The thesis examines the emergence of a new idea--trade union investment funds. The thesis looks at their establishment in Sweden, Italy and Quebec in the years 1983-84. The thesis aims to compare these three funds, the first three in the developed countries, and attempts to explain the reason for the important differences between the funds. The thesis situates the funds within the overall concept of economic democracy and traces a brief historical sketch of the development of this idea. The evolution of the general fund idea is exposed as is the debate over the significance of the funds in intellectual, political and union circles. The thesis examines whether the funds, particularly the Swedish version, represent a step forward towards socialism, yet a further integration of the working class into advanced capitalist society or an attack on democratic pluralism.

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