---
canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/unbundling-canadas-weak-productivity-performance-the-way-forward/"
title: "Unbundling Canada&#8217;s Weak Productivity Performance: The Way Forward"
author:
  name: "CSLS"
  url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/"
date_published: "2026-07-02T13:29:53+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-07T08:14:02+00:00"
post_type: "research"
summary: ""
post_tag:
  - "Canada"
  - "growth accounting"
  - "labour productivity"
  - "measurement"
  - "policy"
  - "productivity"
  - "research agenda"
country_focus:
  - "Canada"
province_region:
  - "National"
research_theme:
  - "Productivity and Economic Measurement"
featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp"
status: "publish"
---

# Unbundling Canada’s Weak Productivity Performance: The Way Forward

Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/unbundling-canadas-weak-productivity-performance-the-way-forward/

# Unbundling Canada’s Weak Productivity Performance: The Way Forward

[Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2010-02-1.pdf)

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Cite this report as:

Sharpe, Andrew. 2010. “Unbundling Canada’s Weak Productivity Performance: The Way Forward.” CSLS Research Report 2010-02. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/unbundling-canadas-weak-productivity-performance-the-way-forward/

## Author:

-
Andrew Sharpe
Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS)

## Report 2010-02

February 2010 57 pages

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## Abstract

## Résumé

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This report aims to accomplish three objectives: provide an assessment of Canada’s productivity performance; provide a synthesis of the productivity studies conducted by the Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) and the McKinsey Global Institute; and develop a framework for unbundling slow productivity growth in Canada and the widening productivity gap with the United States.

Ce rapport vise à atteindre trois objectifs : évaluer la performance du Canada en matière de productivité; proposer une synthèse des études sur la productivité menées par le Centre d’étude des niveaux de vie (CSLS) et le McKinsey Global Institute; et élaborer un cadre permettant de décomposer la faible croissance de la productivité au Canada ainsi que l’écart croissant de productivité avec les États-Unis.

[Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2010-02-1.pdf)
