In Search of the Good Life: "Competitiveness" and Well-Being in British Columbia and Washington State

For years British Columbians and Canadians have been told that government had to "get its fiscal house in order," that we had to "tighten our belts" and "learn to do more with less." But just when it seemed like the days of sacrifice were finally over-deficits have been...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2001
Main Author: Vogel, Donna
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Budgets/Expenditures
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Economic policy
Labor force/Employment
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:For years British Columbians and Canadians have been told that government had to "get its fiscal house in order," that we had to "tighten our belts" and "learn to do more with less." But just when it seemed like the days of sacrifice were finally over-deficits have been eliminated, the debt is under control, the federal government has accumulated a massive budgetary surplus-the goalposts have moved. "Competitiveness" has become the new buzzword in the assault on the public sector in British Columbia. We have to cut taxes and regulations, we are told, in order to remain competitive in the "new" economy, especially in key growth industries like high technology. This study examines the issues of taxes and "competitiveness" in terms of both costs and benefits. Through a comparative analysis of BC and Washington State (WA), it asks whether or not our taxes, levels of public service, and government regulations really place us at a disadvantage with respect to our economic "competitors."