Canadian Think Tanks

Paper Summary:

This paper compares the political ideology, similarities and differences and application to real world economics of three Canadian think tanks: Center for the Study of Living Standards, Canadian Center for Policy Initiatives and Montreal Economic Institute. The paper explains that, although all the three think tanks claim to be independent research agencies without political goals, an examination of their publications and policies, reveals that they can be classified as advocates of a certain political and economic ideology. The paper concludes that knowing the political ideology of each think tank is important to understanding their recommended policies especially in the areas of wages for immigrants, the food crisis, and living standards.

From the Paper:

"On the other end of the spectrum, the Montreal Economic Institute can be described as a Neo-liberal think tank. The organization, which was founded in 1999, seeks to "promote an economic approach to the study of public policy issues." By studying the organization's publications, however, one can quickly realize that most contributors call under the classification of Neo-liberal economists. Shah calls Neo-liberalism the "mechanism for global trade and investment." The movement is the one practiced by capitalists and free market economists."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Albo, Greg. "Neoliberalism and Canada's Ruling Class." 7 July 2007. Monthly Review. 5 June 2008. < http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/albo070407.html>.
• Boothe, Paul and Richard Roy. "Business Sector Productivity in Canada: What Do We Know?" International Productivity Monitor. 16 (2008): 3-13.<http://www.iedm.org/main/show_editorials_en.php?editorials_id=649>.
• Charlebois, Sylvain. "Trade barriers are tumbling down--whether we like it or not." 5 June 2008. Montreal Economic Institute. 5 June 2008. <http://www.iedm.org/main/show_editorials_en.php?editorials_id=655>.
• Heath, Jospeh. "Should Productivity Growth Be a Social Priority?" The Review of Economic Performance and Social Progress. (2002): 227-241.
• Irvine, Ian. "Protectionism is to blame for the food crisis." 27 May 2008 Montreal Economic Institute. 5 June 2008. Lee, Marc. "BC Budget 2008: A good start tackling global warming, but who are we leaving behind." 21 Feb. 2008. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 5 June 2008. <http://www.policyalternatives.ca/Editorials/2008/02/Editorial1861/index.cfm?pa=AE5DAA5F>.

More papers on Canadian Think Tanks:

• Comparison Essay # 119593 : "The Fraser Institute vs. the CCPA: A Comparison"
• Essay # 87469 : "Poverty in a Canadian City"
• Book Review # 32780 : "Canadian Multiculturalism"

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