BTech BTTM XXXXXXXXXXMARKING MATRIX Assignment: Week 4-6: Innovative Paper (35%) There is high expectation of undergraduate-level writing skills in all your work. This expectation includes...

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT        2
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
Table of contents
Introduction    3
Discussion 1    3
Discussion 2    5
Discussion 3    7
Discussion 4    8
Conclusion    10
References    11
Introduction
This file contains responses to three questions related to Canada's productivity and innovation challenges. The first response addresses the factors contributing to Canada's poor productivity performance, including a lack of investment in innovation, an aging population, and structural ba
iers to growth. The second response proposes several policy measures to increase Canada's productivity and innovation picture, including increasing investment in R&D, reducing regulatory ba
iers to entry, and promoting greater labour market flexibility. The third response discusses the challenges that Canada faces in addressing the impediments to innovation, including the complexity of the issue, political opposition, fiscal constraints, long time horizons, and cultural attitudes. Finally, the fourth response highlights the ways in which post-secondary education can assist in Canada's productivity challenges, including developing a skilled workforce, encouraging lifelong learning, promoting entrepreneurship, fostering industry-academic partnerships, providing research and development, and addressing regional disparities.
Discussion 1
Canada has been experiencing a long-term productivity slowdown that has persisted for several decades. The country's labor productivity growth has been weaker than that of many of its peers, particularly the United States. This has significant implications for the country's standard of living, as productivity growth is a key driver of economic growth, and thus, income growth. There are several factors that have been identified as contributing to Canada's poor productivity performance. One of the primary factors is a lack of investment in innovation and technology. Research and development (R&D) spending in Canada is relatively low, and the country has a smaller number of high-tech companies compared to other advanced economies. This lack of investment in innovation and technology has resulted in a slower adoption of new technologies and processes, which in turn has limited productivity growth. Another factor that has been identified is a lack of competition. A small number of large firms in several key industries, which can lead to less competitive pressures to drive productivity growth, dominate Canada’s economy. In addition, there are regulatory ba
iers to entry for new businesses, particularly in industries such as telecommunications, finance, and transportation (Tabelin et al., 2021).
    Canada also has a relatively low level of labour market flexibility, which can limit productivity growth. Regulations and policies around hiring and firing, as well as the high level of unionization, can make it difficult for firms to adjust their workforce to changing market conditions, leading to lower productivity. Infrastructure is also a key factor that contributes to productivity growth. Canada has been criticized for its aging and inadequate infrastructure, particularly in transportation and telecommunications. This lack of infrastructure investment can lead to longer travel times and increased costs, which can reduce productivity. The education and skills of the workforce are also important factors that contribute to productivity growth. While Canada has a highly educated population, there are concerns about a skills gap in certain industries. As the economy shifts toward a greater reliance on technology and innovation, there is a growing need for workers with specialized skills that may not be readily available. Finally, some experts have pointed to Canada's resource-based economy as a contributing factor to its poor productivity performance. Resource extraction industries tend to have lower productivity than other sectors, as they rely on natural resources rather than technological innovation. As a result, Canada's reliance on resource extraction may limit overall productivity growth (Iversen et al., 2020). In conclusion, Canada's poor productivity performance can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a lack of investment in innovation and technology, a lack of competition, a low level of labour market flexibility, inadequate infrastructure, a skills gap in certain industries, and the country's reliance on resource extraction industries. Addressing these factors will require a combination of policy measures and investments in education, technology, and infrastructure to help boost productivity growth and improve the country's standard of living.
Discussion 2
    There are several policy measures that Canada could undertake to boost productivity and innovation in the country. Some potential measures include:
· Increase investment in research and development (R&D): Canada has historically lagged behind other countries in R&D spending. One way to boost productivity and innovation would be to increase public and private sector investment in R&D, particularly in areas that have the potential to drive economic growth, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clean energy (He et al., 2020).
· Foster a more competitive business environment: Canada has a relatively concentrated business environment, with a few large firms dominating several key industries. To increase productivity and innovation, it...