Canadian cities as regional engines of growth: agglomeration and amenities

Canadian regional population growth is less understood than that of the United States. In both countries, certain regions have persistent population growth. Yet, unlike U.S. trends of amenity-driven migration away from historic urban centres, Canadian growth is more urban centric. This study assesses whether agglomeration economies in the few major Canadian metropolitan areas lead to population growth in or near these cities rather than the more-dispersed U.S. patterns. The results suggest that disparities such as the concentration of Canadians along its southern border may explain migration patterns, indicating that key differences in initial conditions may produce different outcomes between the two countries.