Summary of Expert Scholar Dr. Kui Wai Li in the Field of Conceptual Economics (2)
—Revitalizing the Canadian Economy–
李鉅威博士希望以保守党联邦议员身份振兴加拿大经济
Dr. Kui-Wai Li Aims to Revitalize Canada’s Economy as Conservative MP
作者：李鉅威博士
August 5, 2024
I. Introduction
引言
Many people think economics is an easy subject because people work with it daily. Politicians think that economics is part of politics. There is a huge difference between economics and politics. If economics is included in politics, then economics serves to achieve political goals, and economic outcomes are being interpreted politically. On the contrary, if politics is included in economics, priority and focus will be given to economics, and political goals become secondary. As such, genuine economic outcomes are seen as more important than political considerations. It is thus crucial for all elected political leaders to make a distinction between whether economics is politicized to become a political tool, or politics is meant to serve and facilitate economic outcomes.
许多人认为经济学是一门简单的学科，因为人们每天都在与之打交道。政治家认为经济学是政治的一部分。经济学与政治学之间有很大的区别。如果经济学被纳入政治，那么经济学就会服务于实现政治目标，经济结果也会被政治化解释。相反，如果政治被纳入经济学，优先考虑和关注的将是经济，政治目标变得次要。因此，真正的经济结果被视为比政治考虑更重要。因此，所有当选的政治领导人都必须区分经济学是否被政治化成为政治工具，还是政治是为了服务和促进经济结果。
For probably the decade of 2015-2025, Canada’s Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pursued a policy of putting “economics into politics” and believed in a bigger role of the government in conducting economic affairs. The pro-welfare, left-leaning approach was that it would only be the government’s fiscal spending that could reduce people’s hardship, solve economic problems, and promote growth. The COVID-19 pandemic in the period 2019-2021 provided the Prime Minister with a golden opportunity to spend, rescue, and cover as many private aspects of lives as possible, while private businesses were heavily restricted and business operations were severely limited, causing losses in the entire business environment. Under Prime Minister Trudeau, economics had become a political tool, and political goals were given top priority over all aspects of economic affairs.
在2015-2025年的十年间，加拿大自由党政府在总理贾斯廷·特鲁多的领导下，推行了一项将“经济学纳入政治”的政策，并相信政府在经济事务中应发挥更大的作用。这种亲福利、左倾的做法认为，只有政府的财政支出才能减轻人们的困难，解决经济问题，促进增长。2019-2021年的新冠疫情为总理提供了一个黄金机会，可以花钱、救助，并尽可能多地覆盖生活的私人方面，而私人企业受到严重限制，业务运营受到严重限制，导致整个商业环境的损失。在特鲁多总理的领导下，经济学成为了一种政治工具，政治目标在所有经济事务中被优先考虑。
The big government plan seemed to look good as almost all citizens were given additional welfare, and the Liberal government did not seem to worry nor aware of the economic consequences. The intention to earn more votes in the next political election could be the political implication of the huge fiscal spending. Or that election would have taken place before the subsequent economic ills emerged. But economic activities are linked together and can have undesirable consequences. The Liberal government was intended to spend its way out, hoping that things could work themselves out, such as the idea that “the budget will balance itself”. By 2023-2024, it turned out that the Liberal government’s free lunch policy backfired, and the Prime Minister’s rating shrank considerably. People are expecting the return of a Conservative government in the 2025 federal election in Canada. Nonetheless, the legacy of the Liberal government would be to keep spending big money to create an economic mess with huge national debt for the next Conservative government. Should the Conservative win the 2025 election, the Conservative government under the leadership of Mr. Pierre Poilievre would have a daunting task to correct the numerous economic inconsistencies inherited from the Liberal government.
