Ontario’s Knowledge Economy: The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary Education

The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance has long advocated for greater public investment in the province’s universities, to increase participation rates and the overall quality of education. There exists a large body of research that indicates both of these goals are extremely beneficial to Ontario’s economy and to the fight against poverty; however there is very little awareness of these benefits among the general public. This report will highlight the need for investment in universities and will provide a brief overview of the research in support of universities as drivers of economic growth. More specifically, we focus on the individual and societal benefits of a university-educated population, the importance of increasing quality in our institutions, and the local economic impact of Ontario’s universities.