The geography of economic mobility in 19th century Canada

Antonie, Luiza, Inwood, Kris, Minns, Chris ORCID: 0000-0003-1685-7757 and Summerfield, Fraser (2025) The geography of economic mobility in 19th century Canada. Canadian Journal of Economics. ISSN 0008-4085 (In Press)

Text (Geography_Mobility_14_07_25) - Accepted Version Pending embargo until 1 January 2100. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

This paper uses linked Census records from 1871 to 1901 to compute intergenerational mobility for Canadian regions and census districts. The results reveal sharp differences in mobility over space: Ontario featured high relative and absolute mobility, Quebec low relative and absolute mobility, and the Maritimes low absolute mobility. Local differences in human capital endowments and labour market inequality are correlated with district mobility patterns but do not account for regional differences, where migration and structural change toward industry and services appear important. Comparing spatial patterns of Canadian mobility in the 19th century to today shows substantial changes for Quebec districts.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Economic History
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
JEL classification:	J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J6 - Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies > J62 - Job, Occupational, and Intergenerational Mobility N - Economic History > N3 - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Income, and Wealth > N31 - Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Income and Wealth: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2025 17:18
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2025 03:12
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/130288

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