Major Cyclical Components of the 1966–71 Canadian Interregional Population System

The eight most durable cyclical components determined by the 1966–71 structural matrix of the eight-region and ten-age-group Canadian interregional population system are identified. Each of these components is related to a unique region. Their periods distribute within a narrow range around the length of a generation, while their half lives vary substantially, mainly due to a large variation in the shapes of regional fertility schedules. The magnitudes of cyclical waves transmitted among regions tend to be positively related to interregional outmigration rates. The most durable and significant cyclical component has its greatest impact on the age profile of Ontario.