Canadian Network for Regional Economics Research

Canadian Network for Regional Economics Research
Name	Canadian Network for Regional Economics Research
Formation	1980s
Type	Non-profit research network
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Location	Canada
Leader title	Director

Canadian Network for Regional Economics Research is a Canada-based scholarly network that connects researchers across provinces and territories to study regional development, labour markets, trade, and urban change. The network links university departments, government agencies, and think tanks to foster applied analysis, policy dialogue, and data sharing among scholars and practitioners. Its activities span conferences, working papers, datasets, and collaborative projects involving academics, policy analysts, and institutional partners.

History

The network emerged during debates involving metropolitan governance in the 1980s and 1990s when scholars associated with University of Toronto, Queen's University, McGill University, University of British Columbia, and University of Alberta collaborated on regional studies. Early conveners included researchers from Statistics Canada, Bank of Canada, Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Economics, Ontario Ministry of Finance, and provincial research centres. Growth accelerated as economists linked to Harvard University, London School of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Chicago, and Yale University engaged in comparative work. Funding and institutional support drew on connections with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Labour Congress, and municipal partners in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Mission and Objectives

The network aims to improve evidence-based regional analysis by promoting collaboration among scholars at Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, University of Ottawa, Université de Montréal, McMaster University, University of Waterloo, Western University, and other institutions. Objectives include enhancing regional data infrastructure used by Statistics Canada, informing policy debates in legislatures such as the Parliament of Canada and provincial assemblies like the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and training graduate students linked to institutes such as Centre for Urban Growth, Institute for Research on Public Policy, Canadian Policy Research Networks, and professional associations like the Canadian Economics Association and Royal Society of Canada.

Organization and Membership

Membership spans faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and analysts affiliated with centres like Centre for International Governance Innovation, Institute for Research on Public Policy, Fraser Institute, C.D. Howe Institute, Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, and municipal research units in Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, and St. John's. Governance often features an elected executive committee with scholars from York University, University of Victoria, Concordia University, Université Laval, Université du Québec à Montréal, University of Guelph, and Brock University. Advisory boards may include representatives from Industry Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and international partners like Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Bank.

Research Programs and Activities

Research programs address regional productivity, interregional trade, migration, resource dependence, and urbanization with collaborations among experts linked to National Bureau of Economic Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, European Central Bank, and policy units at City of Toronto. Activities include longitudinal studies using administrative records from Statistics Canada and survey instruments coordinated with Canadian Community Health Survey collaborators. The network organizes themed working groups on topics related to regional trade agreements such as North American Free Trade Agreement, fiscal federalism discussions tied to Canada Health Transfer arrangements, and analyses of infrastructure projects like the Trans-Canada Highway and port expansions at Port of Vancouver.

Publications and Conferences

The network publishes working papers, policy briefs, and edited volumes with presses and journals connected to University of Toronto Press, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Canadian Journal of Economics, Journal of Urban Economics, Regional Studies, and Economic Geography. Annual conferences rotate among host institutions including McGill University, University of British Columbia, Queen's University, University of Alberta, and Université de Montréal and attract keynote speakers from Bank of Canada, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and academic leaders from Princeton University and Columbia University.

Partnerships and Funding

The network partners with municipal governments like City of Vancouver, City of Montreal, City of Toronto, federal departments such as Infrastructure Canada, provincial ministries including Ministry of Finance (Ontario), and non-governmental organizations like Canadian Federation of Municipalities and Federation of Canadian Municipalities Pension Plan. Funding sources include grants from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, contracts with Employment and Social Development Canada, project support from Natural Resources Canada, and sponsored research from foundations such as The Donner Canadian Foundation, Terry Fox Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, and international funders like World Bank and Asian Development Bank for comparative projects.

Impact and Criticism

The network has influenced debates on regional policy, labour mobility, and urban fiscal arrangements cited in reports by OECD, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Conference Board of Canada, and provincial commissions like the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry and provincial royal commissions. Critics affiliated with think tanks such as Fraser Institute and C.D. Howe Institute have challenged methodological choices and policy recommendations, while some municipal stakeholders in Hamilton, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay have argued that research agendas prioritize metropolitan regions over remote communities. Debates involve scholars from University of Calgary, University of Saskatchewan, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Lakehead University about representativeness, data access, and the balance between academic independence and funder priorities.

Category:Research networks in Canada