My question: How well did "The Alberta Advantage" actually work?
Please don't discuss the 'means to this end'. Or whether 'the end justified the means'. The question is: did the end result actually work - in the end?
We all know those negative impacts the Klein administration's pursuit of the "Alberta Advantage" had on Alberta. We all complain about those. Given that many people want a return to those austerity policies of government cuts, deregulation/simplification, lower corporate taxes, oil friendly development policies, etc. I think we should just look back and see what those policies actually did for us not long ago.
Moreover the Alberta Advantage was an exceedingly rare example in the world of creating a deregulated, debt free, zero sales tax, business friendly environment plus with a kicker of a personal flat tax environment. It's amazing that it's not sufficed in depth as a guide to finding out what works and what doesn't.
So just assuming the "means justified the end", how well did the "Alberta Advantage" perform? Please try to back out of your assessment the effect rising oil prices had. What were oil prices at the announcement of the "Alberta Advantage" and what were oil prices at the end of Klien's term in office?
What metrics would you consider as useful in assessing the policy impact?
One I would use is the degree of additional economic diversification a business friendly policy would create. Others? Economic resilience? Population growth? Government tax receipts?
Bookmarks