David Zetland passes along some income figures via Aguanomics (re posted). (Dan here...There are more American billionaires and millionaires, so not to worry) :

Wait. Canadians make more money than Americans? Yep.

[1] USD** Median household income
50,050 USA
71,300 Canada
Household size
2.6 USA
2.5 Canada
[2] USD GDP per capita (2011 nominal)
48,400 USA
50,400 Canada
USD GDP per capita (2011 Purchasing-power-parity)
48,400 USA
40,500 Canada
45 USA
32 Canada
So here's how I reconcile these numbers:


So it seems that the income derived from economic activities in the US is skewed in distribution -- with more going to rich people than the average person -- compared to Canada.**

Bottom Line: Canadians are well known for their higher levels of social harmony. This harmony may be due to a fairer distribution of income, but it's also accompanied by a higher average incomes.*** Americans are both poorer AND less equal than their neighbors.
*** My definition of the American Dream -- "being able to do what you want" -- does not match common definitions that include upward mobility. That dream is -- relative to the past and relative to other countries -- more dream than reality [pdf].

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