In “Declining Equalization Payments and Fiscal Challenges in the Small ‘Have-not’ Provinces,” authors Ben Eisen, David Murrell, and Shaun Fantauzzo show that equalization payments as a share of provincial GDP have declined markedly in recent years in these four provinces, particularly since Ontario began receiving payments in 2009/10.
Halifax, NS and Winnipeg, MB (12 November 2014): Today, the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy (FCPP) released a new paper documenting a recent decline in equalization payments (relative to provincial GDP) to Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In “Declining Equalization Payments and Fiscal [...]
AIMS Director of Research and Programmes Ben Eisen participates in the Globe Debate series with Canadian Labour Congress Senior Economist Angela MacEwan to discuss whether targeted or universal childcare is the most efficient policy option for supporting Canadian families.
AIMS Director of Research and Programmes Ben Eisen discusses whether Canada should adopt a program of subsidized universal daycare.
Last week, a report by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies called for a 14,000-job reduction in civil service jobs in Atlantic Canada. It noted that the four provinces in this region are well above the national average in the number of public-sector jobs they have, compared with private-sector jobs. In Nova Scotia, for instance, there are 99 provincial or municipal public-sector jobs for every 1,000 residents. The national average is 83. In New Brunswick, the figure is 84 jobs for every 1,000 residents. The study also found that in Nova Scotia, public-sector jobs account for 30 per cent of all wages paid. The national average is 22 per cent. The growing gap between private-sector workers and public-sector employees is a huge economic problem for this province, and one of the factors that is driving more young Nova Scotians to leave in search of a more level playing field.
AIMS Director of Research Ben Eisen and policy analyst Shaun Fantauzzo discuss the result of their latest study, "The Size and Cost of Atlantic Canada's Public Sector." Their data reveals the public sector in Atlantic Canada to exceed the national average on a number of metrics, which has a significant cost to taxpayers in the region.
A new report by a regional think-tank says Atlantic Canada “could achieve meaningful savings” by bringing its public-sector numbers down to the national average.
AIMS Director of Research Ben Eisen and policy analyst Shaun Fantauzzo discuss their latest study, "The Size and Cost of Atlantic Canada's Public Sector," on various radio stations throughout Atlantic Canada.
AIMS Director of Research Ben Eisen and Policy Analyst Shaun Fantauzzo measure the size and cost of Atlantic Canada's public sector, confirming that it is unusually large compared to the national average. Their data reveals that spending in excess of the national average amounted to $1.89 billion in 2013.
The Size and Cost of Atlantic Canada’s Public SectorHalifax, NS (18 September 2014): A new paper published this morning by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) shows that high rates of public sector employment in Atlantic Canada come at a significant cost to taxpayers. The study shows that public sector employment in excess of [...]