Montreal Economic Institute
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) is a non-profit research organization (or think tank) based in Montreal. It aims at promoting economic education of the general public and efficient public policies in Quebec and Canada. Its research areas include different topics such as health care, education, taxation, labour, agriculture and the environment.
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[edit] History
The MEI started its activities in 1999 under the leadership of Michel Kelly-Gagnon. After he left for the Conseil du patronat du Québec in 2006, he was replaced as president by economist Paul Daniel Muller. Maxime Bernier briefly served as its vice president before he became federal Minister of Industry. Tasha Kheiriddin also briefly occupied this position. Since 2007, its vice president is Marcel Boyer, professor of economics at the University of Montreal.
[edit] Description
The MEI is financed by donations from foundations, private corporations and individuals; it does not accept funding from the public sector. Its annual budget is about $1.5 million and it has about ten persons on its staff (Annual Report). Several members of its board of directors play a significant role in Quebec's economy as entrepreneurs or intellectuals. The MEI prepares a report card of Quebec high schools published in L'actualité magazine every fall.
Its studies are often mentioned in Canadian media, just like those of the Fraser Institute, a similar organization based in Vancouver. However, the two institutes are not affiliated.
[edit] Criticism
The MEI is sometimes criticized about the ideological neutrality of its research. According to some political analysts, it advocates neoliberalism.
