“As researchers, our task with decision-makers is to advise elected officials by reporting soberly and with humility on the state of knowledge and its implications, argue the authors”Photo: Getty Images iStockphoto
In this article from Le Devoir, Martin Maltais, Hélène Lecavalier, Julien Prud’homme, Catherine Haeck and Frédéric Guay report on the measures taken for the creation of the National Institute of Excellence in Education (INEE) desired by the Minister.
The creation of the INEE in no way affects the academic freedom of scholars.
The creation of the INEE in no way affects the mandate, powers and autonomy of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) which finance university research.
The researchers emphasize several important points: :
Article 4 of the future INEE Law requires the Institute to “exercise [its] mission in accordance with the values of rigour, objectivity, transparency and cooperation with the organizations that can contribute “
Section 8 provides for a Board of Trustees consisting of a chair separate from management, as well as the chief scientist, independent members, and the chairperson of the Council on Higher Education.
Then, Articles 11 to 13 provide for transparency obligations and the creation of a separate scientific committee
4. The promotion of a pluralism of approaches concerning evidence and their devices
5. All professionalized sectors of activity understand that a better structured use of scientific results is a good thing.
In this article Catherine Haeck and Pierre Fortin detail in 5 points the reasons why they are in favor of the creation of a National Institute of Excellence in Education (INEE).
The INEE will have competent personnel at its disposal who will sort, summarize the information and disseminate it throughout Quebec. In this way, teachers will have easy access to regularly updated scientific information that will allow them to choose what is relevant for their classroom and incorporate it into their professional practice.
In the same way as the Minister, Catherine Haeck and Pierre Fortin believe that a one-track system in education cannot succeed. Thus the role of INEE will also be to assess the multiple speeds of the current system.
Thousands of observations have led to a double result: 1. on average, young people in Quebec succeed as well, if not better, than those in other provinces; and 2. the students who experience the most difficulty do as well at home as elsewhere and even better in certain areas. The INEE will allow us to better understand why, and to go further.
INEE will be able to conduct small-scale experiments with children to see what works and what doesn’t before making large-scale changes.
Our value system damages our education system by increasing the pressure on children. They are too often categorized in a pejorative way in the public space and the INEE will have to be particularly attentive to everything that affects their well-being.
Using various national and international statistical data, Robert Lacroix, Catherine Haeck, Claude Montmarquette and Richard E. Tremblay explain in their latest book
The under-education of men and the choice of profession of women, (presented in the article in La Presse) the evolution and root causes of three constant phenomena in the field of education in Quebec and in the so-called industrialized countries : the university graduation of women caught up with that of men and then, against all expectations, surpassed it. Finally, despite this catch-up and this reversal of the trend, the differences in the disciplinary and professional choices of women and men have crystallized.
According to the researchers, “the subject is not under the magnifying glass because men do not seem to suffer from this gap at the moment. Their activity rate and their remuneration are even higher” but this subject still deserves our full attention. Catherine Haeck, reminds us that “we must not aim only at boys, there are of course girls in difficulty, she says, but by helping everyone, we help the boys”. To do this, the priority would be, according to the authors, above all to invest in early childhood.
Three UQÀM experts quoted in President Biden’s Economic Report!
It is in the President’s Economic Report (2023 edition) that the work of 3 UQÀM experts was cited to support a public childcare policy. This annual report of the US administration, produced by the Council of Economic Advisers, is an important vehicle for presenting the domestic and international economic policies of the White House.
Thus, the work of Catherine Hæck, Pierre Lefebvre and Philip Merrigan, professors of the Department of Economics at UQÀM is highlighted.
The first article cited is co-authored by Pierre Lefebvre and Philip Merrigan “Child Care Policy and the Labor Supply of Mothers with Young Children: A Natural Experiment from Canada” appears in Chapter 4. Through this study, the report highlights that investments in child care and early childhood education have significant positive effects on the employment rate of mothers of young children, as documented in countries such as Canada, Germany and Norway .
The second article, signed by Catherine Hæck, Pierre Lefebvre and Philip Merrigan, goes in the same direction. Published in 2015 in Labor Economics and titled “Canadian Evidence on Ten Years of Universal Preschool Policies: The Good and the Bad,” it is cited twice in the report’s Chapter 6, Supply Challenges in U.S. Labor Markets.
