Are you better off after 9 years of Conservative government?

It's the modern Canadian version of an age-old ballot box question: are you better off than you were nine years ago?

More specifically, under Stephen Harper's stewardship of the economy, are Canadians better off financially?

The answer? It depends.

Single men — and single dads with kids — saw their take-home pay decline between 2006 and 2011.

The winners? Senior women, who have seen their pocketbooks boosted, and two-parent families.

• Watch the video above to see how different demographics groups have fared financially.

Canada's three main party leaders seem content to make the economy the ballot box question in this election, recalling Ronald Reagan's famous question to Americans during the 1980 U.S. presidential election, "are you better off than you were four years ago?" Americans then looked at the state of their economy — dragged down by years of stagflation — and voted Jimmy Carter out of office.

How will Canadians answer that question this time out?

Check out the CBC's other election promise fact checks: 

• Comparing the major parties on child care promises
• TFSAs: Who really benefits from new contribution limits?