National Competitiveness

Innovation-driven production is key to reclaiming U.S. dominance on the international stage. Yet, all but a few U.S. state economies are less concentrated in advanced industries than the world average—and only one is ahead of China.

The United States is falling $3.7 trillion short of the $9.1 trillion required to bring infrastructure to a good level of repair nationally.

Innovation can stagnate when workers remain in the same positions for extended periods. Policymakers should invest in reducing labor market barriers (e.g., hiring barriers) and workforce training while creating targeted safety nets to balance flexibility with security.

In an era when AI is poised to improve everything from crop yields to cancer detection, Canada’s central priority should be accelerating AI adoption to enhance economic prosperity and quality of life, not erecting barriers to innovation through overly precautionary regulation.

Watch now for a discussion with experts on e-commerce regulation, logistics, and policy as they explored the growth of Chinese e-commerce platforms, their impact on U.S. businesses and consumers, and how policymakers and industry leaders should respond.

The higher education sector remains the leader in R&D investments for basic research. If the United States wants to stay ahead of China, it must invest more, not less, in basic and applied research to build the foundational knowledge needed for innovation.

To beat China, the United States must better align university research with critical technologies and ensure it directly supports the needs of American firms. To do that, federal research funding agencies should prioritize university researchers who have secured financial commitments from industry.

The Trump administration will have to make a choice: Demand the removal of all foreign trade barriers or be strategic and focus on eliminating those critical to America’s techno-economic future.

Canada has long embraced its identity as a “middle power,” but it has the potential to be more than just a supporting player. With greater ambition and the right vision, Canada can shape global markets and emerge as a dominant force.

A study by the Federal Reserve Board shows that despite significantly increased costs for higher education and housing, average household income for Millennials grew 18 percent compared to Generation X.