New ranking shows freedom has declined for almost 90% of the world’s population in recent years

The annual Human Freedom Index finds that Switzerland is, once again, the freest country on Earth, followed by Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Luxembourg. Canada ranked 12th. Alarmingly, from 2019 to 2023 (the latest year of available data), 89.6 per cent of the world’s population—nearly nine-in-ten people—experienced a decline in freedom. The decline affected every region of the globe, rich and poor countries, and democracies and nondemocracies.

Number of publicly listed companies in Canada down 32.7% and initial public offerings down 94% since 2010, reflecting country’s economic stagnation

Canada’s Shrinking Stock Market: Causes and Implications for Future Economic Growth finds that Canadian equity markets are flashing red lights reflective of the larger stagnation, lack of productivity growth and lacklustre innovation of the country’s economy. And even though the value of the companies trading on Canada’s stock exchanges has risen substantially over time, the number of publicly listed companies is down 32.7 per cent and initial public offerings have plummeted 94 per cent since 2010.

Commentary and Blog Posts

Unions losing ground in Canada’s private sector

(Appeared in the Toronto Sun) by Jock Finlayson

Private-sector service industries tend to have unionization rates well below the economy-wide average.

Charitable giving on the decline in Canada

(Appeared in National Newswatch) by Jake Fuss and Grady Munro

From 2013 to 2023, the share of tax-filers who reported donating to charity fell from 21.9 per cent to 16.8 per cent.

Doug Ford promises tax reform—again—and Ontario really needs it

(Appeared in the Hamilton Spectator) by Ben Eisen

Ontario’s economic growth record in recent years has been dismal.

Canada’s recent economic growth performance has been awful

by Ben Eisen and Milagros Palacios

There has been no progress in Canadian living standards, as measured by per-person GDP, over the past five years.

Schools should go back to basics to mitigate effects of AI

(Appeared in the Epoch Times) by Paige MacPherson

Canada's PISA scores have plummeted.

Fuelled by federalism—America’s economically freest states come out on top

(Appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press) by Matthew D. Mitchell

New Hampshire, Tennessee, Florida and South Dakota allow citizens to make more of their own economic choices.

New government’s spending approach may put New Brunswick’s finances at risk

by Ben Eisen

The provincial government now expects an operating deficit of $668.7 million this year.

Politicians should be honest about environmental pros and cons of electric vehicles

(Appeared in Trending Politics) by Annika Segelhorst and Elmira Aliakbari

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids generate most of their emissions before rolling off the assembly line.

New government’s spending approach may put New Brunswick’s finances at risk

by Ben Eisen

The provincial government now expects an operating deficit of $668.7 million this year.

Housing affordability in Halifax has collapsed since 2014

(Appeared in the Macdonald Notebook) by Alex Whalen and Austin Thompson

In 2023, a typical family earning the city's median income had a monthly mortgage payment of $2,689.

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