Blog Posts
On Rationality, Utility and Self-Interest
In a recent book, German philosopher Julian Nida-Rümelin poses a challenge to the theory of rational choice by raising the question whether the utility an individual seeks to maximize necessarily always equals their respective self-interest. Inspired by his challenge, this blog post takes a closer look at the theory of rational choice and its limitations to public policy.
The Skill Utilization of Gig Workers
Of 1,000 gig workers surveyed in Canada, almost 70% indicated that they are currently employed in full-time or part-time salaried job. This blog explores to what extent gig workers may utilize the skills from their salaried job in their gig work.
Motivations for Gig Work in Canada
The results from our previous survey indicate that roughly 21% of the Canadian labour force had engaged in gig work over the previous 12 months. To better understand why people engage in gig work as well as the work conditions and barriers they face, we commissioned Ipsos Reid (‘Ipsos’) to conduct a follow-up survey specifically tailored to gig workers. The survey was completed in September 2022 and covered a sample size of 1,000 gig workers across Canada.
The Demographics of Gig Work in Canada
The following blog post is the second of a series of three blog posts that accompany research into the nature of gig work in Canada. With the support of FSC, the authors are undertaking primary and secondary research over the next 10 months to characterize the nature and motivations of this growing workforce, as well as the socio-economic context and constraints that may affect gig workers in Canada. The research objective is to help inform the collective understanding of and consequently help support targeted policy for the Canadian gig workforce.
Gig Work – Current Trends and Developments
The following blog post is the first of a series of three blog posts that accompany research into the nature of gig work in Canada. With the support of FSC, the authors are undertaking primary and secondary research over the next 10 months to characterize the nature and motivations of this growing workforce. The research objective is to help inform the collective understanding of and consequently more targeted policy supports for the Canadian gig workforce.
The Labour Market Impacts of a Green Recovery
The COVID pandemic has plunged the global economy into the deepest recession since World War II. In reaction to this, a number of governments have been discussing the option of a Green Recovery to ensure prosperity in a post-COVID world while meeting climate change goals. This post explores the impact of a Green Recovery on labour markets and the policy options to facilitate this shift.
The Case for Inclusive Innovation
While innovation, increased efficiency and higher productivity are worthwhile goals to pursue, they are not merely ends in themselves. Rather, the ultimate goal should be improvements in human well-being – which goes beyond an increase in GDP per capita and includes positive health and environmental outcomes.