大政府计划似乎看起来不错，因为几乎所有公民都获得了额外的福利，自由党政府似乎并不担心或意识到经济后果。巨额财政支出的政治含义可能是为了在下一次政治选举中获得更多选票。或者选举会在随后的经济问题出现之前进行。但经济活动是相互关联的，可能会产生不良后果。自由党政府打算通过支出来解决问题，希望事情能够自行解决，例如“预算会自动平衡”的想法。到2023-2024年，自由党政府的免费午餐政策适得其反，总理的支持率大幅下降。人们预计在2025年的加拿大联邦选举中，保守党将重新上台。尽管如此，自由党政府的遗产将是继续花大钱，为下届保守党政府创造一个巨大的国家债务经济混乱。如果保守党赢得2025年选举，皮埃尔·波利耶夫领导下的保守党政府将面临纠正自由党政府遗留的众多经济不一致性的艰巨任务。
The various economic inconsistencies are discussed in the next section, followed by the discussion on the revitalization of the Canadian economy.
下一节将讨论各种经济不一致性，随后讨论振兴加拿大经济的问题。
II. Economic Inconsistencies
经济不一致性
There are a few economics laws that politicians would have ignored. Firstly, welfare spending would simply add to the expenditure of the welfare recipients, and welfare spending would not lead to savings and investment activities. It is only investment that could generate income and productivity. Welfare spending is considered as “terminal” because it would not lead to economic growth.
有一些经济学定律是政治家们忽视的。首先，福利支出只会增加福利接受者的支出，而不会导致储蓄和投资活动。只有投资才能产生收入和生产力。福利支出被认为是“终端的”，因为它不会导致经济增长。
Secondly, the problem with the provision of government assistance has always been the extent of welfare coverage. Namely, how many welfare items should the government assist and how much fiscal assistance should be given to every welfare item.
其次，政府援助的提供问题一直是福利覆盖的范围。即政府应该援助多少福利项目，每个福利项目应该给予多少财政援助。
Thirdly, it is just a politicization of taxation if politicians thought that the government has all the authority to tax and taxpayers cannot escape. There is an optimal tax rate that produces an optimal level of tax revenue, but beyond the optimal tax rate, a further increase in the tax rate could result in a fall in tax revenue. And the higher the tax rate, the lower the tax revenue. In a market economy, investors always have the choice of not investing. Most investors are willing to pay tax as that would be their social role, but an excessive tax rate could create disincentive. The government can have authority over the tax rate, tax items, efficiency of tax collection, but does not have control over the tax population.
第三，如果政治家认为政府拥有所有的税收权力而纳税人无法逃避，那只是税收的政治化。存在一个产生最佳税收收入的最佳税率，但超过最佳税率，税率的进一步增加可能导致税收收入的下降。税率越高，税收收入越低。在市场经济中，投资者总是可以选择不投资。大多数投资者愿意纳税，因为那是他们的社会角色，但过高的税率可能会产生抑制作用。政府可以对税率、税目、税收征管效率拥有权力，但无法控制纳税人口。
The huge welfare program adopted by the Liberal government, especially during the pandemic period, provided numerous assistances to many groups of individuals, while restricting businesses and manufacturing plants to operate. The first consequence was the fall in productivity, as manufacturing plants and businesses closed, and production halted. While the Liberal government also provided rescue to businesses to avoid rise in unemployment, businesses did experience losses. However, the fall in production and productivity was met with huge fiscal spending that kept workers’ incomes to a decent level. This naturally created excess demand, but prices were kept steady during the pandemic period, which meant that inflation would shoot up once the pandemic was over. Furthermore, many welfare claimants were not eligible for assistance. Nonetheless, the Canadian economy was brought to a halt by the Liberal government during the pandemic period.
自由党政府采用的大规模福利计划，特别是在疫情期间，为许多群体提供了大量援助，同时限制了企业和制造厂的运营。第一个后果是生产力下降，因为制造厂和企业关闭，生产停止。虽然自由党政府也为企业提供了救助以避免失业率上升，但企业确实经历了损失。然而，生产和生产力的下降伴随着巨大的财政支出，使工人的收入保持在一个体面的水平。这自然产生了过剩需求，但在疫情期间价格保持稳定，这意味着一旦疫情结束，通货膨胀就会飙升。此外，许多福利申请者不符合援助资格。尽管如此，加拿大经济在疫情期间被自由党政府停滞了。
Hence, once the pandemic was over, the unfavorable economic consequences returned to haunt the Liberal government. Firstly, the national debt has risen to its historical high, and there was no plan to balance the budget. The fall in productivity during the pandemic would produce a period of low growth. Businesses which had suffered losses during the pandemic would need to recover their losses by either reducing their employment or raising price. Retailers were prepared to raise prices knowing that welfare recipients had received government assistance. Thus, the first post-pandemic economic trend was high inflation with rising national debt. Low productivity, fiscal debt, and loss recovery were the direct causes of inflation.
