This work investigates the structural decline of the Canadian free enterprise system and the subsequent economic challenges facing the nation during the late 20th century. Eric W. Kierans, a former cabinet minister and economist, collaborates with journalist Walter Stewart to analyze the intersection of government policy, corporate influence, and market instability. The authors argue that the Canadian economy suffered from a fundamental misalignment between public policy and private sector incentives, leading to a systemic erosion of competitive markets.

The subject matter points to a dense, analytical critique of Canadian political economy that reflects the specific economic anxieties of the late 1980s. The text serves as a specialized historical document for readers interested in the evolution of Canadian economic policy and the perspectives of prominent policy-makers from that era.