COUNTRY
BACKGROUND
Canada
is a country in North America rich in natural
recourses such as lumber, oil, and minerals. With a population 1/10th
the size of the United States,
Canada
runs many industries in a mixed economy that contain both elements of capitalism
and socialism. The Heritage Foundation ranks Canada
lower than the United States,
but higher than most European countries on the index of economic freedom (Heritage Foundation, 2008).
With the second largest reserve of oil behind Saudi
Arabia, Canada
is one of the only developed countries actually exporting oil (CIA, 2008). As
part of the Free Trade Agreement of 1988, Canada
has become a key element for United
States firms conducting manufacturing within
their borders given their slightly lower cost of labor. These branch plants
often provide blue collar labor, while executive and administration positions
are located in the United
States.
