Cuts, spending, spin: The economics of party platforms

This episode explores the complexities of analyzing the costed platforms released by the Liberal and Conservative parties in the lead-up to a Canadian election. Against the backdrop of a seemingly tight two-horse race, the discussion centers on the significant spending commitments outlined in both platforms, focusing on areas such as national defense, infrastructure, and housing. More significantly, the analysis delves into the differing methodologies employed by each party in calculating their projected deficits, highlighting the challenges in comparing their figures directly. For instance, the Conservative platform incorporates projected economic growth and resulting revenue increases, a practice not typically followed by other parties, leading to a significant difference in their presented deficit numbers compared to the Liberals. The hosts also discuss the late release of these platforms and the implications for voters, questioning whether there should be regulations mandating earlier release dates and standardized calculation methods to promote transparency and informed decision-making. Ultimately, the episode underscores the importance of understanding the underlying assumptions and priorities reflected in these costed platforms, rather than solely focusing on the headline deficit numbers, to make informed choices during the election.