Network for Economic and Social Trends

About NEST: Western Social Science Research and Policy

Modern societies are experiencing unprecedented social and economic changes, including a slowdown in economic growth, rising inequality, and increasing ethnic diversity and geographic mobility.

NEST, a research and policy alliance in the Faculty of Social Science at Western University, that addresses these challenges by conducting world-class multidisciplinary research, fostering national and international collaborations, and facilitating the training of the next generation of leaders in academia, the private and non-profit sectors, and government.

NEST is the umbrella organization for all eight Western Research Centres in the Faculty of Social Science which set its agenda and provide its governance.  NEST also aims to train the next generation of policy researchers through mentorships, fellowships, and the MA in Research for Policy and Evaluation.

News & Announcements

Discrimination can make smaller communities unappealing to immigrants, racialized and Indigenous people | June 2022 
The populations of smaller communities in Canada have been shrinking because of low birth rates, youth and working professionals moving away and a failure to attract and retain new residents. Read More

Urban Centre will host the Money and Local Democracy Project | June 2022                           
The Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance will host the Money and Local Democracy Project / Projet sur l’argent et la democratie locale, a five-year project investigating municipal campaign finance regulation and local election campaigning. Funded by a SSHRC Insight Grant following pilot work funded by Western Faculty of Social Science research seed grants, the project is led by Western Political Science Professors Zack Taylor and Martin Horak; Sandra Breux at l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Montréal; and Kristin Good at Dalhousie University. This mixed-methods project will entail the largest survey of election candidates ever conducted in Canada – over 4,000 candidates in 183 municipalities in all 10 provinces, which are home to four out of five Canadians – as well as analysis of candidates’ campaign finance disclosures over three election cycles and in-depth interviews with former candidates and campaign managers. The project will contribute new insights, both nationally and internationally, into whether differently configured campaign finance regimes create more competitive elections, how local candidates campaign, and enduring questions regarding the influence of money in politics.

How rural Canada can attract and retain international health-care providers: Address discrimination, provide support | May 2022                           
Smaller communities in Canada, particularly those located in rural areas, find it difficult to attract and especially retain health-care professionals, leading to poorer health outcomes. Read More

The War in Ukraine: A Discussion | February 2022   
What: Russia's incursion into Ukraine violates international law and principles of international order. Join a panel of experts as they attempt to make sense of what is taking place and answer your questions.
Who: Hosted by Western's Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction.
Already-confirmed panelists include:
- Dr. Marta Dyczok, TJ Centre and History/Political Science, Western University
- Dr. Ryan Liss, TJ Centre and Law, Western University
- Dr. Valerie Oosterveld, TJ Centre and Law, Western University
How: Live discussion with Q&A. Submit your questions in advance to tjcentre@uwo.ca
When: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET
Where: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/99016688172 

Immigrants struggle to access Canada's legal services: London study | January 2022                           
Newcomers arriving in London, and elsewhere in Canada, need better information about legal services — and affordable options to tap into them, a new study shows. Read More

Legal woes for immigrants in London | January 2022                                                              
Dr. Victoria Esses joins Rebecca Zandbergen on London Morning to tell London Morning why immigrants need better access to justice and resources to navigate Canada's legal system. Listen Here

Study finds immigrants in London and Toronto experience serious legal problems that adversely impact their lives in Canada, highlighting their need for better access to justice | January 2022 
On January 18, Statistics Canada released results from a new survey about serious problems or disputes experienced by people living in the Canadian provinces. In addition to this national survey conducted on behalf of the Department of Justice and other federal departments, a number of qualitative studies were commissioned to examine the experiences of specific groups in Canada. Read More

 

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