Canadian century watch
Over the summer, we featured a piece from Brian Lee Crowley, Jason Clemens, and Niels Veldhuis based on their book, The Canadian Century, arguing that the free market reforms Canada had instituted since it was described as "an honorary member of the Third World" by the Wall Street Journal in 1994 had put it on ...
Over the summer, we featured a piece from Brian Lee Crowley, Jason Clemens, and Niels Veldhuis based on their book, The Canadian Century, arguing that the free market reforms Canada had instituted since it was described as "an honorary member of the Third World" by the Wall Street Journal in 1994 had put it on track to be a global economic leader in the 21st century. Reflecting on Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier's 1904 prediction that "the 20th century shall be filled by Canada," the authors mused that "perhaps Laurier was not wrong, just 100 years early."
Over the summer, we featured a piece from Brian Lee Crowley, Jason Clemens, and Niels Veldhuis based on their book, The Canadian Century, arguing that the free market reforms Canada had instituted since it was described as "an honorary member of the Third World" by the Wall Street Journal in 1994 had put it on track to be a global economic leader in the 21st century. Reflecting on Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier’s 1904 prediction that "the 20th century shall be filled by Canada," the authors mused that "perhaps Laurier was not wrong, just 100 years early."
A story from McClatchy today suggests that tough financial regulation may be as much a part of the Canadian economic success story as spending cuts and benefits reforms:
Not a single Canadian bank failed during the Great Depression, and not a single one failed during the recent U.S. crisis now dubbed the Great Recession. Fewer than 1 percent of all Canadian mortgages are in arrears.
That’s notable given that the recent U.S. economic turmoil was triggered by a meltdown in mortgage finance, forcing an unprecedented government rescue of Wall Street investment banks and the collapse of more than 300 smaller banks as the housing sector went bust.
How’d Canada avoid all that?
"This sounds very simple, but one of our CEOs has said we are in the business of making loans to people who will pay them back," said Terry Campbell, vice president of policy for the Canadian Bankers Association in Ottawa.[…]
Even so, there’s plenty to learn from Canada’s conservative — yes, conservative — regulatory regime. It requires more rigorous loan underwriting standards and much bigger set-asides by banks for potential losses during market downturns.
Canada also lacks a big tax write-off for the interest that borrowers pay on their mortgages. They get a capital gains tax exemption on any profits on the sale of their primary residence, and that’s it. Yet the rate of home ownership in Canada is equal to, or greater than the U.S. rate, and the lack of mortgage-interest deductions leads Canadians to swiftly pay down their mortgage debt.
On the other hand, maybe Captain Canada (Hat tip: Matt Yglesias) has just been working overtime to prevent mortgage defaults.
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy
Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?
The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.
Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World
It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.
It’s a New Great Game. Again.
Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.
Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing
The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
