Unanticipated Outcomes: Lessons from Canadian Automotive FDI Attraction in the 1980s

In the 1980s, the Canadian automotive manufacturing industry grew from three significant players to eight, growth that was facilitated by public policy schemes that were bold, calculating, and provocative. The decision to introduce direct incentives was pivotal, generating anxiety at both the federal and provincial levels. However, the evolution of a series of additional policy tools, each holding tangible value, proved just as important. These …