Hidden treasures: estimating intergenerational wealth transfers in rural Canada

Intergenerational wealth transfers hold potential benefits for community finance in regions facing financial/development challenges due to demographic and economic shifts. We construct a model for estimating wealth transfers based on available Canadian data, with emphasis on data for primary dwelling values. We apply our model across census divisions over 10-, 20-, and 50-year periods and analyse resulting patterns. Results show regional variation in estimated transfer sizes, with urban proximity as a key factor. Findings suggest roles for rural community initiatives (like community foundations) to locally embed wealth over time, particularly given the increasing global mobility of wealth and finance.