Economists say NDP plan to hike tax on heavy emitters would cost Canadian jobs | Toronto Star
August 31, 2021 | The NDP has pledged to close loopholes in Canada's carbon pricing regime that provide a discount to industrial polluters. Some economists, including Max Bell School director Chris Ragan, believe that such a policy change would cost Canada jobs and lead to no reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.
Election campaign and inflation set up ‘perfect storm’ for usually sleepy review of BoC monetary policy | The Globe and Mail
August 20, 2021 | The Bank of Canada's mandate renewal—usually a mundane and technical affair—is generating interest in the political sphere as Canadas 44th federal election gets underway.
Climate change puts health at risk and economists have the right prescription | The Conversation
June 24, 2021 | "We’re paying for climate change with our health." Co-written by Courtney Howard of the University of Calgary and Max Bell School director Chris Ragan, this article explains how the disruptive events caused by climate change are posing a climbing risk to our health and healthcare systems. From wildfires and severe storms to heat waves and poor-quality air, learn more about the environmental factors threatening our physical well-being.
Chris Ragan on the Conservative's Climate Plan | CBC Power & Politics
15 April, 2021 | In this panel conversation, Max Bell School director Chris Ragan shares his thoughts on the Conservative's newly revealed climate plan in a conversation with the Globe and Mail's Kelly Cryderman and political commentator Shakir Chambers.
‘Are we going to be able to pull this off?’: How the Bank of Canada doused a financial fire last spring | The Globe and Mail
March 27, 2021 | In this Globe and Mail article, Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan weighs in on the Bank of Canada's role in pandemic economic recovery, discussing monetary policy topics including quantitative easing and inflation risks.
Read the article.
The 'safe bets' and 'wild cards' needed to meet Canada's net zero emissions target | Maclean's
February 17, 2021 | Max Bell School Director Christopher Ragan and Carleton University economist Dave Sawyer penned this op-ed that takes a critical look at the widespread economic and industry reforms needed to achieve Canada's goal of "net zero" greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
What Should Canada Do Next? | Hot Talk Podcast
December 23, 2020 | In this episode of the Hot Talk podcast, Max Bell School director Chris Ragan comments on the federal government's newly announced plan to raise the price of carbon and implement other climate policies.
Listen to the podcast.
The Liberals need to have faith that their carbon tax will do its job | The Line
In this article for The Line newsletter, Max Bell School Professor Ken Boessenkool and Director Chris Ragan argue that the government should have more confidence in the newly increased carbon tax to do its job and resist the temptation to throw in all sorts of other popular, but expensive, policies as well.
Why the Bank of Canada needs a revised mandate | The Globe and Mail
Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan and Professor Stephen Gordon of Université Laval penned this opinion piece to highlight the importance of monetary policy and the upcoming revision of the Bank of Canada's mandate. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many spheres of public policy, the Bank of Canada will need to carefully consider all policy objective alternatives.
Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan | The Current
By how much will the pandemic cause federal spending to rise? How much revenue are we expecting to lose? And how will the Canadian government manage their debt and avoid a financial emergency? As the COVID-19 crisis continues to spread uncertainty across Canada and the around the world, economists and policymakers must ask themselves these questions and devise ways to manage the post-pandemic financial landscape.
Three rules for post-pandemic corporate rescues | Financial Post
June 3, 2020 | Given the early-warning signal from bank earnings last week, we should be expecting a wave of business failures in the months ahead, and demands for taxpayer assistance will soon follow. Now is the time for governments to commit to clear principles to guide their response. In this Financial Post article, Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan and Dr. Paul Boothe explain how we can use lessons from the financial crisis of 2008-09.
Canada needs a new prescription for the pandemic recession | Maclean's
June 2, 2020 | The spread of the COVID-19 virus has resulted in a severe — and unique — recession, which continues to ravage many corners of the Canadian economy. What makes the current "pandemic" recession so different from a "normal" recession, and how should government policy reflect this reality? In this Maclean's article, Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan and Dr. Paul Boothe break down the role of governments and the shortcomings of conventional stimulus in this pandemic context.
Engineering a ‘green recovery’ is a terrible idea | The Globe and Mail
June 1, 2020 | In the coming weeks, the federal government is expected to begin crafting a stimulus package to lift Canada out of the economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on which cabinet ministers have been assigned to the project, it seems clear the Liberals want to incorporate their climate goals into the package, addressing climate change and economic recovery at the same time. Is a stimulus package the best way to deal with a pandemic recession?
Opinion: Support Canadians now, but not at the expense of our future | The National Post
May 21, 2020 | In light of the pandemic, governments have moved quickly to support hard-hit workers and businesses. This provision of economic “relief” is different from conventional “stimulus” common during normal recessions. Whereas stimulus policies are all about getting people back to work and businesses back to normal levels of operation, the current relief policies are about replacing people’s incomes while they are safely isolating at home.
Chris Ragan on Climate Change and Carbon Pricing | Culture at Crossroads
April 16, 2020 | With climate change being one of the most contentious issues in the 2019 federal election, it has become evident that Canadians are concerned with reducing the national carbon footprint. Despite this, policy responses to this issue have not been united. In this podcast, Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan elaborates on the nuances of environmental policy, and how it serves both the economy and the climate.
