Publications

The ability to make informed financial decisions is essential for basic functioning in Canadian society. This bilingual paper reports on research that explores the ways in which vulnerable consumers prefer to receive financial education, information and advice.

This study seeks to equip decision-makers and stakeholders with insight into the effective practices of building financial literacy among low-income Canadians.

In this report SEDI provides quantitative information to describe the current state of financial literacy as well as a synthesis of qualitative information from key informant interviews conducted in the spring of 2006.

Case study methodology was utilized for this project to evaluate the effectiveness of the Independent Living Accounts (ILA) program in Edmonton, Toronto and Fredericton. Results from the program provided strong evidence that the ILA offers the necessary incentives and supports to help those in transitional housing become self-sufficient.

This book is a provocative collection of essays from Canadian and international scholars on the emerging topic of asset building as an approach to poverty alleviation and financial inclusion.

SEDI's early work in the area of self-employment was incorporated into Employment Insurance in 1992, making the Self-Employment Employment Benefits (SEB) program available to unemployed people across Canada. In Toronto, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) contracted SEDI to administer the delivery of SEB. This report highlights the successes of SEB in Toronto from 1993 to 2005, when 90 per cent of the program participants started businesses, generating over $166 million in gross revenues – during the period each client was in the program.