Racing to the Bottom?

The spectre of a “race to the bottom” is increasinglyprominent in debates about globalization and also within federalsystems where the mobility of both capital and individuals promptsfears of interjurisdictional competition with respect to taxes andenvironmental and welfare standards. While there has been no shortageof either political rhetoric or academic theorizing on this subject,empirical studies have been in shorter supply. This volume seeks tofill that gap by asking: Are Canadian provinces engaged in a race tothe bottom and, if so, what are the consequences?

The contributors apply insights from economics and political scienceto several policy fields. What emerges is a theoretical and empiricalpicture of interprovincial competition that shows it to be more complexthan the popular image of a race to the bottom and that alsocontradicts predictions of an inexorable downward spiral.

This timely, practical volume will be of interest to public policypractitioners, as well as to students and scholars of economics andpolitical science.