The average Canadian is now richer than the average American.

I've been to Canada a few times and it is, without a doubt, nicer than the United Federation of Amerikkka.

Top 1% incomes

US - $375k

Canada $174k

If you are in the bottom 9 deciles, Canada is a superior place. Education works, healthcare is outstanding, and it is an extremely safe place (50 murders in Toronto last year).

If you are in the top 1%, the US is vastly superior. the network effects described by 4runner have much more scale and depth than they do in Canada.

So the question is, are you in the 1%? Most in the US think they are, or rather will be. So they prefer the US. But reality is that most will not end up there. So they *should* prefer Canada, but are willing to give up those comforts for a lottery ticket. Irrational, but this is what keeps the engine going.

Lyndon LaRouche wrote:

If you are in the bottom 9 deciles, Canada is a superior place. Education works, healthcare is outstanding, and it is an extremely safe place (50 murders in Toronto last year).

1/3

Say wha? wrote:

Huh? First you tout this ranking when it serves your purpose, then claim it is flawed when someone throws it back in your face? Make up your mind.

Fair enough.

The Economist used to rank cities on livability. Canada always had 4-5 in the top 10. Asian cities never got close e.g. Hong Kong was not in the top 50 in 2011, and Singapore was 30th. A year later they are #1 and #2. I'd say these are entirely different surveys.

It is safe to say these are apples-to-oranges comparisons. Having lived in both Hong Kong and Canada, I can tell you they are not remotely similar.

If you value opportunity and convenience, nothing beats Asian cities. If you value clean air, clean public spaces and solid public institutions, Canada leads the way. I used to prefer the former, now I prefer the latter. That is my bias.

Keep in mind that using either pre or post 2012 criteria, US cities come up short. Which is to say the US no longer has a monopoly on quality of life or opportunity. This should not come as a surprise.

Bear in mind that if I ever find myself in the 0.1%, I will more than likely move to the US. The quality of life for the wealthy in the US is the best in the world. But this reminds me of Steve Martin's book How to be a Millionaire, "Step one: Get a million dollars. Step two..."

In this case they are talking about net worth.

The biggest contributer to net worth is home value vs mortgage debt.

Many Americans bought their homes at a high price and borrowed fully to get them only to see their values decline.

A great number of Americans are under water and have a negative net worth.

By this definition a homeless person with no savings, no property and no income is much richer than a person with a $400,000 house and a $500,000 mortgage and a $200,000 salary.

Quarter Inch wrote:

It is safe to say these are apples-to-oranges comparisons. Having lived in both Hong Kong and Canada, I can tell you they are not remotely similar.

Apples-to-oranges, or city-to-country? Of course they are not similar.

Quarter Inch wrote:

It is safe to say these are apples-to-oranges comparisons. Having lived in both Hong Kong and Canada, I can tell you they are not remotely similar.

One of the locals wrote:

Apples-to-oranges, or city-to-country? Of course they are not similar.

...ok....

Hong Kong is nothing like Toronto or Vancouver.

Quarter Inch wrote:

Toronto or Vancouver.

Which of those do you live in?

Quarter Inch wrote:

Toronto or Vancouver.

One of the locals wrote:

Which of those do you live in?

yes

"The average Canadian is now richer than the average American.

"By about $40k, on average."

Right--but the average Canadian still lives in Canada. Not sure that $40k would be enough to induce me to do the same.

Similarly: My family and I live in a NYC apartment that's so cramped, you have to step outside to change your mind. Yet we could sell this place for something in the low seven figures, take the money and live in a palace in East Bumf, Arkansas.

The only problem: we'd be living in East Bumf, Arkansas.

No worries. I'm not average so I don't give a flying f.

Quarter Inch wrote:

Keep in mind that using either pre or post 2012 criteria, US cities come up short.

Tell us about those "post 2012 criteria". What else have you learned during your time travels?

Quarter Inch wrote:

Keep in mind that using either pre or post 2012 criteria, US cities come up short.

Have TARDIS, will travel wrote:

Tell us about those "post 2012 criteria". What else have you learned during your time travels?

Buenos Aires on the Hudson

Quarter Inch wrote:.

Keep in mind that using either pre or post 2012 criteria, US cities come up short. Which is to say the US no longer has a monopoly on quality of life or opportunity. This should not come as a surprise.

Wait, didn't you or someone say NYC topped their list?

Canada is nice, but I love my weather in California too much. The weather in any Canadian city would really bring me down, even Vancouver.

4runner wrote:

dkjfsljkfdslkfj wrote:

Income inequality is totally irrelevant to human happiness and well-being. What matter are opportunity and absolute standards of living, not where one person stands in relation to another.

Do not tell me that income inequality does not lead to opportunity inequality.

To the first I say, very well put, extremely insightful and I can only wish that more Americans start thinking like you and I.

To 4 runner when did I say that income inequality didn't lead to opportunity inequality? I'll take Microsoft and other companies over opportunity equality any day, because they produce products that make my life much better.

Holy crap! I didn’t even read that bull sh!t article until just now but what a crock. If you want to know where our money is find a stat on the net worth of the US government versus the Canadian government per capita. I think we all know what the result of that would be, so all you big government socialistic commie liberals should stop whining because you voted for this.

sursjt wrote:

"The average Canadian is now richer than the average American.

"By about $40k, on average."

Right--but the average Canadian still lives in Canada. Not sure that $40k would be enough to induce me to do the same.

Similarly: My family and I live in a NYC apartment that's so cramped, you have to step outside to change your mind. Yet we could sell this place for something in the low seven figures, take the money and live in a palace in East Bumf, Arkansas.

The only problem: we'd be living in East Bumf, Arkansas.

so you are saying that most of the US is like Canada - i.e. remote and undesirable. Right?

MacKenzie, Bob wrote:

sursjt wrote:

"The average Canadian is now richer than the average American.

"By about $40k, on average."

Right--but the average Canadian still lives in Canada. Not sure that $40k would be enough to induce me to do the same.

Similarly: My family and I live in a NYC apartment that's so cramped, you have to step outside to change your mind. Yet we could sell this place for something in the low seven figures, take the money and live in a palace in East Bumf, Arkansas.

The only problem: we'd be living in East Bumf, Arkansas.

so you are saying that most of the US is like Canada - i.e. remote and undesirable. Right?

Actually I thought I was saying that chocolate chip cookies are definitely an all-time top-ten invention and they originated where?...Yup, you guessed it, right here in Canada!