Striking similarities: Attitudes and Ontario’s prosperity gap Working Paper 4 - September 2003
Ontarians’ attitudes towards competition, innovation, risk-taking and business are not roadblocks to closing the prosperity gap. This was the key conclusion of Working Paper 4, released today by the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity. The Institute engaged The Strategic Counsel, an Ontario- based market research firm, to survey the business attitudes of the general public, business community and business leaders in Ontario and the peer states. Across many of the factors explored, including aspirations, risk taking and innovation, self-confidence, and attitudes towards competition, the survey responses revealed strikingly similar results. There were some differences, however. Most significantly, the survey indicated that Ontarians’ attitudes towards post-secondary education may be a hindrance to prosperity. The survey also revealed that attitudes towards the economic benefits of immigration are more positive in Ontario. Finally responses indicate that Ontarians attach greater importance to celebrating success - expressing a greater likelihood to take pride in local companies’ success and attaching greater importance to celebrating business success. Following today’s release, the Institute is continuing its research work into the causes and possible remedies for the prosperity gap.
