RAND » RAND Europe » Research

RAND Europe Research

Through objective analysis and research RAND Europe strives to provide effective solutions and informed choices to policy and decision-makers. Our international expertise complements the multidisciplinary nature of our research teams.

By establishing new angles of enquiry and, in some cases, new methodologies for research, RAND Europe brings fresh approaches and adds valuable contributions to traditional as well as new RAND research areas. Specific areas of policy research for RAND Europe include:

Current ProjectsMore »

Extending Copenhagen's Traffic Model May Help Reduce Congestion — 09 Feb 2012

Copenhagen sees a lot of traffic, and congestion charging policies are currently high on the political agenda. The Danish Road Directorate has asked RAND Europe, TetraPlan and Significance to extend the city's existing traffic model to predict time-of-day choice for car drivers. Doing so will allow planners to assess the effectiveness of different charging policies aimed at reducing congestion levels at particular times of day.

Smart Trash Project Prepares Interim Report, Seeks Stakeholder Input — 06 Feb 2012

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags offer benefits to product lifecycle management and can help indicate how best to recycle products, but they also introduce extraneous metals and materials into the recycling stream. RAND Europe and its two research partners will soon release an interim report on their analysis of the environmental costs and benefits of "smart trash" and will also be seeking public and stakeholder input.

Completed ResearchMore »

Strong Support Exists for Sustainable NHS, But Barriers Remain — 01 Feb 2012

A survey of 172 leaders of the National Health Service (NHS) in England found that there is strong support for delivering a high quality, environmentally sustainable NHS; a firm belief that sustainability is part of delivering corporate goals; and a more general awareness of current NHS policies and practices on sustainability. However, 55% of leaders see organisational culture as a barrier to improving sustainability, with 83% of leaders agreeing that incentives and local diversity are necessary to progress more rapidly towards a sustainable NHS.

Full Document

Can Hospital Emergency Readmissions be Avoided? — 25 Jan 2012

Between 15 and 20 percent of hospital emergency readmissions may be avoidable, according to research by RAND Europe and the University of Cambridge. The work, which aimed to inform the NHS Outcomes Framework, however warns that setting a rigid benchmark may be problematic. If rates are to be used for comparison, it will be important to risk-adjust for differences in case-mix between hospitals or departments.

Full Document

Annual Review Celebrates Twenty Years of RAND Europe Research — 24 Jan 2012

RAND Europe's annual review, Spotlight 2011, focuses on selected present and past RAND Europe signature research. With 2012 being our 20th anniversary year, the report features some of our most recent work while reflecting on how RAND Europe has developed and remained relevant over the last two decades. It also highlights selected research and corporate activity in 2011.

Full Document

REsource NotesMore »

Europe's demography: Are babies back? The recent recovery in EU period fertility due to older childbearing — 2011

An update to the RAND Europe 2004 study into the causes and consequences of low fertility in Europe analysing the latest data, reviewing recent literature, and examining the situation in Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK in depth.

Research Brief

Evaluation of the Social Impact Bond: Lessons from planning and early implementation at HMP Peterborough — 2011

RAND Europe has evaluated the world's first Social Impact Bond (SIB), an innovative payment-by-results mechanism to fund public services which aims to reduce reoffending by prisoners. This report presents the initial findings of the evaluation.

Research Brief

How can Europe promote labour force participation and reduce income inequality? — 2011

Improving labour force participation and reducing income inequality require social investment in the groups at risk. This study identifies challenges and suggests ideas for policymakers to improve the situation.