Authors:Norm LeckieTaylor Shek-Wai HuiDoug TattrieJennifer RobsonJean-Pierre Voyer
learn$ave was introduced as a demonstration project to test the effectiveness of a new instrument – Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) – to encourage low-income adults to save for their own education or training. The use of IDAs was pioneered in the United States in the 1990s and introduced in Canada on a small scale more recently.
In general, IDAs work as regular saving accounts, with account holders receiving a matching grant for every dollar they deposit. To benefit from the matching grant, savings have to be used for specific purposes. In learn$ave, savings could be used for education, training or starting a small business.
Published: November 2010
Capability: Experimentation
Policy Area: Adult Learning - Adult Training
Population: Social Assistance Recipients - Communities and Families
Type: Final report