Future of Work Research

Posted by Russell Sage Foundation on November 10, 2014

Russell Sage Foundation Seeks Letters of Inquiry for Future of Work Research

One of the oldest foundations in the United States, the Russell Sage Foundation was established by Margaret Olivia Sage in 1907 for “the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States.” In pursuit of that mission, the foundation now dedicates itself to strengthening the methods, data, knowledge, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of diagnosing social problems and improving social policies.

The foundation’s program on the Future of Work supports research on the causes and consequences of changes in the quality of jobs for less- and moderately-skilled workers in the United States. The foundation seeks research proposals related to the role of changes in employer practices; the nature of the labor market; and public policies concerning the employment, earnings, and quality of jobs of American workers.

Examples of the kinds of topics and questions that are of interest include but are not limited to changing economies, changing families and policy responses (or lack thereof); economics of productivity and the role of managerial practices in improving job quality; causes and consequences of job polarization; and the effects of long-term unemployment and strategies to prevent long-term disadvantage. Priority will be given to analyses of original qualitative and quantitative data sources, and novel uses of existing sources of data to address important questions related to the interplay of market and non-market forces in shaping the well-being of workers, today and in the future.

The foundation encourages methodological variety, but all proposals should have well-developed conceptual frameworks and research designs. Analytical models should be specified and research questions and hypotheses should be clearly stated. Awards are available for research assistance, data acquisition, data analysis, and investigator time for conducting research and writing up results.

Grants of up to $150,000 will be awarded to qualified organizations.

To be eligible, organizations must be considered nonprofit organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Review Code.

Letters of Inquiry must be received no later than January 16, 2015. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by March 16, 2015.

For complete program guidelines, application instructions, and an FAQ, visit the Russell Sage website.

DEADLINE: JANUARY 16, 2015 (LETTERS OF INQUIRY)

http://www.russellsage.org/research/future-work