Resources for Academics

Insolvency Research Initiative

The Insolvency Research Initiative was established by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) to increase the body of knowledge about the Canadian insolvency system and financial literacy and to stimulate interest among academics in multidisciplinary and comparative research on related fields. Multidisciplinary and comparative research on insolvency issues, including analytical studies of the social and public policy environment are being conducted by academics at Canadian universities. The results of these research projects were presented and discussed at the annual Insolvency Research Symposiums organized by the OSB (see research papers below).

How to submit a research proposal

Symposium on Insolvency and Financial Literacy Research (June 6–7, 2011)

Note: The opinions expressed in the following papers are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.

Consumer issues

Stigma, Public Disclosure and Bankruptcy (2011)
Author: Barry Scholnick, University of Alberta

At What Cost? Access to Consumer Credit in a Post-Financial Crisis Canada (2011)
Author: Janis Sarra, University of British Columbia

Accessing Insolvent Consumer Debtors, Challenges and Strategies for Empirical Research (2009)
Authors: Janis Sarra, University of British Columbia and Danielle Sarra, University of Toronto

Economic Rehabilitation: Understanding the Growth in Consumer Proposals (2008)
Author: Janis Sarra, University of British Columbia

The Importance of Payday Loans in Canadian Consumer Insolvency (2007)
Authors: Ruth E. Berry, Karen A. Duncan, University of Manitoba

Bankruptcy for the Poor? (2007)
Authors: Stephanie Ben-Ishai, Osgoode Hall Law School and Saul Schwartz, Carleton University

Government student loans, government debts and bankruptcy: a comparative study (2005)
Author: Stephanie Ben-Ishai, York University

Counselling the overindebted: a comparative perspective (2005)
Author: Saul Schwartz, Carleton University

Growing old gracefully, an investigation into the growing number of bankrupt Canadians over age 55 (2006)
Authors: Angela Redish, Janis Sarra, Margaret Schabas, University of British Columbia

Corporate issues

Analysis of the cost and distribution of commercial insolvency (2011)
Author: Benoit-Mario Papillon, Département des sciences de la gestion, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Regulation of Receiverships (2009)
Authors: Roderick J. Wood, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta

Comparative study of the characteristics of use of the proposal procedures set out in the BIA by incorporated businesses in Canada, and analysis of the success of these procedures (2007)
Authors: By Jocelyne Gosselin and Benoît Mario Papillon

Summary of the analysis of the potential effects of commercial insolvency legislation on the terms and conditions of external financing for SMEs (2007)
Authors: Jocelyne Gosselin, Benoit Mario Papillon and Sébastien Deschênes, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and Université de Moncton

Crossing the Finish Line: the Potential Impact on Business Rescue of Adoption of new Cross-Border Insolvency Provisions (2007)
Author: Janis Sarra, University of British Columbia

Development of a model to track filings and collect data for proceedings under the CCAA (2006)
Author: Janis Sarra, University of British Columbia

Empirical analysis of the effectiveness of the reorganization procedures under the BIA and the CCAA (2005)
Authors: Benoît-Mario Papillon and Jocelyne Gosselin, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

The personal liabilities of insolvency practitioners under insolvency legislation: a comparative analysis of the Canadian, English and American positions (2006)
Author: Jacob S. Ziegel, University of Toronto