staple theory at 50

In this installment of the staple theory series, Daniel Drache considers whether the so-called "Northern model" of development can survive this latest incarnation of staples dominance.

Hugh Grant argues that the historical roots of the staples theory enunciated by Watkins go back a little further than just Harold Innis. Learn here about the initial contributions of W.A. Mackintosh.

Economist Marc Lee considers the implications -- both economic and environmental -- of the current infatuation with export LNG in his province.

There is an intersection between the "staples trap" and a new, more ominous "carbon trap," that must be addressed centrally in modern policy responses to the challenge of staples dependence.

Dan Ciuriak imagines how the discovery of some future new staple might spur Canadian policy-making to think more effectively about how to make the most of our resource wealth.

The next installment in our special series celebrating Mel Watkins' work focuses our attention on the latest staple boom to remake Canada's economy: the bitumen sands of northern Alberta.

Excerpts from the preface to an edited collection of Mel's writings assembled by Hugh Grant and David Wolfe, which provides some great personal perspective on Mel's personality and passion.

Watkins' staple theory of economic growth showed how Canada had found a way out of its own staples dependence, emerging as a developed country despite its initial reliance on the export of staples.

The Progressive Economics Forum will host a series of special guest blog commentaries on the 50th anniversary of Mel Watkins' classic 1963 article on staple theory.