Working Paper

Measuring relative quality of life from a cross-migration regression, with an application to Canadian provinces

Abstract: We discuss specification of regression models for using migration data to infer the living standards of different regions, and for observing how much of the standard of living is determined by economic opportunities versus non-pecuniary amenities. We estimate a regression using Canadian data from 1976-95, which results in rankings of the provinces with respect to overall living standards and amenities, with different rankings for different age groups. The regression also uncovers some interesting evidence as to the existence of equilibrium

Keywords: Emigration and immigration; Quality of life; Canada;

Status: Published in Research in Labor Economics, 2000, 19, pp. 191-214

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Working Papers

Publication Date: 1999

Number: 1999-007