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Centre for Future Work

A non-partisan centre of excellence, developing timely and practical policy proposals to help make the world of work better for working people and their families.

  • Research
    • Research
    • Sector Bargaining Clearing House
  • Coverage & Commentary
  • PowerShare
  • False Profits
  • Online Learning
    • Debunkers’ Academy
    • Economics for Everyone: How to Cut Through the Jargon
  • Research
    • Research
    • Sector Bargaining Clearing House
  • Coverage & Commentary
  • PowerShare
  • False Profits
  • Online Learning
    • Debunkers’ Academy
    • Economics for Everyone: How to Cut Through the Jargon
  • Economic Literacy,  Macroeconomics,  Research

    Per Capita GDP is a Deeply Flawed Measure of Economic Performance and Living Standards

    May 6, 2025 /

    During the recent federal election, some business and political commentators used data regarding Canada’s relative performance in growing its “GDP per capita” to argue that Canadians have experienced a “lost decade” of stagnation and falling living standards. In this two-part analysis that first appeared here and here in Policy Options magazine (published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy), Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford explains how GDP per capita is calculated – and why it is not appropriate for measuring human well-being or economic progress.

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    Jim Stanford
  • Commentary,  Economic Literacy,  Globalization,  Trump Tariffs,  Wages

    Three New Videos: Trump’s Trade War; Wages, Profits & Prices; and Defending Living Standards

    February 25, 2025 /

    President Donald Trump’s repeated threats against Canada’s economy have caused great alarm. Meanwhile, home-grown right-wing populist forces have been advancing similar arguments here at home: claiming all of Canada’s problems arise from big government, big unions, or high taxes.

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    Jim Stanford
  • Economic Literacy,  PowerShare,  Trade Unions

    Short Film Explores Benefits of Workers’ Collective Voice for Workplaces and the Economy

    October 4, 2023 /

    The Centre for Future Work is proud to announce the release of a new animated film dramatizing the many ways workers with collective voice, representation, and bargaining power can make workplaces safer, more productive, more stable, and more fair.

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    Jim Stanford
  • Economic Literacy,  Research,  Trade Unions

    Ideas Into Motion: Progressive Economics and Social Change Movements

    November 4, 2021 /

    Our research at the Centre for Future Work is motivated by a deep commitment to improving the jobs, working conditions, and living standards of working people in Canada and around the world. We combine our knowledge of economics, our quantitative and qualitative research, and our connections with trade unionists and social movements to develop arguments and evidence that supports campaigns for decent work, stronger communities, and sustainability. Our Director, Dr. Jim Stanford, was recently asked to contribute his ideas on the links between progressive economics and real-world social change movements for a forthcoming collection: The Handbook of Alternative Theories of Political Economy, edited by Frank Stilwell, Tim Thornton, and David…

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    Jim Stanford
  • Commentary,  Economic Literacy

    10-Part Online Course in the “Economics of Life”

    May 7, 2021 /

    This fall, the Centre’s Director Jim Stanford is teaching a 10-part on-line course in “Economics for Everyone” through a University of Toronto-affiliated program called Later Life Learning (LLL). The course will dig under conventional economic jargon (about ‘markets’, ‘supply and demand,’ and ‘efficiency’), focusing instead on the economic issues that average people encounter in their daily life. The LLL program usually offers in-person courses at the U of T. But because of the pandemic it has moved on-line, and anyone can participate. You first have to join the LLL network (it’s free). Then you can register for this course (which costs $70 for the 10 sessions). The course is number…

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    Jim Stanford

Recent Posts

  • Per Capita GDP is a Deeply Flawed Measure of Economic Performance and Living Standards
  • Lessons from (Another) Crude Oil Price Collapse
  • Most of our GDP Never Crosses a Border
  • New Report Shows Speculative Oil Markets Drove Inflation Crisis — And It’s Poised to Happen Again
  • Three New Videos: Trump’s Trade War; Wages, Profits & Prices; and Defending Living Standards

About Us

Read more on our About page.

The Centre for Future Work conducts progressive research on labour issues, with offices in Canada and Australia. In Canada, the Centre works in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. In Australia, the Centre is a project of the Australia Institute.

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