Staples Theory @ 50: Re-Reading Staples Theory in Light of Current Trade and Development Theory

Jim Stanford (ed.), The Staple Theory @ 50: Reflections on the Lasting Significance of Mel Watkins’ “A Staple Theory of Economic Growth” Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, March 2014: 97-103.

7 Pages Posted: 12 Oct 2013 Last revised: 21 Mar 2014

See all articles by Dan Ciuriak

Dan Ciuriak

Ciuriak Consulting Inc.; Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI); C.D. Howe Institute; Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH

Date Written: October 10, 2013

Abstract

Staples Theory, as developed by renowned Canadian political scientists Harold Innis and W. A. Mackintosh, sought to explain the distinctive nature of the political economy of Canada’s various regions as having been shaped by the nature of the major resource exports of those regions – fish, timber, grains, etc. In his classic 1963 article, Melville Watkins restated the theory in pure economic theory terms. In this comment, I restate the theory in an updated context, taking into account the many developments in trade and development theory in the intervening half century and discuss its continuing relevance today. As a device I imagine the development of a brand new staple, and think through its implications in light of Watkins’ analysis but in terms of modern trade and development theory.

Keywords: Staples theory, resource curse, Dutch disease

JEL Classification: O13, O25

Suggested Citation

Ciuriak, Dan, Staples Theory @ 50: Re-Reading Staples Theory in Light of Current Trade and Development Theory (October 10, 2013). Jim Stanford (ed.), The Staple Theory @ 50: Reflections on the Lasting Significance of Mel Watkins’ “A Staple Theory of Economic Growth” Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, March 2014: 97-103., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2338736 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2338736

Dan Ciuriak (Contact Author)

Ciuriak Consulting Inc. ( email )

83 Stewart St.
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6H9
Canada

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) ( email )

57 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2
Canada

C.D. Howe Institute ( email )

67 Yonge St., Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J8
Canada

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada ( email )

Canada

HOME PAGE: http://ciuriakconsulting.com/

BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH ( email )

Romanstrasse 74
München, 80639
Germany

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
117
Abstract Views
959
Rank
427,869
PlumX Metrics