The Answer to Crisis and Contradiction
My read of history turned into a read of the aggregate data points that influence the formation of political economy; the present state of society’s institutions, informed by history.
Staples Thesis
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Why Does Canada Develop Megaprojects Instead of Innovation Systems?
Canada’s political economy is characterized by the “staple trap” — a longstanding struggle to develop systems of complementary technology and industries against the pull of resource extraction lock-in.
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False Promises and Economic Reconciliation
While jobs, training, and entrepreneurial opportunities would undeniably be welcomed by Ring of Fire communities, experience from mining operations in other jurisdictions unfortunately suggests these benefits are likely to be limited and ephemeral.
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A tribute to Abe Rotstein: a giant of Canadian political economy
Mel Watkins eulogizes Abe Rotstein as the leading theorist and scholar of Canadian nationalism in English Canada, and one of its most prominent and innovative practitioners.
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It is time to confront Canada’s staple trap
Perversely, governments get captured by the staple industry and lock the country in. Our currency becomes a petro-dollar, our state a petro-state.
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Keystone XL and Canada’s Resource Trap
Canada’s brand of the resource curse is called the “staples trap”. The pattern was articulated by celebrated Canadian economic historian Harold Innis in his studies of Canadian staple resource economies.