Professor Catherine Haeck, who was surprised to receive an email from the Council of Economic Advisers on March 21 advising her that she had been quoted in the Chairman’s Report, says she is proud to see that her work and that of his colleagues made his way to the White House. “It’s important when you know what child care costs can represent for a family and even more so for a single mother in the United States,” she says. A public subsidy policy really democratizes access to services”.
To read the article: https://actualites.uqam.ca/2023/trois-experts-de-luqam-cites-dans-le-rapport-economique-du-president-biden/?utm_source=29mars2023&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BULLETINUQAM
Using various national and international statistical data, Robert Lacroix, Catherine Haeck, Claude Montmarquette and Richard E. Tremblay explain in their latest book
The under-education of men and the choice of profession of women, (presented in the article in La Presse) the evolution and root causes of three constant phenomena in the field of education in Quebec and in the so-called industrialized countries : the university graduation of women caught up with that of men and then, against all expectations, surpassed it. Finally, despite this catch-up and this reversal of the trend, the differences in the disciplinary and professional choices of women and men have crystallized.
According to the researchers, “the subject is not under the magnifying glass because men do not seem to suffer from this gap at the moment. Their activity rate and their remuneration are even higher” but this subject still deserves our full attention. Catherine Haeck, reminds us that “we must not aim only at boys, there are of course girls in difficulty, she says, but by helping everyone, we help the boys”. To do this, the priority would be, according to the authors, above all to invest in early childhood.
Three UQÀM experts quoted in President Biden’s Economic Report!
It is in the President’s Economic Report (2023 edition) that the work of 3 UQÀM experts was cited to support a public childcare policy. This annual report of the US administration, produced by the Council of Economic Advisers, is an important vehicle for presenting the domestic and international economic policies of the White House.
Thus, the work of Catherine Hæck, Pierre Lefebvre and Philip Merrigan, professors of the Department of Economics at UQÀM is highlighted.
The first article cited is co-authored by Pierre Lefebvre and Philip Merrigan “Child Care Policy and the Labor Supply of Mothers with Young Children: A Natural Experiment from Canada” appears in Chapter 4. Through this study, the report highlights that investments in child care and early childhood education have significant positive effects on the employment rate of mothers of young children, as documented in countries such as Canada, Germany and Norway .
The second article, signed by Catherine Hæck, Pierre Lefebvre and Philip Merrigan, goes in the same direction. Published in 2015 in Labor Economics and titled “Canadian Evidence on Ten Years of Universal Preschool Policies: The Good and the Bad,” it is cited twice in the report’s Chapter 6, Supply Challenges in U.S. Labor Markets.
Professor Catherine Hæck, who was surprised to receive an email from the Council of Economic Advisers on March 21 advising her that she had been quoted in the Chairman’s Report, says she is proud to see that her work and that of his colleagues made his way to the White House. “It’s important when you know what child care costs can represent for a family and even more so for a single mother in the United States,” she says. A public subsidy policy really democratizes access to services”.
To read the article: https://actualites.uqam.ca/2023/trois-experts-de-luqam-cites-dans-le-rapport-economique-du-president-biden/?utm_source=29mars2023&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BULLETINUQAM
Study from Lucie Raymond-Brousseau: University Studies and Social Ascent
October 13, 2022 – CTV News and La Presse recently highlighted the results of the master’s thesis of Lucie Raymond-Brousseau, student at the RGHC, under the supervision of professors Marie Connolly and Catherine Haeck. Her research shows that children from the least well-off families (1st income quintile out of 5 quintiles) are less likely to pursue university studies (10% of undergraduate enrolments). Students from the wealthiest families (5th income quintile) make up 36% of enrolments.
Her study also reveals that a few years after completing their bachelor’s studies, nearly 30% of students from the 1st quintile make a leap into the 5th quintile, the highest one. Studies in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) offer a greater likelihood of rapid social mobility, followed by studies in health sciences or administration.
>Watch Lucie’s interview on CTV News
The RGHC has also made available the codes used to produce the thesis results, as well as the data access procedure, on the Université du Québec à Montréal’s dataverse at https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/PNENI2 (Raymond-Brousseau, 2022).
Congratulations to Lucie for completing her master’s thesis and promoting her research!
