Wealth is designed: How rules, institutions, and public decisions shape ownership

Abstract

Ownership is not an accident at the edge of public policy. It is produced through institutional design — and what was designed can be redesigned. This is the second paper in IIBD's Community Wealth Infrastructure series. Working Paper No. 1 established that Canada has an ownership problem. This paper examines the deeper proposition: ownership and wealth are not accidental outcomes at the edge of public policy. They are produced through institutional design. Part of the Community Wealth Infrastructure Series (Working Paper No. 2), published by IIBD. Suggested citation: Williams, R., & Dillon, D. (2026). Wealth is designed: How rules, institutions, and public decisions shape ownership (Community Wealth Infrastructure Series, Working Paper No. 2). IIBD.