Unpacking the Growing Wage Gap Between American and Canadian Workers

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt explore the growing wage gap between American and Canadian workers, discussing the implications for young Canadians and the factors contributing to this disparity. They delve into the data on emigration, the impact of housing costs, and the need for policy changes to boost productivity and wages in Canada. The conversation also touches on the potential for brain drain and the importance of attracting talent to maintain economic growth. (Full transparency, we recorded this episode before the most recent round of Trump tariffs were imposed on Canada. The content would not have changed in any way although the tone of the discussion around tariffs, emigration and the demographics of Canadian patriotism may have been expressed more emphatically if we had recorded it this week.)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:51 Have you ever lived in the USA?

02:54 How many Canadians move to the US every year?

06:05 Understanding the wage gap: Canada vs. USA

08:17 Yes Canada should be concerned about the gap 

09:15 The productivity gap

10:39 Is the cost of living a factor?

12:50 The role of remote work

13:35 Mike is a two handed economist 

15:20 Sabrina is worried about losing talent to theUS

17:25 Increasing productivity and future solutions 

20:02 Addressing the Brain Drain and Future Solutions

Links:

Median wages and salaries lower in every Canadian province than in every U.S. state

In 2005, There Were 41 Communities Where a Middle-Class Family Could Afford to Buy a Home. Today, There's Only Nine

CHIPS and Science Act

Here’s how Canadian tech salaries compare to the U.S.

As a Canadian, you are earning far less than your American counterpart

Canada is getting poorer when compared to its wealthy peers, data shows

The Economic Mistake the Left Is Finally Confronting

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.