因此，一旦疫情结束，不利的经济后果就回到了自由党政府的头上。首先，国家债务上升到历史高位，并且没有平衡预算的计划。疫情期间生产力的下降将导致一段低增长期。在疫情期间遭受损失的企业需要通过减少就业或提高价格来弥补损失。零售商准备提高价格，因为他们知道福利接受者已经获得了政府援助。因此，疫情后的第一个经济趋势是高通胀和上升的国家债务。低生产力、财政债务和损失恢复是通货膨胀的直接原因。
Unfortunately, politics had dominated the Liberal government. Instead of reversing the large spending policy, excessive fiscal spending continued, or even increased as there are more recipient groups. Hence, fiscal spending was further increased, and inflation stayed high. Instead of addressing the mistake on fiscal policy spending, the Liberal government turned to monetary policy by raising the interest rate, hoping that would cut consumer spending and control inflation. Inflation figures showed that Canada’s inflation was only 1% in November 2020, reached a peak of 8.1% in June 2022, stayed above 4% until May 2023, and above 3% until the end of 2023. Interest rate has risen to 5% within a short period, thereby raising the mortgage rate to as high as 8%. The high fiscal spending was combined with increase in tax. For example, the carbon tax of over 3 cents per liter was introduced in April 2024, though some rebate was given to households. Other tax increases include a rise in capital gain tax. In Toronto, the situation was worsened by the election of the new Mayor from the leftist New Democratic Party who decided to increase property tax by 9.5% in 2024. One can easily add up these increasing figures from inflation, rising interest for mortgages, carbon tax, capital gain tax, and property tax in Toronto and guestimate the severe impact on an average Canadian household. The economics results include the lowering of purchasing power as the cost of living rises, decline in personal welfare as the standard of living falls, and a weaker economy as productivity dropped.
不幸的是，政治主导了自由党政府。相反，没有扭转大规模支出政策，过度的财政支出继续，甚至增加了，因为有更多的受益群体。因此，财政支出进一步增加，通货膨胀保持高位。自由党政府没有解决财政政策支出的错误，而是转向货币政策，通过提高利率，希望能减少消费者支出并控制通货膨胀。通货膨胀数据显示，加拿大的通货膨胀率在2020年11月仅为1%，在2022年6月达到8.1%的峰值，直到2023年5月保持在4%以上，直到2023年底保持在3%以上。利率在短时间内上升到5%，从而将抵押贷款利率提高到8%。高财政支出与税收增加相结合。例如，2024年4月引入了每升超过3分钱的碳税，尽管向家庭提供了一些退税。其他税收增加包括资本利得税的上升。在多伦多，情况因左翼新民主党当选的新市长决定在2024年将物业税提高9.5%而恶化。人们可以轻松地将这些通货膨胀、抵押贷款利率上升、碳税、资本利得税和多伦多的物业税增加的数字相加，并估算出对普通加拿大家庭的严重影响。经济结果包括随着生活成本的上升，购买力的下降，生活水平下降导致的个人福利下降，以及生产力下降导致的经济疲软。
III. Revitalizing the Canadian Economy
振兴加拿大经济
The revitalization of the Canadian economy requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the economic inconsistencies and challenges inherited from the previous government. Here are some key strategies:
振兴加拿大经济需要多方面的方法，解决从前任政府继承的经济不一致性和挑战。以下是一些关键策略：
1. Fiscal Responsibility
财政责任
The new government must prioritize balancing the budget and reducing national debt. This involves cutting unnecessary spending and ensuring that fiscal policies are sustainable in the long term.
