Hennessy's Index: A number is never just a number

Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version.  For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index

• $6.6 million

  The average compensation of Canada’s best-paid 100 CEOs in 2009. (Source)

• $42,988

  The average wage for Canadians working full-time, year-round. (Source)

• 155 times

  How much the best-paid 100 CEOs earn more than average wage. (Source)

• 0

  The number of women among the best-paid 100 CEOs in Canada in 2009. (Source)

• 20^th

  Canada ranks 20th, behind the U.S., in a global ranking of women’s equality. (Source)

• Canada’s richest 1%

  Doubled their income share between the late-1970s and 2007. (Source)

• Canada’s richest 0.01%

  Quintupled their share of income during that same period. (Source)

• Shrinking middle

  The share of income for the bottom 80% of Canadian families with children is smaller today than it was a generation ago. (Source)

• Teetering

  6 out of 10 Canadians could be in trouble if their paycheque gets delayed. (Source)

• Debt nation

  Canadian consumer debt to financial assets ratio worst of 20 OECD nations. (Source)

• $1.41 trillion

  Canadian household debt. (Source)

• 17^th

  Canada ranks 17 out of 24 OECD nations on children’s material well-being. (Source)

• 1 in 10

  Canadian children live in poverty. 1 in 4 Aboriginal children live in poverty. (Source)

• A solution

  Shifting 1% of Canadians’ collective after-tax income to the 1 in 10 Canadians living in low income would eliminate poverty in Canada. (Source)