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Canadian Regional Development: The Quest for Convergence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2008

Patrick James  and
Jonathan Krieckhaus
Patrick James
Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Jonathan Krieckhaus
Affiliation:
University of Missouri
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Abstract

Abstract. This article assesses the economic development of Canadian provinces in the context provided by the theory of convergence. Two basic questions will be asked and to some extent answered. First, to what degree do the Canadian provinces reveal convergence over time in terms of general economic performance? Second, what are the implications of convergence theory for Canadian provincial policy? These questions combine to give the article a purpose that is both academic and policy relevant in nature.

Four additional sections make up this article. The first explains the central place of convergence theory within the study of development, most notably as related to peripheries or lagging economies. Second, convergence theory is discussed within the special and interesting setting of the Canadian economy. Third, the research design and data analysis are presented. The results suggest that convergence is serving as a natural and highly robust corrective to regional disparity. Fourth, and finally, conclusions are offered and policy implications derived.

Résumé. Cet article examine le développement économique des provinces canadiennes dans le cadre de la théorie de la convergence. Il pose deux grandes questions, auxquelles il répond en partie. Premièrement, dans quelle mesure les provinces canadiennes présentent-elles une convergence à long terme pour ce qui est de leur performance économique? Deuxièmement, quelles sont les implications de la théorie de la convergence pour les politiques provinciales ? Par ces deux questions, le présent article revêt à la fois une portée académique et une pertinence en matière de politique publique.

L'article comprend également quatre parties. La première explique la place centrale qu'occupe la théorie de la convergence dans l'étude du développement économique, notamment en ce qui concerne les périphéries ou les économies accusant un certain retard. La deuxième discute la théorie de la convergence dans le cadre spécifique et intéressant de l'économie canadienne. La troisième précise le cadre d'analyse et dévoile l'analyse des données. Les résultats démontrent que la convergence représente un correctif naturel et fort efficace des disparités régionales. La quatrième et dernière partie présente les conclusions et quelques implications politiques qui en découlent.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 187 - 202
Copyright
© 2008 Canadian Political Science Association

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