>To read her master’s thesis (in French)
>To read the full news article (in French)
Prof. Catherine Haeck Takes Part in a BBC Documentary
August 1, 2022 – A BBC Documentary on what childcare is for, as well as its costs and benefits, featured prof. Catherine Haeck highlighting some of the different advantages of the Quebec universal childcare system, as well as an area of improvement. She explains how our system started in 1997, is both center-based and family-based, and offers at least 10 hours a day of childcare. In the first 10 years following the launch of subsidized daycares, the percentage of mothers with children under 5, with paid employment had risen from approx. 50% to approx. 70%, which is above the national average of around 60%.
Studies have shown that in addition to helping out families, the Quebec model also brings more profit to the provincial and federal government. By increasing their tax revenues with an increased workforce, both levels of government receive more than their original investment in the childcare system. The main limitation, however, is that the spots in the higher quality daycares are often used by higher income families. Ensuring more equitable access to high quality subsidized daycares would greatly contribute to the development of the more vulnerable children, and to society as a whole.
>Listen to the complete BBC Documentary
The Pandemic Has Made Learning to Read More Difficult
May 31, 2022 – Le Devoir, the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec recently highlighted an analysis by Prof. Catherine Haeck and her team of the 2021 ministerial reading exam results of 7,500 4th graders. The team saw a 10% drop in average and a widening gap between the strongest and most vulnerable students. In addition, during the pandemic, the classes that remained closed for the longest periods led to a more marked drop in student grades, especially among students facing the biggest learning challenges. According to Prof. Haeck: “The pandemic has affected exam results, but the good news is that in-person schooling works”. Reopening the schools and having children return to class should reduce the gaps between children. The research team also plans to analyze the results of the 2022 ministerial exam to look into the catch-up that should be starting in terms of reading skills.
>Le Devoir (May 20, 2022) (in French)
>Le Journal de Québec and Le Journal de Montréal (May 12, 2022) (in French)
The Role of Private Schools
The RGHC research was also mentioned in an opinion piece stating that Quebec was not the most unequal province in terms of education.
>La Presse (May 16, 2022) (in French)
La Presse also mentions the potential effects of a hypothetical merger of private and public school systems. According to the estimates of Prof. Haeck, this would lead to an increase of approximately 375 classes in public high schools, thereby increasing the global costs of the public education school system.
>La Presse (May 14, 2022) (in French)
An Extra Child Care Benefit to Compensate for a Shortage of Daycare Spots?
In this other article, Prof. Haeck explains that the effects of an extra benefit uniquely for parents who are unable to return to work following parental leave, due to a shortage of daycare spots, would not be so beneficial. This type of help would only benefit a small number of parents because for the time being, no statistics show an increase of stay-at-home mothers.
> La Presse (March 19, 2022) (in French)
Webinar with Marie Connolly | Women and the post-pandemic economy – perspectives on “she-cession”
January 28, 2022 – Professor Marie Connolly gave an interview today on the impacts of the pandemic on women on RDI Économie – women having suffered some of the most negative impacts. Following the webinar she hosted this week on the same topic, she discussed the work of Armine Yalnizyan, Fellow of the Atkinson Foundation on the Future of Workers and the economist behind the term “she-cession”. This term is widely used in the English-language press to characterize the impact of the pandemic on women. Professor Connolly also brought forth certain economic and social impacts of the recession and the recovery on women. For example, the school closures had negative effects on both the well-being of children and of mothers. In a context in which the Omicron variant threatens to cause a “she-cession” 2.0, she also discussed future prospects and the importance of keeping the schools open. Following the webinar, the “Conseiller” media also highlighted the inequalities of the “she-cession”, in which women were disproportionally hit.
>To read the article (in French)
ICI RDI | Interview with Professor Marie Connolly about the work of David Card “Nobel Prize in economics”
October 28, 2021 – In different interviews with Radio-Canada (ICI RDI Television and the “Question d’intérêt” podcast), Professor Marie Connolly explains the work of labor economist and Canadian David Card, who jointly won the Nobel Prize in economics in October 2021. He has been recognized for his use of methods based on natural experiences, in his studies of the effects of minimum wages, and the effects of immigration, on the labor market. His studies revealed that raising the minimum wage, or the arrival of immigrants, did not necessarily increase the unemployment rate. His greatest contribution to research in economics, however, lies more in the design of the study and the analytical framework. Professor Marie Connolly also gave an interview on Radio-Canada radio in Edmonton on the same topic.
