The Institute’s work centres on three factors that generate prosperity: economic performance, place, and creativity. When selecting projects to tackle, we consider both academic significance and policy relevance. We produce timely, interdisciplinary research and advice that contributes to the discussion about real-world problems.

At present, the following nine projects are on the MPI’s agenda:

Creative Industries and the Creative Economy

Seeking to better understand the composition of creative industries and, more broadly, the creative economy.

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The Geography of Happiness

Examining the role of communities in happiness and well-being. The Institute has amassed large datasets on well-being across U.S. regions, including significant regional data on personality types.

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Global Creativity

Understanding the role of creativity in regional development in Canada, the United States, and around the world.

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The Idea Factory

Documenting the key factors at work in creative companies and organizations, from workplace design to diversity to talent management.

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Jurisdictional Advantage

Some governance actions impact jurisdictional advantage, while others have little influence. This project aims to distinguish between the two.

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Mega-regions

Systemically developing new maps and indicators of global population, economic activity and innovation at the mega-region level.

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Music & the Entertainment Economy

While much attention is paid to high-tech industries, we believe the study of entertainment industries also provides insight into what make the idea-driven creative economy tick. This project includes an effort to develop data and research on the organization and geography of the music business in the 20th and 21st centuries. The end result will be a scholarly examination of the economic, geographic, and social history of the popular music industry.

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Ontario in the Creative Age

An analysis of the changing economy and workforce of Ontario, commissioned by the Province of Ontario. The final report will chart a path toward a more prosperous future for the province.

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Prosperity in the Creative Age

Building a global set of regional data to help us develop a “global prosperity index”. Our vision of prosperity is built around four factors: traditional economic measures, quality of life aspects, attractiveness of place, and relative position.