Improving the well-being of Canadians
For many years now, a growing number of economists, policy makers, and civil society
groups have pointed to the limits of using only GDP as the primary measure of national
economic progress. Accordingly, a progressively greater focus has been placed on the
concept of well-being and its optimal measurement, as well as its appropriate use
in budgeting and other aspects of policymaking. Canada has had a long history of measuring
subjective well-being and a good pre-COVID 19 record on many of its determinants but
has not yet decided on an official government-wide framework. This chapter delves
into the topic and then looks at some of its crucial aspects, in particular: inequality
and poverty including food insecurity; housing affordability and homelessness; physical
and mental health and long-term care, with a special focus on Pharmacare; and environmental
conditions. It includes a special section on the problems facing Indigenous peoples
and those belonging to racialise.
Published on May 12, 2021
In series:OECD Economics Department Working Papersview more titles