THE PARADOX OF SLOW-GROWTH HIGH-INCOME REGIONS

We attempt to provide an economic theory and the empirical evidence to explain why slow-growth regions, like Quebec in Canada, enjoy as high living standards as rapidly growing regions. In the long term quantities not prices adjust (except for the price of land, a resource in fixed supply). Despite variations in regional growth rates, real per capita income adjusted for housing costs converge in all regions. The analysis offers important insights into regional development and has far-reaching implications for federalism.