In recent years it has become de rigueur for politicians to make a show of praising small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while ignoring or attacking larger ones. In the stage production that is Canadian politics, big business is regularly cast to play the role of the irredeemable villain.
But as Rob Atkinson writes in National Post, if Canada wants a growing, competitive economy with higher productivity and wages, policymakers need to recognize the critical role that large businesses play — and ensure that policies recognize and support that role. The reality is that in advanced economies, large businesses outperform small businesses on virtually all economic and social indicators.
Canada should choose a different and more positive path by seeking ways to maximize productivity and competitiveness, while at the same time ensuring that competitive forces remain robust.
