Saul Schwartz

– B.Sc. Economics (University of Wisconsin)
– Ph.D. Economics (University of Wisconsin)

Improving the economic position of low-income people has been a consistent interest over the years. Recently, my focus has been on efforts to help low-income debtors resolve their debt problems. That resolution might come through a new low-cost bankruptcy procedure, through impartial debt advice or through automatic enrolment in benefit programs. Dealing with the debts of the elderly is an important part of this work, given the increasing debts that the elderly carry.

A related interest is illustrated by a book of essays that I’m editing on the personal debts that citizens owe to governments: criminal justice fines and fees, local taxes and student loans. With an international cast of authors, this will the first book to bring together papers analyzing a range of debts owed to government.

I continue to work, with Jennifer Robson, on tax filing. In our paper that won the 2020 Vandercamp Prize for the best paper in Canadian Public Policy, we argued that having the Canada Revenue Agency fill out tax returns for Canadians (i.e., “deemed filing”) is the best way to ensure that those who are eligible to receive benefits through the tax system actually receive them.

• Schwartz, S. (2022). Oppressed by debt government and the justice system as a creditor of the poor. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

• Allen, B., Hudon, P. & Schwartz, S. (2021) Guest editors’ introduction to the special issue on procurement and public policy. Canadian Public Administration.
• Robson, J. & Schwartz, S (2021) Should the Canada Revenue Agency also be a social benefits agency? Canadian Tax Journal 69(1), 87-98.
• Robson, J. & Schwartz, S (2020) Who doesn’t file a tax return? A portrait of non-filers. Canadian Public Policy 46(3), 323-339.
• Lysenko, D., Schwartz, E. & Schwartz, S. (2020) Short-term effects of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on municipal procurement in Canada. Canadian Public Policy 46(2), 264-278.
• Schwartz, S. & Ben-Ishai, S. (2020) Establishing the need for a low‐cost Canadian debt relief procedure. International Insolvency Review, 29(S1), s25-s43.
• Ben-Ishai, S., Robson, J., & Schwartz, S. (2019). Eligible non-participation in Canadian social welfare programs. McGill Law Journal, 64(3), 499-533.
• Stewart, J. V. & Schwartz, S. (2018). Equal education, unequal jobs: College and university students with disabilities. Industrial Relations/Relations Industrielles, 73(2), 369-394.
• Lysenko, D., Mills, L., & Schwartz, S. (2017). Does Canada need trade adjustment assistance? International Journal: Canada’s Journal of Global Policy Analysis, 72(1), 91-110.

• Schwartz, E. & Schwartz, S (Forthcoming). Is CETA a major threat to municipal autonomy (R. Finbow, Ed.), CETA implementation and implications: Unravelling the puzzle. McGill-Queen’s University Press.

• There are better ways to help student loan borrowers than zero-interest loans (Finances of the Nation, Sep 2021)
• A simple, low-cost bankruptcy option for Canada’s insolvency system (Policy Options, May 2020)
• Dear Canada Revenue Agency, Please File My Taxes For Me! (First Policy Response, Apr 2020)