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Research Program

Pensions at Work: A University-Union Research Alliance
on Socially Responsible Investment of Pension Funds

The Research Alliance represents the integration of two traditions. First, it builds on scholarship, both Canadian and international, about socially responsible investment. Second, it evolves from the growing interest of the Canadian labour movement in joint trusteeship of pension plans representing its members, an interest stemming from concerns about how these large pools of capital (assets of $543.8 billion, Statistics Canada, [2003]) are being invested. This interest in investment policy by organized labour is a result of several trends associated with the new economy (Delong, 2002; Drucker, 1993; Thurow, 1996), particularly, the globalization of investment capital.

As a result of these two traditions, 17 unions and other community partners have joined in a Research Alliance with 17 academics from eight universities in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. to undertake research on socially responsible investment of pension funds. This interdisciplinary research team has prepared 11 projects under three objectives: first, to assess the impact of socially responsible investment of pension funds; second, to understand the obstacles to socially responsible investment of pension funds; and third, to research and develop education on socially responsible investment for union trustees of pension funds. See project details below.

View the pdf of the entire SSHRC proposal. (203kb)