Description
Abstract: We use the new complete count Canadian Census records spanning from 1871 to 1901 to explore measures of socioeconomic status including income, occupation, and literacy, which scholars commonly use to investigate economic mobility and inequality. We first explore the availability and comparability of measures across census years. Then, using individuals in the 1901 Census which contains wages, we document selection into the wage sample as well as the characteristics of individuals found in different segments of the wage distribution. Lastly, auxiliary status measures from social registers and probate records are explored for those in occupations where income is under-enumerated.