CIRANO published, on December 19, 2025, the 8th edition of its Baromètre sur la perception des risques au Québec. Based on a survey conducted since 2011 with 1,000 respondents representative of the Quebec population, this study makes it possible to track changes in public perceptions, concerns, and levels of trust regarding major economic, social, and financial issues.

The 2025 edition analyzes perceptions associated with 57 major issues and projects affecting Quebec. This new edition highlights, in particular, the following elements:

- The cost of living, housing, and health form the core set of concerns among Quebecers.

- Trust in the government’s ability to manage these socioeconomic issues remains very low.

- The Baromètre 2025 points to a significant increase in concerns related to immigration, homelessness, and international trade relations, in a context of heightened polarization of attitudes.

- In the face of economic uncertainty, a majority of Quebecers show increased support for the exploitation of natural resources, particularly mining resources.

- A lack of confidence in identifying disinformation, high levels of risk misperception, and low levels of economic literacy weaken public debate.

            SUMMARY            

Economic Outlook for 2026 and Launch of Registration for the Bourstad 2026 Competition

On the occasion of a conference devoted to the 2026 economic outlook, CIRANO will officially launch registration for the Bourstad 2026 competition. This event will bring together economic experts, institutional partners, and participants to discuss major macroeconomic issues and the training of the next generation.

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CIRANO Researchers at the Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association (ASSA 2026)

On the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association (ASSA 2026), held in Philadelphia, CIRANO and the GVCdtLab contributed to the organization of two scientific panels focused on transformations in international trade and innovation in a context of significant geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

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Call for Papers – 65th Annual Conference of the Société canadienne de science économique (SCSE)

The Société canadienne de science économique (SCSE) will hold its 65th Annual Conference from May 6 to 8, 2026, at the Hilton Québec Hotel. Researchers are invited to submit paper proposals in all areas of economics.

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5th edition of the « Les Femmes en Économie » day

Next May, the congress of the Société canadienne de science économique (SCSE) will host the 5e edition of the day « Les Femmes en Économie ». A joint SCSE–Femmes en Économie–CIRANO plenary conference will welcome Marion Goussé (CREST—ENSAI). Les Femmes en Économie is an initiative led by two professors from the Department of Economics at Université Laval, Catherine Michaud-Leclerc and Maripier Isabelle, Chercheuse CIRANO.

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Thematic Year 2025–2026 Activity: Education and Workforce Development

On December 4, an activity of CIRANO’s année thématique 2025–2026 brought together several researchers to discuss issues related to education and workforce development. The presentations addressed the returns to education, the influence of education costs on training choices, the emergence of the bioeconomy, and the decline in enrolment in economics programs. This work forms part of a broader reflection on productivity, inequalities, and educational orientation.

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David Ardia receives the Research Impact Award at the Research and Teaching Awards 2025 ceremony

Benoit Dostie appointed Director of the Retirement and Savings Institute (RSI) at HEC Montréal

CIRANO contributes to the work of the Commission de l’enseignement et de la recherche universitaire (CERU)

Nicolas Vincent, external Deputy Governor at the Banque du Canada, addresses Quebec economists on productivity challenges

Two CIRANO Invited Fellows contribute to strategic work on quantum technologies

Appointment of Alejandro Romero-Torres as Vice-Dean for International Affairs at ESG UQAM

CIREQ-CIRANO-RRECQ Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Workshop

This workshop is intended for researchers and doctoral students in economics who are interested in the economics of natural resources and the environment. The workshop is led by a team of professors composed of Geir B. Asheim (Université d’Oslo), Hassan Benchekroun (Université McGill), Sophie Bernard (Polytechnique Montréal), Étienne Billette de Villemeur (Université de Lille, UQAM), Robert Cairns (Université McGill), Justin Leroux (HEC Montréal), and Charles Séguin (UQAM).

CIRANO Webinar - What methods can be used to elicit health utilities and best reflect the preferences of Quebecers?

Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) make it possible to compare and evaluate various health interventions based not only on life expectancy, but also on health-related quality of life. Calculating QALYs makes it possible to determine preferences for different health states, which can be measured using direct or indirect methods of preference elicitation. During this webinar, Thomas G. Poder, professor at ESPUM and CIRANO Researcher, and Hosein Ameri will present the results of their CIRANO study in which they compare various elicitation techniques for evaluating the utilities associated with health states in the Quebec context.

Bourstad 2026: Official Challenge registration Launch and 2026 Economic Outlook

On the occasion of a conference devoted to the economic outlook for 2026, CIRANO will officially launch registration for the Bourstad 2026 competition. This event will bring together economic experts, institutional partners, and participants to discuss major macroeconomic issues and the training of the next generation.

CIREQ-CIRANO-RRECQ Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Workshop

This workshop on the economics of natural resources and the environment is intended for researchers and doctoral students in economics with an interest in the economics of natural resources and the environment, and will welcome Élise Critoph (Université Concordia) and Alexandre Pavlov, a doctoral candidate at Université de Montréal.

BOOKS

BAROMÈTRE CIRANO 2025: La perception des risques au Québec

Nathalie De Marcellis-Warin et Ingrid Peignier

The 2025 edition of the CIRANO Barometer on Risk Perception, conducted with a sample of 1,004 respondents representative of the Quebec population between August 25 and 28, 2025, highlights that economic and financial risks and risks related to the health care system remain in 2025 the two main concerns of Quebecers, both at the personal and collective levels. More specifically, while more than three quarters of Quebecers perceive major or very major risks related to issues such as food prices (78%), emergency room overcrowding (81%), and access to affordable housing (76%), this edition above all reveals low confidence in the government’s ability to manage these socio-economic issues.

PROJECT REPPORTS

L'émergence de la bioéconomie : Implications pour le développement du marché du travail au Québec

Bryan Campbell, Michel Magnan, Robert Normand, Genevieve Dufour, Felix-Antoine Johnson et Molivann Panot

Based on a comprehensive data set of job postings in the US, we have found that the growth of postings for the bioeconomy between 2018 and 2022 domintates that of the economy during this period. Moreover, the demand for personnel with collegial training has grown relative to the demand for traditional level bachelor’s degrees. In this regard, we have reviewed industry and public policy responses in the US that have recently been placing greater emphasis on practical and operational training that seems to better handled at the collegial level. The postings enable us to trace the growth of various challenging career possibilities in this domain. An even closer look at the postings reveals some marked changes and tendencies in the skills sought by employers, particularly with regard to competence in data management and the regulatory environment. We look at some recent initiatives in the Québec bioéconomie and offer some suggestions to enhance its growth.

FOR REFLECTION

Recherches et données en éducation au Québec : Bilan de la journée de CIRANO-CIQSS 2025

Nicolas Charette, Genevieve Dufour et Magali Girard

This document, For Reflection, follows up the event Research and Data in Education: To Inform Public Policy, was jointly organized by CIRANO and the Quebec Interuniversity Centre for Social Statistics (QICSS) on October 30, 2025, as part of CIRANO’s 2025-2026 thematic year activities.  The day, which brought together researchers, public decision-makers and institutional stakeholders, highlighted Quebec's exceptional potential in terms of educational data and scientific expertise. We review the presentations and discussions of the day and conclude with recommendations to allow for better integration, documentation, valorization and exploitation of existing data to inform public policies.

WORKING PAPERS

Compensation of CEOs – New Perspectives and New Metrics

Marcel Boyer et Molivann Panot

Rethinking Inequality: Consumption versus Income and Wealth

Marcel Boyer et Molivann Panot

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