Volume 59, Number 3, septembre 1983 Hommage au professeur Albert Faucher Guest-edited by Gilles Paquet

EN:

The author presents a critical evaluation of the different estimates of birth, death, and marriage rates in French Canada before 1850. He examines critically the sensitivity of these estimates to changes in the nature of the prevailing conceptual framework. In particular, the impact of the 'natalist' tradition and of the 'demographic transition hypothesis' on these estimates is noted.

EN:

Using a Faucher-Dales approach to migration phenomena, the authors sketch a plausible scenario of the pattern of migration of French Canadians to the United States as regulated by the size of the differential economic rent. Making use of all available data, the authors show that this approach would appear to be vindicated to the extent that the scenario it suggests is compatible with the available estimates of the migration flows.

EN:

This paper examines the evolution of the Canadian financial system from its embryonic form in New France to its modern contours in the first half of the 19^th century. It is argued that the financial sub-system as a social technology experienced a mutation at the turn of the 19^th century, as the result of unintended consequence of a combination of external, internal, and policy forces.

EN:

The author examines the forces that led to the creation of building societies in Canada. The rationale, functions and evolution of these credit institutions are examined through the experience of the Canada Permanent.

EN:

The author examines critically the financial needs of the Quebec Government between Confederation and the 1920s. He examines the negotiations between the government and the financial syndicates over the long term financial needs of the government. The impact of the short term financial needs of the government on its medium and long term financing is analyzed. The unique and powerful position of the Bank of Montreal is explained.

EN:

Traditional historiography has inferred that the Canadian government has failed to exercise control over the issue of high powered money during the interwar gold standard period. From this, it was concluded that the Canadian monetary constitution required modifications through the establishment of a central bank. This paper provides new evidence that the Canadian government did exercise monetary control during the period of the interwar gold standard regime and that Canada's record of adherence to the gold standard rules compares favourably with the performance of several other countries.

EN:

This paper examines the forces at work in shaping the definition of mining rights in Quebec at the end of the 19^th century. Using the Davis-North model of institutional change and some insights from the theory of rent-seeking, the author attempts to identify the origins of the provincial legal framework which has been in force since the turn of the century.

EN:

The author uses a Public Choice approach to analyze the evolution of the political structures of Canadian society and the options facing Canadian society today. The insights provided by a positive approach as opposed to the traditional normative approach are discussed. The records of economic and political history are used to validate the insights provided by this economic approach.

EN:

Theoretically, devaluations and revaluations should modify the market price of traded goods, but market structure may influence this process and have a determining impact on the nature of the trade flows. Market structure forces are shown to have the potential to be able to neutralize the expected effects of devaluations and revaluations on a country's trade balance. This is shown to be a Canadian problem dating back to the 18^th and 19^th centuries that may force Canada to look for other policies to influence the flow of traded goods and its balance of trade.