新政府必须优先考虑平衡预算和减少国家债务。这包括削减不必要的支出，并确保财政政策在长期内是可持续的。
2. Encouraging Investment
鼓励投资
Policies should be implemented to attract both domestic and foreign investments. This includes providing tax incentives, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and creating a business-friendly environment.
应实施政策以吸引国内外投资。这包括提供税收优惠、减少官僚主义障碍，并创造一个对企业友好的环境。
3. Improving Productivity
提高生产力
Investing in technology, education, and infrastructure is crucial to enhance productivity. This includes supporting research and development, improving the quality of education, and upgrading transportation and communication networks.
投资于技术、教育和基础设施对于提高生产力至关重要。这包括支持研发、提高教育质量以及升级交通和通信网络。
4.Tax Reforms
税收改革
Reforming the tax system to make it more efficient and equitable is essential. This includes lowering the tax burden on businesses and individuals while ensuring that the tax system is progressive and fair.
改革税收制度以使其更加高效和公平是必要的。这包括降低企业和个人的税收负担，同时确保税收制度是累进和公平的。
5. Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
支持中小企业
SMEs are the backbone of the economy. Providing support through grants, loans, and training programs can help these businesses grow and contribute to economic recovery.
中小企业是经济的支柱。通过提供补助、贷款和培训计划来支持这些企业，可以帮助它们成长并为经济复苏做出贡献。
6. Addressing Inflation
解决通货膨胀
Controlling inflation is critical to maintaining economic stability. This involves a combination of monetary policies, such as adjusting interest rates, and fiscal policies that do not exacerbate inflationary pressures.
控制通货膨胀对于维持经济稳定至关重要。这涉及货币政策的组合，如调整利率，以及不会加剧通胀压力的财政政策。
7. Promoting Exports
促进出口
Expanding international trade and promoting exports can drive economic growth. This includes negotiating favorable trade agreements and supporting industries with export potential.
扩大国际贸易和促进出口可以推动经济增长。这包括谈判有利的贸易协定和支持具有出口潜力的行业。
8. Enhancing Social Welfare
增强社会福利
While fiscal responsibility is important, it is also crucial to ensure that social welfare programs are effective and targeted. This includes providing support to those in need while encouraging self-sufficiency and reducing dependency.
虽然财政责任很重要，但确保社会福利计划有效且有针对性也同样重要。这包括为有需要的人提供支持，同时鼓励自给自足并减少依赖。
By implementing these strategies, the new government can address the economic challenges and set Canada on a path to sustainable growth and prosperity.
通过实施这些策略，新政府可以应对经济挑战，并使加拿大走上可持续增长和繁荣的道路。
IV. Conclusion
结论
Revitalization requires the elimination of inconsistencies in economic policies. On the contrary, the pursuit of policies should give a higher priority to relevant economic activities. The Canadian economy can be much better off and stronger when policies are chosen on apolitical grounds. There are numerous advantages in the Canadian economy, and the choice of taking up the economics path should help to revitalize and promote the economy. Ultimately, it is the improvement in economic welfare that brings success and a rising standard of living to all Canadians.
振兴需要消除经济政策中的不一致性。相反，政策的追求应优先考虑相关的经济活动。当政策在非政治基础上选择时，加拿大经济可以变得更好更强。加拿大经济有许多优势，选择走经济学道路应有助于振兴和促进经济。最终，是经济福利的改善带来了成功和所有加拿大人生活水平的提高。
While the focus of revitalization would concentrate on productivity growth, reduction in national debt, and rise in living standards, there are numerous other channels through which the Canadian economy can grow and prosper. Establishing a good relationship with ideologically friendly countries to gain access to their market to boost our exports, and the attraction of foreign investment to Canada would help to enlarge Canada’s industrial capacity. Nonetheless, it is the domestic policies that would produce attractiveness to foreign investors, especially investors from other G6 countries. Indeed, the revitalization process should aim to lift the Canadian economy up to a higher performance among the G7 countries.
