts have not been met with increased investment to the economy. Instead, the last fifty years have seen a steady decline in corporate investment while dividend payouts to share holders grew to new heights.
The Broadbent Institute and Perspectives Journal have launched Progressive Political Economy: a new video series that spotlights progressive economics and political ideas that push for a just and equal society.
Through interviews with Canada’s leading progressive economic thinkers, we lay out alternative approaches to orthodox economic thinking that have lent today’s inequalities and injustices. From broadly envisioned industrial strategy in the fight against climate change to episodic economic phenomena like sellers’ inflation felt by all during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Progressive Political Economy series brings forward debates and inquiry on today’s major issues while being grounded in working-class, social democratic values. Valuing people over profits, decommodification, and a political economy that works for the 99%, the ideas shared in this Progressive Political Economy series are a much needed counterweight to Canada’s business-backed economic discourse.
