OTTAWA—A decade of federal budget surpluses could come to an end if an economic slowdown materializes in 2008, says a technical paper for the Alternative Federal Budget, published today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Economy and economic indicators
Challenging traditional notions of development, these essays critically examine bottom-up, community economic development strategies in a wide variety of contexts: as a means of improving lives in northern, rural and inner-city settings; shaped and driven by women and by Aboriginal people; aimed at employment creation for the most marginalized. Most authors have employed a participatory research methodology.
Worldwide interest in community economic development has grown rapidly in recent years. There has been a blossoming of “how to” manuals, as well as analyses of co-operatives, development corporations, gender and CED, financing CED, planning CED, government and CED, etc. Yet, with a few exceptions, in all this discussion very little is said about the basic objective of CED: is it designed to fill holes left by capitalism or is it intended to replace it? There is equally little on a theory of CED - its rationale, modus operandi, successes, failures, strengths, and weaknesses.
Broken promises are something we normally associate with politicians at election time. But what about the broken promise of economic growth?
For years we’ve been urged to work smarter and harder, repeatedly reminded that a strong and growing economy is the fastest route to prosperity for all.
But the most recent Statistics Canada report on incomes puts the lie to that promise.
(Vancouver) Footage of Naomi Klein speaking about her new book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, is now available online at www.youtube.com/policyalternatives or www.policyalternatives.ca/naomi_klein_videos.
Klein appeared at a sold-out CCPA fundraiser in Vancouver in February.
The following is a brief excerpt from her speech:
Renowned Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki speaks about the environment, the economy, climate change and our future at a benefit event for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC Office.
OTTAWA – Canadians are working harder and smarter, contributing to a growing economy, but their paycheques have been stagnant for the past 30 years, says a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
Rising Profit Shares, Falling Wage Shares finds that Canada’s economy grew steadily and workers’ productivity improved by 51 per cent in the past 30 years, but workers’ average real wages have been stuck in a holding pattern all this time.