Chasing the Same Dream, Climbing Different Ladders: Economic Mobility in the United States and Canada
Chasing the Same Dream, Climbing Different Ladders: Economic Mobility in the United States and Canada examines intergenerational economic mobility trends in both countries. Authored by Miles Corak of the University of Ottawa, the report finds notable differences in economic mobility outcomes among citizens in the United States and Canada. Specifically, Americans are more likely to be "stuck" at the top and bottom of the income ladder over a generation than are Canadians.
However, the report also finds that this disparity is not because of different underlying values or societal goals within the two nations. Comparable nationally-representative public opinion polls commissioned by EMP in both nations reveal that Americans and Canadians similarly define the American and "Canadian Dream," and citizens of both countries believe that personal characteristics are more important to upward economic mobility than external factors. Americans and Canadians are also similar in their belief that equality of opportunity is a more important public policy goal than equality of outcomes.
To view the full report, click on the report image.
(JANUARY 2010)
- Figure 1: Comparable Estimates of the Intergenerational Elasticity of Earnings between Fathers and Sons
- Figure 2: American Sons of Top-Earning Fathers are More Likely to Remain in the Top Decile Than Canadian Sons
- Figure 3: American Sons of Low-Earning Fathers Are Also More Likely to Also Have Low Earnings Than Their Candian Counterparts
- Figure 4: Canadian Sons Born to Fathers in the Bottom Three Deciles are More Likely to Make it to the Top Half of The Earnings Distribution as Adults Than Are American Sons
- Figure 5: Defining the American Dream in the United States and Canada: Percent Responding Eight or Higher on a Ten-Point Scale
- Figure 6: Factors Determining Upward Economic Mobility: Percent Responding “Essential” or “Very Important”
- Figure 7: Effectiveness of Steps Government Could Take to Improve Economic Mobility: Percent Responding “Very Effective”
