Approaches to an International Comparison of Canada's R & D Expenditures

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

It is often stated that research and development activities in Canada are less than in other countries, and that foreign-owned companies do less such work in Canada than Canadian-owned companies. This study, by two economists from Queen’s University, seeks to establish what level of R & D expenditure should be aimed at and thus whether the present target is correct.

The authors do not believe that current methods of measuring comparative research intensity between countries are valid, and they suggest methodological means to improve the situation. They emphasize that, in fact, the situation regarding the effects of R & D varies from industry to industry. After their methodology has been tried on an individual industry basis, it would then be possible for the government to see in which areas an improvement is required. While the effect of neglecting to perform such analyses will reflect on our standard of living over the long haul, it is difficult for the average reader to become excited about these matters.