--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/investment-in-british-columbia-current-realities-and-the-way-forward/" title: "Investment in British Columbia: Current Realities and the Way Forward" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:37:36+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:37:36+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "British Columbia" - "ICT" - "infrastructure" - "investment" - "machinery and equipment" - "productivity" - "taxation" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "BC" research_theme: - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "Regional Economic Development" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Investment in British Columbia: Current Realities and the Way Forward Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/investment-in-british-columbia-current-realities-and-the-way-forward/ # Investment in British Columbia: Current Realities and the Way Forward [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2008-10-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Sharpe, Andrew, Jean-François Arsenault, and Peter Harrison. 2008. “Investment in British Columbia: Current Realities and the Way Forward.” CSLS Research Report 2008-10. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/investment-in-british-columbia-current-realities-and-the-way-forward/ ## Authors: - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Jean-François Arsenault Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Peter Harrison Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2008-10 December 2008 66 pages ## Related research [Productivity Trends in Natural Resources Industries in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01a | 69 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-natural-resources-industries-in-canada/) [Productivity in the Forest Products Sector: A Review of the Literature Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-02 | 28 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-in-the-forest-products-sector-a-review-of-the-literature/) [An Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01b | 64 pages](https://csls.ca/research/an-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-canada/) [Why Are Americans More Productive Than Canadians? 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Investment in British Columbia is lagging when compared to that of Canada, particularly in machinery and equipment and ICT investment. Going forward, a poor investment performance in BC would likely lead to below average growth in labour productivity, as was the case in the last 25 years. Weak labour productivity growth in BC would in turn translate into weak economic growth and falling relative standards of living over time. A number of measures may be taken to ensure sustained investment in physical capital in BC. This report puts forward a number of recommendations to increase investment in British Columbia. L’investissement est l’un des principaux moteurs de la croissance de la productivité, qui constitue le déterminant clé du niveau de vie à long terme. L’investissement en Colombie-Britannique accuse un retard par rapport au reste du Canada, particulièrement en ce qui concerne l’investissement en machines et matériel et en TIC. À l’avenir, une faible performance en matière d’investissement en C.-B. entraînerait probablement une croissance de la productivité du travail inférieure à la moyenne, comme ce fut le cas au cours des 25 dernières années. Une croissance faible de la productivité du travail en C.-B. se traduirait à son tour par une croissance économique faible et un recul du niveau de vie relatif au fil du temps. Plusieurs mesures peuvent être prises pour assurer un investissement soutenu en capital physique en C.-B. Ce rapport formule plusieurs recommandations pour accroître l’investissement en Colombie-Britannique. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2008-10-1.pdf)