Achieving the American dream is easier north of the border — in Canada — than in the United States. That’s according to Scott Gilmore, who notes that social mobility has declined in the U.S., while increasing in countries like Canada, where you’ll have more luck pursuing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Three Takeaways:
- Data certainly point toward Canada being a better place for poorer families to rise than the United States. According to Gilmore, it leads the U.S. in education , homeownership and life expectancy, among other benchmarks.
- Canada has two pathways for refugees to enter the country: They’re either accepted by the government or sponsored by Canadian citizens. The latter, says Gilmore, has been more successful, as those migrants have found it easier to secure jobs and housing.
- Gilmore doesn’t give Canadian policy makers all the credit for the country’s success. He attributes part of it to luck and geography. “Canada has one neighbor - the United States - and it’s a really good neighbor.”
More Reading:
- Gilmore’s essay about the American dream moving to Canadadrew both praise and criticism from readers in the U.S.
- The Washington Post reports that more students are heading north to study at universities in Canada.
- The New York Times looks at Canada’s program for citizen-sponsored refugees through the eyes of one family.
