Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with world leaders at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., on Tuesday. MARIN/AFP/Getty Images

At the G7, Canada’s globalist ambitions put our domestic problems in stark contrast

In this article, Dr. Mussio argues that Carney’s surprise victory at the polls preserved the influence of Canada’s Laurentian elite. However, as this elite now presides over an economy facing stagnation, a housing crisis, innovation decline, and flawed energy policy, Carney must act quickly: the election win is not a mandate but a narrow window to enact real change – such as a national productivity commission, fiscal reform, productivity-focused immigration policy, and intergenerational policy assessments – before disillusionment empowers a new opposition.

Read More

New Report: “Applying History to Inform Anticipatory AI Governance”

SIERC is pleased to share an important new report from RAND Corporation and Dr. Mussio in his role as Chair of the Long Run Institute: “Applying History to Inform Anticipatory AI Governance: Using Foresight and Hindsight to Inform Policymaking.” This publication represents the culmination of a two-year collaboration between RAND and the LRI, bringing together Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Robert J. Lempert and Dr. Jonathan W. Welburn with Professor Michael Aldous and Dr. Laurence B. Mussio to explore how historical analysis can inform AI governance frameworks.

Read More

A new nationalisum is emerging in Canada

Dr. Laurence B. Mussio, writing for The Globe and Mail, examines historical and contemporary expressions of Canadian nationalism in response to external threats, drawing parallels between the 19th and 21st centuries. With specific examples he argues that Canada’s historical resilience in the face of existential threats suggests a capacity for unity and sacrifice, even in a modern context where economic dependency on the U.S. poses challenges to independence.

Read More

Decoding Trump’s trade strategy: The historical pattern beneath the headlines

In this article Dr. Mussio and Dr. Suesse analyze the underlying logic of Donald Trump’s trade policies through three competing interpretations: a Bluff Thesis, a Reckless Driver Theory and as a Geopolitical Realignment Strategy. However, they also suggest that Trump’s policies are less about foreign threats and more about punishing “globalist” elites within the U.S., echoing other historical patterns. Ultimately, economic nationalism isn’t an anomaly but a recurring force, and businesses and policymakers must recognize and adapt to these cycles.

Read More

Today’s North American Economic Nationalisum isn’t unprecedented it’s a pattern

In this piece Dr. Mussio and Dr. Suesse argue that the current rise of economic nationalism in North America, exemplified by U.S. tariffs and trade tensions, is not unprecedented but part of a recurring historical pattern. Since 1840, North America has experienced at least five major cycles of economic nationalism, often triggered by a combination of domestic political shifts, technological disruption, and geopolitical tensions. Today, the key difference is the deep economic integration between Canada and the U.S., making the stakes that much higher. However, it is clear that history also offers hope.
Image Credit: Carlos Osorio /Reuters

Read More

How Canada must face its winter of reckoning

In this op-ed, Dr. Mussio explores Canada’s current economic and institutional crises, arguing that history provides lessons for renewal. He highlights how Canada has long struggled to balance aspirations with practical governance and emphasizes the need for courage, competence, and cultural renewal. The unbuilt “Angel of Peace” monument serves as a metaphor for Canada’s unrealized potential, urging leaders to embrace bold reforms and rekindle a shared sense of purpose.

Read More

DeepSeek and the trillion-dollar history lesson

In this article Professor Turner and Dr. Mussio discuss the recurring boom-bust cycle in technology and markets, using the recent DeepSeek AI breakthrough as an example. The article highlights how decision-makers often overlook early warning signs – but understanding historical cycles can help businesses better navigate future technological shifts.

Read More

Podcast: Boom, Bust and the Echo of History

What can history teach us about today’s financial landscape? In the latest episode of the popular BMO Capital Markets podcast, SIERC CEO and LRI Chair Dr. Laurence B. Mussio interviews Professor John Turner, co-author of the award-winning Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles. Together they discuss:

The echoes of past booms and busts in today’s markets
The transformative potential of AI and general-purpose technologies
The impact of globalized finance on shaping future economic cycles

Read More

Dr. Laurence B. Mussio elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

It is with great delight that SIERC announces the election of SIERC CEO Dr. Laurence B. Mussio to the UK’s prestigious Royal Historical Society. Founded in 1868, “the Royal Historical Society promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past and speaks for the interests of history and historians for the wider benefit of all,” notes Dr. Judy Stephenson of University College London where the Society is based, and who is also a Fellow of the RHS.

Read More