HEALTHCARE AND AGING

In Quebec, like elsewhere in the world, a major share of public resources are dedicated to delivering healthcare services. On one hand, caring for an aging population requires more resources. On the other, existing research shows that much of the increase in spending towards healthcare can be attributed to issues relating to pricing and efficiency. There are, therefore, many potential solutions to increased health spending that could meet the growing healthcare needs of a population with shifting demographics. Organizing and funding care for persons who are losing their ability to be autonomous in daily life  is one area where the province could do better with current and projected resources. The Chair will fill a need in Quebec for healthcare research through an economic lens and will provide leadership in collaborations with other researchers on this theme in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

THE SCARCITY OF LABOUR AND LABOUR MARKETS

Due in part to changing demographics, such as an aging population, the scarcity of workers that began long before the pandemic have been exacerbated by it, galvanizing serious concerns among policy-makers around the world. In this vein, there are important factors that are unique to Quebec. For instance, interregional workforce mobility is relatively low in Quebec, especially among newcomers, putting added pressure on the labour market. Furthermore, the capacity of underutilized labour among experienced workers has the potential to ease such tensions. Yet the challenge in alleviating the need for workers in Quebec and elsewhere in the world remains largely understudied, and very little economic study has been done on the links between mobility and transportation policies, the labour market, and immigration. This work will aim to increase our understanding of the determinants of labour scarcity and to evaluate current and potential solutions to respond to the shortage and support economic growth.

SOCIAL POLICY, EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS, AND REDISTRIBUTION

In such times of major economic change, social policies providing support for families and elders are crucial for combatting inequality and supporting families without hindering economic growth. Taxation can also be an important redistribution tool, but its effectiveness will depend on a range of economic factors including the behavioral responses of taxpayers. Research in this area will therefore analyze social policies in terms of efficiency and redistribution. Such work will involve evaluating the financial health of Quebec households, in particular savings, and the role played by government policies.