| By: |
David Albouy (University of Michigan);
Fernando Leibovici (New York University);
Casey Warman (Queen's University) |
| Abstract: |
This paper presents the first hedonic general-equilibrium estimates of
quality-of-life and firm productivity differences across Canadian cities,
using data on local wages and housing costs. These estimates account for the
unobservability of land rents and geographic differences in federal and
provincial tax burdens. Quality of life estimates are generally higher in
Canada’s larger cities: Victoria, Vancouver are the nicest overall,
particularly for Anglophones, while Montreal and Ottawa are the nicest for
Francophones. These estimates are positively correlated with estimates in the
popular literature and may be explained by differences in climate. Toronto is
Canada’s most productive city; Vancouver, the overall most valued city. |
| Keywords: |
quality of life, firm productivity, cost-of-living, firm productivity, compensating wage differentials |
| JEL: |
H24 H5 H77 J61 R1 |
| Date: |
2012–01 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qed:wpaper:1287&r=tur |