That's primarily a function of the bottom of the OECD gaining and bringing the average up. The bottom 50% in 2002 grew their GDP per capita at a rate about 3x that the top 50%. And also, the absolute highest ranking nations saw disproportionate increases, largely through their role as tax havens, which artificially boosts GDP. That also brings the average up.
In terms of GDP per capita ranking within the OECD, Canada has been remarkably consistent over the decades:
1995: 12th
2000: 14th
2005: 14th
2010: 15th
2015: 14th
2020: 15th
2022: 14th
And of course GDP per capita isn't necessarily a great measure. In terms of actual real wages, Canada's growth has been quite good over that period. Since 2002, Real Wages (USD PPP adjusted) in Canada have grown by 26.5%, which is higher than all of the following:
USA
Australia
Denmark
Luxembourg
Finland
France
Germany
UK
Switzerland
Austria
Netherlands
Japan
Belgium
Or put another way, among the top 20 nations in terms of GDP per capita, Canada has seen the 7th fastest wage growth over that period, behind the Czech Republic, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Sweden, and Ireland.
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