Measuring Relative Quality of Life from a Cross-Migration Regression, With an Application to Canadian Provinces

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. * West Virginia University, Department of Economics, 416 B&E Building, Morgantown WV 265066025, United States, (304)293-7863, [email protected]. † Research Division, Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, P.O. Box 442, St. Louis, MO 63166-0442 (314)444-8533, [email protected].