虽然振兴的重点将集中在生产力增长、减少国家债务和提高生活水平上，但加拿大经济可以通过许多其他渠道增长和繁荣。与意识形态友好的国家建立良好关系，以进入其市场以促进我们的出口，并吸引外国投资到加拿大，将有助于扩大加拿大的工业能力。尽管如此，是国内政策将对外国投资者，特别是来自其他G6国家的投资者产生吸引力。实际上，振兴过程应旨在将加拿大经济提升到G7国家中的更高表现。
英翻中、编辑：张晋
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著名经济学家、前大学教授李鉅威（Charles）博士宣布将参加**士嘉堡-爱静阁**选区的联邦保守党提名。李博士拥有数十年的经济研究和学术经验，准备将其丰富的专业知识带到联邦政府层面，旨在应对加拿大紧迫的经济挑战，并使其释放全部经济潜力。
renowned economist and former university professor Dr. Kui-Wai Li (Charles) announced his candidacy for the federal Conservative Party nomination in the Scarborough-Agincourt riding. With decades of experience in economic research and academia, Dr. Li is prepared to bring his extensive expertise to the federal level, aiming to address Canada’s pressing economic challenges and unleash its full economic potential.
释放加拿大的经济潜力
Unleashing Canada’s Economic Potential
李博士对加拿大的愿景源于他对经济原则的深刻理解以及他对如何培育强劲可持续经济的承诺。“过去八年，联邦自由党政府的税收不断增加，债务不断增加，严重影响了加拿大经济，”李博士说。“我受到鼓舞，并准备为促进和改善加拿大经济而站出来，坚持由尊敬的皮埃尔·波利耶夫领导的保守党的原则。”
Dr. Li’s vision for Canada is rooted in his deep understanding of economic principles and his commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable economy. “With rising taxes and growing debt, the Liberal government over the past eight years has severely impacted the Canadian economy,” said Dr. Li. “I am encouraged and prepared to stand up for the promotion and improvement of the Canadian economy, adhering to the principles of the Conservative Party under the leadership of the Honorable Pierre Poilievre.”
经济发展研究领域的良好业绩
A Proven Track Record in Economic Development
李博士的辉煌职业生涯包括 1990 年至 2010 年担任香港亚太经合组织研究中心主任，并在耶鲁大学、东京大学和多伦多大学等全球知名机构担任教职。他的著作包括《概念经济学：政治和社会科学中的联络作用》和《重新定义资本主义在全球经济发展中的作用》，反映了他对经济自由和发展的深刻见解。
Dr. Li’s illustrious career includes serving as the Director of the APEC Study Center in Hong Kong from 1990 to 2010, and holding teaching positions at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Yale University, University of Tokyo, and University of Toronto. His publications, such as “Conceptual Economics: The Liaising Role In Politics And Social Sciences” and “Redefining Capitalism in Global Economic Development,” reflect his profound insights into economic freedom and development.
加强加拿大的政策重点
Policy Priorities for a Stronger Canada
李博士强调战略资源部署和惠及所有加拿大人的政策决策的重要性。“我们的政策必须全面、公正，并努力使每个加拿大人受益，”李博士表示。“我们需要关注当前问题和未来的可能性，确保经济可持续性和代际公平。”
Dr. Li emphasizes the importance of strategic resource deployment and policy decisions that benefit all Canadians. “Our policies must be comprehensive, unbiased, and work to benefit every Canadian,” Dr. Li stated. “We need to focus on both current issues and future possibilities, ensuring economic sustainability and intergenerational equity.”
促进加拿大经济的关键点
Key Points to Boost the Canadian Economy
– **先进技术**：促进技术进步，改善日常生活并保护资源。
– **Advanced Technology**: Promoting technological advancements to improve daily life and preserve resources.
– **人力资本**：加强教育并吸引技术移民，以填补专业劳动力的空白。
– **Human Capital**: Enhancing education and attracting skilled immigrants to fill gaps in the professional workforce.
– **私营部门赋权**：通过支持性政策和财政激励措施鼓励私人投资和企业。
– **Private Sector Empowerment**: Encouraging private investment and enterprise through supportive policies and financial incentives.
– **战略资源部署**：确保有效利用自然和金融资源促进经济增长。
– **Strategic Resource Deployment**: Ensuring effective use of natural and financial resources to foster economic growth.
