The Quebec Intergenerational Equity Index

An ambitious intergenerational equity study for the province of Quebec, Canada, has recently been published. By means of a translation (from French) of its executive summary, its author and chief analyst Alexis Gagné (pictured) provides an introductionAlexis Gagne Headshot

The Quebec Intergenerational Equity Index was created in order to track equity across generations, measured across multiple dimensions from 1976 through to the present day. The Index – launched on 7 March 2014 by the Regroupement des Jeunes Chambres de Commerce du Québec (RJCCQ: the Union of Junior Chambers of Commerce of Quebec) and the Quebec news magazine L’Actualité – focuses on 25–34 year olds and compares them against other age groups in Quebec. The index is currently composed of 27 indicators and will be updated on an annual basis.

Since the index takes advantage of multiple, diverse sources of publicly-available data, we hope that this effort will be repeated in the other Canadian provinces and elsewhere in the world.

Defining Intergenerational equity

Intergenerational equity is defined as the equitable distribution of the costs and benefits associated with the collective decisions of a society. The definition of those costs and benefits obviously depends a great deal on personal values. Therefore, to help us choose which costs and benefits are most important, and thus the composition of the index, we organised two discussion groups. The first was with young people, ranging from 20 to 35. The second was with people aged 55 and older.

We also consulted a number of individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds. In all cases, the people consulted were recognised in their field of work and interested in the issue of equity across generations. For example, among these groups were an ex-finance minister, an ex-union leader, environmentalists, economists, entrepreneurs, members of the business community, and a philosophy professor.

The index attempts to find the answer, as best as the available data makes it possible, to two different but closely linked questions:

  1. Has the quality of life among young people improved?
  2. Has the distribution of power, wealth and jobs between young people and the rest of society improved?

The indicators

To answer these questions, we collected data to form 27 indicators – covering many different aspects of society and individual well-being – and then combined the indicators into the Index.

Between the base year (1986) and 2011, 15 of the indicators have shown improvement and 12 indicators have shown deterioration. Among the indicators that have most improved are the percentage of public spending going to early childhood education, the university graduation rate and the unemployment rate. Among the indicators that have shown the biggest deterioration are the net public debt per capita, the depression rate and the ratio of house prices to after-tax median income.

The Quebec Intergenerational Equity Index, weighted average, 1976 to 2011
1976 105.7 1988 101.1 2000 105.9
1977 104.7 1989 99.9 2001 107.5
1978 104.2 1990 98.8 2002 109.6
1979 102.7 1991 98.1 2003 108.6
1980 102.9 1992 99.9 2004 108.7
1981 101.9 1993 99.3 2005 110.2
1982 101.7 1994 99.7 2006 111.5
1983 100.5 1995 100.5 2007 111.4
1984 101.4 1996 100.4 2008 112.6
1985 100.5 1997 101.6 2009 113.4
1986 100.0 1998 100.9 2010 114.1
1987 100.3 1999 103.0 2011 115.7

 

The 2011 figure shows the evolution of intergenerational equity between young people aged 25–34 (Generations X and Y) and their parents’ generation (Baby Boomers). The index had risen (improved) from 100 to 115.7 in 25 years.

This evolution is less impressive, however, when considering that 1986 represents a low point in the index following a 5.7 point decline between 1976 and 1986. The index in 2011 is thus only 10 points higher than the index in 1976, mirroring almost exactly the 9.6% growth in after-tax median income for people aged 25–34 during those 35 years.

To complete the discussion of equity among generations, a final question is raised in the report: Is the quality of life attained by young people in 2011 sustainable? To answer it, we discuss the potential future effects, mainly on income, of four major sustainability issues:

  1. Global warming
  2. Public debt
  3. The long-term trend of public revenues and spending
  4. Public and private retirement savings

Warnings

Taken individually, the future effects of each of these four issues are not necessarily alarming. The literature reviewed predicts that each will affect future income by a few percentage points, or economic growth rates by a few tenths of a percentage points. But if we combine all four issues, the impact becomes significant, negatively affecting the future income of Quebecers by many percentage points, or future economic growth rates by 1% or more. This might still seem small, but if we take into account the growth of after-tax income of only 9.6% over the last 35 years, or the prediction of most economists of annual growth rates in Quebec of around 1.5% over the next 30 years, these effects are very important.

Two issues are particularly worrying. The first is global warming. If warming accelerates – which is probable if the world does not succeed in agreeing on how to diminish greenhouse gas emissions – the costs to the world economy will almost certainly be quite significant. Nicholas Stern predicts these costs could rise to as much as 20% of global GDP.

The second is the long-term trend in public revenues and spending. A recent study of the effect of ageing by group of renowned Quebec economists shows disquieting results. Deficits will most likely grow steadily to reach 4.5% of GDP by 2051. To eliminate this deficit, Quebecers will either have to face a higher taxation rate or receive lower levels of government services.

Therefore, will the modest gains illustrated by the Index be sustained for future generations? Our collective actions over the next few years will determine this.

To see the full report (in French), click here

List of indicators

Note: After the indicators were chosen, participants in a final discussion group (young and seniors combined) were asked to give a weight of between 0 and 4 to each indicator. The average of these weights was used to create the final Quebec Intergenerational Equity Index.

  Indicators +/- Weight
1 After-tax median income, 25–34 year olds + 1.33
2 Ratio of after-tax median income, 25–34 year-olds, and after-tax income, 16 and over 1.13
3 Unemployment rate, 25–34 year olds + 1.63
4 Unemployment rate, 25–34 year olds, and unemployment rate, 16+ + 1.15
5 Average hours worked, full time workers only, 25–34 year olds + 1,13
6 Income equity : ratio of weekly salary, 25–34 year olds, women, and weekly salary, 25–34, men, full-time workers only + 1,5
7 Income inequality : Gini coefficient, 25–34 year olds + 1.78
8 Percentage of consolidated provincial government spending going to the education ministry 1.98
9 Percentage of consolidated provincial government spending going to early childhood education + 2.08
10 Percentage of consolidated provincial government spending going to health 1.78
11 Percentage of consolidated provincial government spending going to debt servicing + 1.83
12 Average tax rate, 25–34 year olds (average pre-tax income – average after-tax income/average pre-tax income) + 1.58
13 Ratio of average house price to median after-tax income, 25–34 year olds 2.08
14 Ratio of rent for a 2-bedroom apartment to median after-tax monthly income, 25–34 year olds + 1.95
15 Percentage of population with a high school diploma, 25–34 year olds + 1.9
16 Percentage of population with a university diploma, 25–34 year olds + 2.03
17 Net provincial public debt per capita 1.61
18 Life expectency at birth + 2.11
19 Stock of provincial public infrastructure per capita + 1.86
20 Ratio of federal election participation rate, 25–34 year olds, and federal election participation rate, 18+ 1.22
21 General life satisfaction, 25–34 year olds 1.89
22 Percentage of population who have had a major episode of depression in the past year, 25–34 year olds 2.08
23 Average age of provincial MPs after each election 1.39
24 Average age of board members on the boards of major companies based in Quebec 1.17
25 Greenhouse gas emissions 2.47
26 Greenhouse gas emissions per capita + 1.81
27 Air quality : concentration of fine particulate matter in the south of Quebec (standard: PM 2.5) 2.14