Contributions to Canadian economic history: The last 30 years

Abstract

The cliometric revolution that transformed economic history in the US in the 1960s was soon embraced by Canadian economic historians. Many of the important issues surrounding Canadian development remained the same: the role of resources, the place of international trade, immigration, capital accumulation and interactions with Native Americans, among others. But beginning in the 1960s, and certainly over the last 30 years, economic historians of Canada have addressed them with the tools of modern economics, both theoretical and empirical. We highlight the recent work emphasizing not just the methods but also the fundamental ways our understanding of Canadian history has been changed.

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“… This example is also highlighted in Hamilton et al. 's () survey of recent contributions to Canadian economic history. …”

“…Hamilton et al. () survey contributions to Canadian economic history over the last 30 years and note that, while economic historians’ focus has diversified beyond the role of natural resource exports in driving economic growth, the role of resources has not declined. See Keay ().…”

“… Johnson (1968, p. 131).Brander and Smith (2017) point out that the dominance of the Toronto School coincided with the close relationship between economics and political science, reflected in the joint Canadian journal until 1967 and also the joint department at the University of Toronto.4 Evenden (2017) reviews Innis's staples thesis and its impact on economic history Hamilton et al (2017). survey contributions to Canadian economic history over the last 30 years and note that, while economic historians' focus has diversified beyond the role of natural resource exports in driving economic growth, the role of resources has not declined.…”