>To watch the interview (in French)
>To listen to the podcast (in French)
The Conversation | Risks associated with school closures still outweigh the risks to children’s health
August 31, 2021 – Catherine Haeck and some of her colleagues recently published this article based on their research findings to indicate that even with the progression of variants, closing schools would have far more negative than positive effects on children’s well-being and futures. Different studies carried out either in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States or Belgium have indicated that despite the variants, the symptoms of children who have contracted COVID-19 generally remain mild. The opening of schools remains crucial for the academic, social and behavioral development of children. In addition, schools provide social support, help establish healthy lifestyles and help immigrant children learn new languages as well as foster their integration into their new communities.
>Check out the full article
La Presse | Being Strong in Math Translates to Higher Salaries
June 28, 2021 – Catherine Haeck, Raquel Fonseca and Marie Mélanie Fontaine this month published a study entitled “The link between numeracy skills and labor market performance in Quebec” (in French) with CIRANO this month. One of the major findings is that adults aged 35 to 54 in Québec who are strong in math earn 21% more than other adults. This salary gap was found equally among men and women, blue-collar and white-collar workers, immigrants and born in Canada. In addition, this salary advantage has increased over time from the 2000s. As summarized by Professor Catherine Haeck: “The more time passes, the more the gap increases between individuals with strong numeracy skills and the others.” This mainly descriptive research used confidential microdata from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and from the Longitudinal and International Survey of Adults (LISA).
>To read the article (in French)
Rad | ICI Radio-Canada: the Consequences of Childcare Shortage in Québec
June 16, 2021 – Professor Catherine Haeck explains that quality childcare is more rarely used by parents who need it the most. This situation is exacerbated by the current lack of childcare spaces in CPEs. With its reputation of high-quality childcare, CPEs attract many parents. However, it is generally children from more advantaged backgrounds who obtain the coveted places. Developmental gaps between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds are already present from the age of 5. The earlier the state invests in children’s development, the more economical and societal benefits it will later reap.
>Check out the video (in French).
CBC – Focus on the 2021 Federal Budget for Child Care Services
April 19, 2021 – Catherine Haeck is in favor of the federal budget for the creation of a reduced contribution child care program across Canada and has given two interviews on this subject. The significant investments announced over a five-year period pave the way for the creation of a quality child care system across the country. This commitment should allow more women to join the labor market and should also be supported by provincial investments. Ensuring the quality of childcare services will be one of the keys to making sure that the new investments lead to significant economic gains.
> Check out the CBC TV interview (4:30 to 9:20)
> Listen to the CBC Radio Interview on the radio show “the House”
Conference by Catherine Haeck and Media Interventions on the Taxation of Sugary Drinks in Quebec
March 24, 2021 – Professor Catherine Haeck gave a conference to the Coalition québécoise sur la problématique du poids, on her study on the impact on Quebec of a tax on sugary drinks, carried out with Nicholas Lawson, professor, and Krystel Poirier, student. Professor Haeck, the principal investigator, explained the main effects and economic benefits of adding such a tax.
>To check out the presentation (in French)
>To read the report (in French)
Catherine Haeck was also present in these different media to highlight the results of the study:
2021-03-23, ICI Radio-Canada, Téléjournal de Québec, La taxation des boissons sucrées au Québec
2021-03-23, ICI RDI, Zone Économie, La taxation des boissons sucrées au Québec, with Gérald Filion
2021-03-23, ICI Radio-Canada, 17 h 45, La taxation des boissons sucrées au Québec, C’est encore mieux l’après-midi, with Guillaume Dumas
2021-03-23, CBC News Québec, 17 h, Soft drink taxation in Québec, with Peter Tardif
La Presse – Study on the Taxation of Sugary Drinks
March 20, 2021 – Catherine Haeck and her team have prepared a study on the effectiveness of a possible taxation of sugary drinks on their consumption for the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). The overconsumption of sugar is a major public health issue and an increase in the price of sugary drinks would have a positive effect on the health of individuals in the long term. The professor also insists that: “The tax is a tool, but it is not enough. We also need an awareness campaign and reinjection of tax revenues. (educational program at school, financing of healthy meals at daycare, etc.”
>To read the article (in French)
>To check out the report
Actualités UQAM – Broken Social Elevator in Canada
March 18, 2021 – Professors Marie Connolly and Catherine Haeck, as well as David Lapierre (M.A. in economics, 2016), have highlighted the increase in income inequalities and the increasingly marked decline in social mobility between generations. Marie Connolly explains that: “Social mobility has diminished in the lower income bracket, which means that the cycle of poverty is repeated from generation to generation.”
>To read the article (in French)
>To check out the study
CBC Radio – Interview with Marie Connolly on new access to statistics showing decreased social mobility
February 2021 – Marie Connolly gave 10 interviews in various local CBC Radio stations across the country: Toronto, Quebec City, Newfoundland, Saskatoon, Yellowknife, Winnipeg, Goose Bay (Labrador), Vancouver, Whitehorse and Calgary. The theme was the decreased social mobility in Canada since the early 1960s and the increase in income inequalities. This analysis of the social mobility situation was made possible thanks to new access to Statistics Canada microdata.
Ici Radio-Canada – Participation in the economic podcast Question of interest under the theme “Is the social elevator broken?”
February 15, 2021 – Catherine Haeck discussed inter- and intragenerational social mobility in Quebec by participating in Ici Radio-Canada’s “Question of Interest” podcast. Two main poles of intervention can promote this social mobility: the labor market, over a shorter term, and education and health, over a longer term. Although social mobility remains greater in Canada than in the United States, it has been declining since the 1960s. The implementation of programs or interventions could, however, help improve the situation.
> Listen to the podcast to find out more (in French)
Le Devoir – New Access to Statistics Showing a Decrease in Social Mobility
February 12, 2021 – Marie Connolly gave an interview on social mobility to Le Devoir this week. Thanks to a new access to microdata, the professor put forth that social mobility has been reduced in Canada since the early 1960s and that income inequalities have increased. The probability that a child will achieve a better standard of living than that of his parents has therefore decreased. Marie Connolly explains that in order to address this situation of inequality and reduced social mobility, the first step would be to form a clear picture of the problem. A next step would be to be able to access and cross-reference these microdata with other government data.
>To read the article (in French)
Journal de Québec – Collaboration on the new methodology for developing CEGEP rankings
February 12, 2021 – Thanks to a collaboration with Catherine Haeck, the Journal de Québec’s new CEGEP ranking assessment methodology is now also based on the academic level of students upon entering. This is one of the main factors influencing college graduation. This new approach notably mitigates the effects of student selection on the graduation rate. The ranking of CEGEPs now more closely reflects their contribution to the success of their students.
>To find out more (in French)
Understanding the Factors that Affect Student Success in School: a Publication by Catherine Haeck and Marie Connolly Featured in La Presse
January 18, 2021 – Our children and youth are Catherine Haeck and Marie Connolly’s priority. In order for researchers to understand the reasons behind each student’s success, however, data is needed – in large amounts. Canada must relaunch the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), and Quebec must use the impressive amount of data it collects to better understand how children are doing and how to help them. Read this excellent article by Francis Vailles (in French) on how accessing data for research purposes is important to help improve the collective well-being of children and youth.
Catherine Haeck and Marie Connolly also wrote the chapter “Public Administration Data Accessibility” in the “Le Québec économique 9: Perspectives et Challenges de la Transformation Numérique” volume (in French) published this week by CIRANO.
In this article Catherine Haeck and Pierre Fortin detail in 5 points the reasons why they are in favor of the creation of a National Institute of Excellence in Education (INEE).
October 13, 2022 – CTV News and La Presse recently highlighted the results of the master’s thesis of Lucie Raymond-Brousseau, student at the RGHC, under the supervision of professors Marie Connolly and Catherine Haeck. Her research shows that children from the least well-off families (1st income quintile out of 5 quintiles) are less likely to pursue university studies (10% of undergraduate enrolments). Students from the wealthiest families (5th income quintile) make up 36% of enrolments.
Her study also reveals that a few years after completing their bachelor’s studies, nearly 30% of students from the 1st quintile make a leap into the 5th quintile, the highest one. Studies in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) offer a greater likelihood of rapid social mobility, followed by studies in health sciences or administration.
>Watch Lucie’s interview on CTV News
The RGHC has also made available the codes used to produce the thesis results, as well as the data access procedure, on the Université du Québec à Montréal’s dataverse at https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/PNENI2 (Raymond-Brousseau, 2022).
Congratulations to Lucie for completing her master’s thesis and promoting her research!
>To read her master’s thesis (in French)
>To read the full news article (in French)
August 1, 2022 – A BBC Documentary on what childcare is for, as well as its costs and benefits, featured prof. Catherine Haeck highlighting some of the different advantages of the Quebec universal childcare system, as well as an area of improvement. She explains how our system started in 1997, is both center-based and family-based, and offers at least 10 hours a day of childcare. In the first 10 years following the launch of subsidized daycares, the percentage of mothers with children under 5, with paid employment had risen from approx. 50% to approx. 70%, which is above the national average of around 60%.
Studies have shown that in addition to helping out families, the Quebec model also brings more profit to the provincial and federal government. By increasing their tax revenues with an increased workforce, both levels of government receive more than their original investment in the childcare system. The main limitation, however, is that the spots in the higher quality daycares are often used by higher income families. Ensuring more equitable access to high quality subsidized daycares would greatly contribute to the development of the more vulnerable children, and to society as a whole.
>Listen to the complete BBC Documentary
May 31, 2022 – Le Devoir, the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec recently highlighted an analysis by Prof. Catherine Haeck and her team of the 2021 ministerial reading exam results of 7,500 4th graders. The team saw a 10% drop in average and a widening gap between the strongest and most vulnerable students. In addition, during the pandemic, the classes that remained closed for the longest periods led to a more marked drop in student grades, especially among students facing the biggest learning challenges. According to Prof. Haeck: “The pandemic has affected exam results, but the good news is that in-person schooling works”. Reopening the schools and having children return to class should reduce the gaps between children. The research team also plans to analyze the results of the 2022 ministerial exam to look into the catch-up that should be starting in terms of reading skills.
>Le Devoir (May 20, 2022) (in French)
>Le Journal de Québec and Le Journal de Montréal (May 12, 2022) (in French)
The Role of Private Schools
The RGHC research was also mentioned in an opinion piece stating that Quebec was not the most unequal province in terms of education.
>La Presse (May 16, 2022) (in French)
La Presse also mentions the potential effects of a hypothetical merger of private and public school systems. According to the estimates of Prof. Haeck, this would lead to an increase of approximately 375 classes in public high schools, thereby increasing the global costs of the public education school system.
>La Presse (May 14, 2022) (in French)
An Extra Child Care Benefit to Compensate for a Shortage of Daycare Spots?
In this other article, Prof. Haeck explains that the effects of an extra benefit uniquely for parents who are unable to return to work following parental leave, due to a shortage of daycare spots, would not be so beneficial. This type of help would only benefit a small number of parents because for the time being, no statistics show an increase of stay-at-home mothers.
> La Presse (March 19, 2022) (in French)
January 28, 2022 – Professor Marie Connolly gave an interview today on the impacts of the pandemic on women on RDI Économie – women having suffered some of the most negative impacts. Following the webinar she hosted this week on the same topic, she discussed the work of Armine Yalnizyan, Fellow of the Atkinson Foundation on the Future of Workers and the economist behind the term “she-cession”. This term is widely used in the English-language press to characterize the impact of the pandemic on women. Professor Connolly also brought forth certain economic and social impacts of the recession and the recovery on women. For example, the school closures had negative effects on both the well-being of children and of mothers. In a context in which the Omicron variant threatens to cause a “she-cession” 2.0, she also discussed future prospects and the importance of keeping the schools open. Following the webinar, the “Conseiller” media also highlighted the inequalities of the “she-cession”, in which women were disproportionally hit.
>To read the article (in French)
October 28, 2021 – In different interviews with Radio-Canada (ICI RDI Television and the “Question d’intérêt” podcast), Professor Marie Connolly explains the work of labor economist and Canadian David Card, who jointly won the Nobel Prize in economics in October 2021. He has been recognized for his use of methods based on natural experiences, in his studies of the effects of minimum wages, and the effects of immigration, on the labor market. His studies revealed that raising the minimum wage, or the arrival of immigrants, did not necessarily increase the unemployment rate. His greatest contribution to research in economics, however, lies more in the design of the study and the analytical framework. Professor Marie Connolly also gave an interview on Radio-Canada radio in Edmonton on the same topic.
>To watch the interview (in French)
>To listen to the podcast (in French)
June 28, 2021 – Catherine Haeck, Raquel Fonseca and Marie Mélanie Fontaine this month published a study entitled “The link between numeracy skills and labor market performance in Quebec” (in French) with CIRANO this month. One of the major findings is that adults aged 35 to 54 in Québec who are strong in math earn 21% more than other adults. This salary gap was found equally among men and women, blue-collar and white-collar workers, immigrants and born in Canada. In addition, this salary advantage has increased over time from the 2000s. As summarized by Professor Catherine Haeck: “The more time passes, the more the gap increases between individuals with strong numeracy skills and the others.” This mainly descriptive research used confidential microdata from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and from the Longitudinal and International Survey of Adults (LISA).
>To read the article (in French)
Rad | ICI Radio-Canada: the Consequences of Childcare Shortage in Québec
March 24, 2021 – Professor Catherine Haeck gave a conference to the Coalition québécoise sur la problématique du poids, on her study on the impact on Quebec of a tax on sugary drinks, carried out with Nicholas Lawson, professor, and Krystel Poirier, student. Professor Haeck, the principal investigator, explained the main effects and economic benefits of adding such a tax.
>To check out the presentation (in French)
>To read the report (in French)
Catherine Haeck was also present in these different media to highlight the results of the study:
March 20, 2021 – Catherine Haeck and her team have prepared a study on the effectiveness of a possible taxation of sugary drinks on their consumption for the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). The overconsumption of sugar is a major public health issue and an increase in the price of sugary drinks would have a positive effect on the health of individuals in the long term. The professor also insists that: “The tax is a tool, but it is not enough. We also need an awareness campaign and reinjection of tax revenues. (educational program at school, financing of healthy meals at daycare, etc.”
>To read the article (in French)
>To check out the report
March 18, 2021 – Professors Marie Connolly and Catherine Haeck, as well as David Lapierre (M.A. in economics, 2016), have highlighted the increase in income inequalities and the increasingly marked decline in social mobility between generations. Marie Connolly explains that: “Social mobility has diminished in the lower income bracket, which means that the cycle of poverty is repeated from generation to generation.”
>To read the article (in French)
>To check out the study
February 2021 – Marie Connolly gave 10 interviews in various local CBC Radio stations across the country: Toronto, Quebec City, Newfoundland, Saskatoon, Yellowknife, Winnipeg, Goose Bay (Labrador), Vancouver, Whitehorse and Calgary. The theme was the decreased social mobility in Canada since the early 1960s and the increase in income inequalities. This analysis of the social mobility situation was made possible thanks to new access to Statistics Canada microdata.
February 15, 2021 – Catherine Haeck discussed inter- and intragenerational social mobility in Quebec by participating in Ici Radio-Canada’s “Question of Interest” podcast. Two main poles of intervention can promote this social mobility: the labor market, over a shorter term, and education and health, over a longer term. Although social mobility remains greater in Canada than in the United States, it has been declining since the 1960s. The implementation of programs or interventions could, however, help improve the situation.
> Listen to the podcast to find out more (in French)
February 12, 2021 – Marie Connolly gave an interview on social mobility to Le Devoir this week. Thanks to a new access to microdata, the professor put forth that social mobility has been reduced in Canada since the early 1960s and that income inequalities have increased. The probability that a child will achieve a better standard of living than that of his parents has therefore decreased. Marie Connolly explains that in order to address this situation of inequality and reduced social mobility, the first step would be to form a clear picture of the problem. A next step would be to be able to access and cross-reference these microdata with other government data.
>To read the article (in French)
February 12, 2021 – Thanks to a collaboration with Catherine Haeck, the Journal de Québec’s new CEGEP ranking assessment methodology is now also based on the academic level of students upon entering. This is one of the main factors influencing college graduation. This new approach notably mitigates the effects of student selection on the graduation rate. The ranking of CEGEPs now more closely reflects their contribution to the success of their students.
>To find out more (in French)
January 18, 2021 – Our children and youth are Catherine Haeck and Marie Connolly’s priority. In order for researchers to understand the reasons behind each student’s success, however, data is needed – in large amounts. Canada must relaunch the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), and Quebec must use the impressive amount of data it collects to better understand how children are doing and how to help them. Read this excellent article by Francis Vailles (in French) on how accessing data for research purposes is important to help improve the collective well-being of children and youth.
Catherine Haeck and Marie Connolly also wrote the chapter “Public Administration Data Accessibility” in the “Le Québec économique 9: Perspectives et Challenges de la Transformation Numérique” volume (in French) published this week by CIRANO.