The Bottom Line: Technology, Trade, and Income Growth

Stephen J. Kees was Chief Librarian, Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology, Welland, Ontario.

A general decline in productivity has been a phenomenon in most countries in the past few years, and this has certainly been very evident in Canada. Since much productivity growth arises from the diffusion of technical knowledge in its broadest sense, this report studies the matter intensively and produces some recommendations to improve the situation, especially in relation to research and development activities. The importance of this part of the study lies in its consideration of the effects of low or zero productivity growth on our standard of living.

Much of our living standard is related to our success in trade with other countries. The second part of this report is a discussion of how our industrial establishment would be affected by changes in trade policy. The potential effects of free trade with the United States, often advocated, are considered and evaluated with respect to our industrial structure.

Altogether, this report performs a valuable service in discussing some of the major factors that could influence our national standard of living — “the bottom line.”