呼吁士嘉堡-爱静阁居民采取行动
A Call to Action for Scarborough-Agincourt Residents
李博士呼吁士嘉堡-爱静阁居民支持他在即将举行的保守党提名会议上的候选资格。“在加拿大联邦议会中拥有发言权非常重要，”李博士强调道。“我已准备好面对这个选区的挑战性任务，并通过有效的经济政策为所有居民提供更高质量的生活。”
Dr. Li is calling on the residents of Scarborough-Agincourt to support his candidacy in the upcoming Conservative Party nomination meeting. “It is important to have a voice in Canada’s federal parliament,” Dr. Li emphasized. “I am prepared to face the challenging tasks of this riding and work towards a higher quality of life for all residents through effective economic policies.”
关于李鉅威博士
About Dr. Kui -Wai Li
李鉅威博士拥有伦敦城市大学贝叶斯商学院的博士学位，并完成了哈佛大学的高管课程。他的学术历程包括伊拉斯姆斯大学、伦敦经济学院和伦敦大学玛丽女王学院的学位。李博士致力于经济研究和政策制定，使他成为加拿大经济振兴的坚定倡导者。
Dr. Kui-Wai Li holds a Ph.D. from the Bayes Business School, City University, London, and has completed executive programs at Harvard University. His academic journey includes degrees from Erasmus University, London School of Economics, and Queen Mary College, University of London. Dr. Li’s dedication to economic research and policy development positions him as a strong advocate for Canada’s economic revitalization.
出版物：
Publications:
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《概念经济学：政治与社会科学中的联络角色》，2021年
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Conceptual Economics: The Liaising Role In Politics And Social Sciences, 2021
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《全球经济发展中的资本主义再定义》，2017年
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Redefining Capitalism in Global Economic Development, 2017
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《经济自由：香港的经验教训》，2012年
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Economic Freedom: Lessons of Hong Kong, 2012
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《东亚的资本主义发展与经济主义》，2002年
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Capitalist Development and Economism in East Asia, 2002
如何支持李博士
How to Support Dr. Li
- **加入保守党**：欢迎士嘉堡-爱静阁居民成为党员，并在提名会议上为李博士投票。会员费为 15 美元，可登录 www.conservative.ca 在线获取。
- **在提名会议上投票**：只有居住在该选区的党员才有资格投票。提名会议将于 2024 年后续某个月举行。
- **随时了解最新情况**：保留您的会员付款确认书作为购买会员资格的证明。
- **Join the Conservative Party**: Residents of Scarborough-Agincourt are invited to become party members and vote for Dr. Li in the nomination meeting. Membership can be obtained online for $15 at www.conservative.ca.
- **Vote in the Nomination Meeting**: Only party members residing in the riding are eligible to vote. The nomination meeting will be held sometime in 2024.
- **Stay Informed**: Keep your membership payment confirmation as proof of membership purchase.
- 加入联邦保守党 JOIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
注释：概念经济学：
Conceptual Economics:
**概念经济学**是研究个人、企业和政府如何做出资源分配决策的学科。它涉及理解**微观经济学**（个人和企业的行为）和**宏观经济学**（整个经济的表现）。
**Conceptual Economics** is the study of how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about allocating resources. It involves understanding both **microeconomics** (the behavior of individuals and firms) and **macroeconomics** (the performance of the economy as a whole).
经济学中的关键概念：
Key Concepts in Economics:
1. **稀缺性和选择**：资源是有限的，因此必须选择如何使用它们。
**Scarcity and Choice**: Resources are limited, so choices must be made about how to use them.
2. **供给和需求**：商品和服务的可用性与对它们的需求之间的关系。
**Supply and Demand**: The relationship between the availability of goods and services and the desire for them.
3. **机会成本**：做出选择时放弃的成本。
**Opportunity Cost**: The cost of what you give up when you make a choice.
4. **市场均衡**：供给等于需求的点。
**Market Equilibrium**: The point where supply equals demand.
5. **经济体系**：社会组织经济活动的不同方式，例如资本主义、社会主义和混合经济。
**Economic Systems**: Different ways societies organize economic activity, such as capitalism, socialism, and mixed economies.
编译：张晋
