This book argues against popular historic narratives that Quebec's economic development only started catching up to the rest of Canada after 1960, a year that marked the beginning of the Quiet Revolution. Geloso argues that there are three reasons to rethink the growth of Quebec in Canada. Firstly, from the early days of the Canadian federation until the Second World War, Quebec did grow poorer relative to the other provinces. Secondly, from 1945 to 1960, there was a rapid era of growth that allowed the province to catch at a rapid pace. During that period, the seeds of future growth – notably through a pronounced surge in educational attainment – were sowed. Thirdly, the era from 1960 to 1976 exhibited no break from the trend set from 1945 to 1960. In fact, after 1976, Quebec's convergence slowed to a halt and its gap with the rest of Canada has remained more or less constant since. At each point, Geloso elaborates on the role of institutions, policies and culture played in altering the trend of convergence.
A revised and updated English translation of Du Grand Rattrapage au Déclin Tranquille, Geloso brings the Quebec case into contemporary debate around the impact of interventionist economic policies.
