Centre for the Study of Living Standards

What Centre for the Study of Living Standards does

The Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) is an independent, non-profit economic research think tank founded in 1995 and headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with additional research presence in Toronto. It is a registered Canadian charitable organization that conducts evidence-based economic research and policy analysis focused on productivity, living standards, labour markets, trade, technology and innovation, fiscal policy, and economic measurement in Canada. CSLS publishes the International Productivity Monitor (IPM), a peer-reviewed journal now in its 50th issue across 25 years and 350+ articles, alongside a steady cadence of CSLS Research Reports (e.g., Reports 2025-06, 2025-07, 2025-08, 2026-01).

CSLS's product portfolio consists of the IPM journal, CSLS Research Reports, organizational research subscriptions providing advance access to publications and event invitations, the 'Big Ideas' seminar series and featured partner events, and website-hosted data tools that make research findings more accessible. The organization does not develop commercial software or technology products — its core technology is the research, editorial, and convening platform supporting independent analysis.

The business model combines an organizational research subscription service (currently nearly 20 institutional subscribers), individual and organizational donations, and project-based research support from partners such as YMCA Canada. Publications are distributed open-access through the CSLS website, with subscribers and donors receiving advance copies and invitations to exclusive events. The target customer base comprises Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial governments, non-profit and policy organizations, media, and the broader public.

Name

Centre for the Study of Living Standards

Legal name

Centre for the Study of Living Standards

Website

https://csls.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Centre for the Study of Living Standards is an independent, non-profit Canadian economic research think tank founded in 1995 that produces evidence-based analysis on productivity, living standards, and policy for governments, non-profits, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Research and Policy Analysis

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

Keywords

• Economic research
• Productivity analysis
• Think tank research
• Policy research
• Economic measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Subscriptions: CSLS generates revenue through organizational research subscriptions, with nearly 20 organizations currently subscribed. Subscribers receive advance access to publications and exclusive event invitations.
2. Donations: CSLS accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations. The organization is a registered Canadian charitable organization (registration no. 896132578 RR 0001). Monthly donation options provide steady support for ongoing research activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CSLS produces independent, evidence-based economic research on productivity, living standards, and economic well-being in Canada. Its core outputs include the peer-reviewed International Productivity Monitor (IPM) journal and CSLS Research Reports addressing topics such as child care policy, construction productivity, natural capital, and manufacturing productivity. The organization also offers organizational research subscriptions, expert seminars and events, and supporting data tools.

Product overview

Centre for the Study of Living Standards operates as Canada's leading economic research think tank, offering a portfolio of interconnected research products. The core offerings include the International Productivity Monitor (IPM), a peer-reviewed academic journal now in its 50th issue that serves as a premier forum for international knowledge exchange on productivity, and CSLS Research Reports, which provide independent analysis on pressing Canadian economic issues. These primary outputs are supported by subscription services for organizational subscribers, expert convenings including the 'Big Ideas' seminar series, and data tools that enhance accessibility of research findings. The organization focuses on research areas spanning productivity and economic well-being, labour markets, trade, technology and innovation, fiscal policy, and economic measurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Productivity Monitor (IPM): Peer-reviewed journal published by CSLS covering productivity research. The IPM has published 50 issues over 25 years with 350+ articles.

Products and services

• International Productivity Monitor (IPM) A peer-reviewed academic journal published by CSLS serving as a forum for global knowledge exchange on productivity issues. The IPM publishes research articles, review articles, and commentary from academics and policy practitioners worldwide on topics including productivity growth, AI, manufacturing, and economic measurement. Has published 350+ articles across 50 issues over 25 years.
• CSLS Research Reports Independent economic research publications covering productivity, living standards, and economic well-being in Canada. Reports address topics such as child care policy, construction productivity, natural capital, and manufacturing productivity.
• CSLS Research Subscription Organizational subscription service providing advance access to CSLS publications, exclusive event invitations, and support for independent research on productivity and economic well-being. Nearly 20 organizations currently subscribe.
• Events and Seminars Expert convenings and seminar series including the 'Big Ideas' seminar series that advance informed public dialogue on Canada's economic challenges, and featured external events with CSLS partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Economic Returns of Accessible and Affordable Child Care in Canada report estimates $2.7 billion annual GDP gain from Canada's $10-a-day child care initiative, with 29,000 additional mothers employed by end of 2025

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• YMCA CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026YMCA Canada provided support for CSLS research on The Economic Returns of Accessible and Affordable Child Care in Canada. The research was prepared by CSLS with support from YMCA Canada, examining the economic impacts of Canada's Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. The views and conclusions do not necessarily reflect those of YMCA Canada.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montreal Economic Institute (MEI): Independent Canadian economic think tank producing policy research and economic analysis — comparable in scale and Canadian policy research orientation.
• Public Policy Forum: Canadian organization convening policymakers and producing research on economic and public policy issues — comparable Canadian policy research and event/convening activities.
• The Conference Board of Canada: Major Canadian economic research organization producing sectoral economic analysis, outlook reports, and policy research — overlapping heavily with CSLS's productivity and economic well-being focus.
• C.D. Howe Institute: Canada's leading economic policy think tank producing independent research on productivity, fiscal policy, and economic growth — directly comparable to CSLS's mandate and government-facing research model.
• The Fraser Institute: Established Canadian public policy think tank with research on economic freedom, productivity, and fiscal policy — comparable independent research and subscription/donation funding model.
• Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP): Independent Canadian policy research institute producing evidence-based research on economic and social policy — directly comparable in mission, funding model, and government audience.
• Smart Prosperity Institute: Canadian policy research institute focused on productivity, innovation, and clean economy — comparable niche research positioning and Canadian policy audience.
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA): Independent Canadian policy research organization producing economic and social policy research — comparable think tank structure and Canadian government-facing research.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Major US-based economic policy think tank producing productivity, economic measurement, and innovation research — comparable research methodologies and global productivity/IPM-style forum mandate, but at much larger scale and with broader geographic scope.
• National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER): Premier US economic research organization producing working papers on productivity, labor, and economic measurement — comparable productivity research focus and academic/policy forum model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-the-study-of-living-standards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for the Study of Living Standards