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Canada After America: A Strategy for Prosperity in a Changed World
For generations, Canada built its prosperity on economic integration with the United States, only to find itself hostage to its nearest neighbour.
In Canada After America, economists Ricardo Hausmann and Eric Protzer offer a bold, practical strategy for Canadian prosperity in a radically changed world.
Drawing on research from the Harvard Growth Lab and the insights of economic complexity, they argue that the answer is not to retreat from globalization, but to become far better at competing in the rest of the world. Canada must get more of its natural resources to global markets while building industries―aerospace, life sciences, technology―that can overcome the tyranny of distance.
It won't be easy. Despite world-class universities and research, Canada’s private-sector knowledge economy remains stunted. The country has failed to build and sustain large, research-intensive companies and the dynamic cities in which they flourish. It must abandon its “small is beautiful” approach to innovation, remove barriers to growth, and enable its most promising firms to scale.
The rupture with America is a crisis―but also a historic opportunity to build a more innovative, resilient, and globally competitive Canada.
In Canada After America, economists Ricardo Hausmann and Eric Protzer offer a bold, practical strategy for Canadian prosperity in a radically changed world.
Drawing on research from the Harvard Growth Lab and the insights of economic complexity, they argue that the answer is not to retreat from globalization, but to become far better at competing in the rest of the world. Canada must get more of its natural resources to global markets while building industries―aerospace, life sciences, technology―that can overcome the tyranny of distance.
It won't be easy. Despite world-class universities and research, Canada’s private-sector knowledge economy remains stunted. The country has failed to build and sustain large, research-intensive companies and the dynamic cities in which they flourish. It must abandon its “small is beautiful” approach to innovation, remove barriers to growth, and enable its most promising firms to scale.
The rupture with America is a crisis―but also a historic opportunity to build a more innovative, resilient, and globally competitive Canada.
120 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 27, 2026
I should preface this review with the fact that I am not an economist and most of it went well over my head…
That being said I enjoyed the book, it had a lot of interesting information about Canadian industry, the housing crisis, and immigration reform.
The authors spoke of need for higher density areas and more immigration, comparing other G7 countries who have done such things, and the need to start fully optimizing our oil industry. It’s make a lot of sense to me to do this I just worry about what this does to the climate and I hate crowds, these are me problems though lol.
It contained a lot of graphs and had great explanations for what the graphs meant, which I appreciated, being a lowly layman.
Anyways this was a pretty good read, very easy to read and not too winded.
That being said I enjoyed the book, it had a lot of interesting information about Canadian industry, the housing crisis, and immigration reform.
The authors spoke of need for higher density areas and more immigration, comparing other G7 countries who have done such things, and the need to start fully optimizing our oil industry. It’s make a lot of sense to me to do this I just worry about what this does to the climate and I hate crowds, these are me problems though lol.
It contained a lot of graphs and had great explanations for what the graphs meant, which I appreciated, being a lowly layman.
Anyways this was a pretty good read, very easy to read and not too winded.
October 27, 2026
Canadian public policy read of 2026 (not a crowded field, but still :) )
Lots of good, granular analysis of what ails Canada's economy and makes strengthening our competitive position urgent and difficult.
Lots of good, granular analysis of what ails Canada's economy and makes strengthening our competitive position urgent and difficult.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews