The Promise of Productivity: Delivering Shared Growth to Canadians
A research paper for the Canadian Standards Association Group examining how Canada can translate productivity growth into broadly shared economic gains.
Studies
A chronological record of substantive studies and policy contributions across competition, market structure, productivity, and inclusive growth.
For commercial competition and regulatory advisory, see 2R Strategy.
2026Year2 items
The Cost of Inaction: Measuring the Economic Impact of Gender-Based Violence in BC
Commissioned research quantifying the economic cost of gender-based violence in British Columbia, building an evidence base for prevention investment.
2025Year2 items
The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth
Peer-reviewed research examining the empirical relationship between efficiencies defenses in merger review and total factor productivity growth.
Labour Market Concentration in Canada: Key Insights and Recommendations for Action
A big-data study, co-authored with Matty Singh, providing one of the first comprehensive investigations into competition in Canada's labour markets. Uses Lightcast data to calculate concentration across regional labour markets and identify job types and regions where competition concerns are concentrated.
2024Year3 items
Flipping the Script: Charting a Path toward Full Economic and Financial Inclusion in Canada
Co-authored with Ron Memmel, this report combines strategic foresight, data analysis, and stakeholder convenings to develop a public policy agenda for a more inclusive Canadian economy.
Calculating Ontario's Living Wages
A custom model of Ontario's personal income tax system, programmed in R, calculating the before-tax income needed to provide a target living standard after families file their taxes. This model enables the Ontario Living Wage Network to publish wages for every community in Ontario.
A Critical Examination of Efficiency Within Competition Law in Canada and Globally
Doctoral dissertation, School of Public Policy and Administration. Recognised with the Senate Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
2023Year2 items
Views of the Divide: An Investigation into Canada's Wireless Divide
A comprehensive, data-driven study quantifying the digital divide for mobile service using the Canadian Internet Use Survey from Statistics Canada. Technology reluctance and lack of adoption among seniors emerged as key findings for policy makers seeking to close the mobile divide.
Leveraging Competition Law and Policy to Promote Inclusive Growth in Canada
Co-authored with Colleen Kaiser. Examines how Canadian competition law and policy can be used as a tool for advancing inclusive economic growth.
2022Year2 items
Study of Competition Issues in Data-Driven Markets in Canada
Commissioned research, co-authored with Vass Bednar and Ana Qarri, testing whether Canada's Competition Act is fit for purpose for the digital economy. Using scenarios grounded in case studies, the study examined how the Competition Act applies to digital business strategies and whether it can effectively curb practices that undermine competition, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The study was an important input to the 2022 to 2024 reforms to the Canadian Competition Act.
A custom R model of the Canada Workers Benefit, with scenarios estimating the impact and efficiency of program changes under various design choices.
2021Year4 items
A submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology setting out targeted reforms to Canada's Competition Act to better serve a digital, services-driven economy.
Check and Balance: The Case for Improving Canada's Competition Act to Protect Workers
Co-authored with Ana Qarri. Argues that the Competition Act should better account for the impact of mergers, monopsony power, and anti-competitive employment practices on workers.
The State of Competition Policy in Canada: Towards an Agenda for Reform in a Digital Era
Co-authored with Vass Bednar. Maps the landscape of Canadian competition policy and outlines an agenda for reform in a digital era, with attention to the regulatory tools needed to address data-driven market power.
Key Performance Indicator Roadmap: A Path Forward for Measuring Fort Calgary's Impact
A KPI dashboard built on a logic model, a visitor experience survey, and a roadmap for collecting and synthesising administrative data.
2020Year2 items
Covering All the Basics: Reforms for a More Just Society
As a contributor to the Panel's study, Robin developed a model simulating the cost, impact, and efficiency of over 1,640 versions of a basic income. The results informed decisions by the BC government and broader basic income policy development across Canada.
Ontario's Options: Evaluating How Provincial Carbon Pricing Revenues Can Improve Affordability
A series of policy options for recycling Ontario carbon pricing revenues under several scenarios, using Statistics Canada's Social Policy Simulation Database and Model to produce fiscal impacts by household income.