Research summary
A family’s wealth is the total value of its owned assets after any debts have been subtracted. Basically, it is the difference between what you own and what you owe. But some families have more wealth, while others have more debt. Dr. Maude Pugliese, Canada Research Chair in Family Financial Experiences and Wealth Inequality, is documenting wealth inequality in Canada, particularly in Quebec.
Pugliese and her research team are developing innovative techniques for measuring wealth, using both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Anchoring themselves in an intersectional approach, they are also advancing new theories. They are documenting wealth disparities by class, gender, race, ethnicity and citizenship. In characterizing these inequalities, they are also considering the implications of factors like intergenerational wealth transfer, aging, financial literacy, and constraints on savings and credit products in the financial markets.