RAND Europe Research

Explore our current and recently completed research projects, or visit a research topic or method to learn more about a specific area of research.

Latest Research

Heat, energy efficiency, smart technology and health evidence review
03 Sep 2020

Researchers found clear evidence concerning the negative health impacts of poor indoor temperature and ventilation. The study also identified that improved heating technologies and measures to increase the energy efficiency of buildings are effective in improving several key aspects of the indoor environment, though evidence on positive health impacts were mixed.
Understanding the performance of the oncology healthcare system
27 Aug 2020

Researchers identified a number of key indicators that can be used to analyse elements of the oncology health system from different perspectives, and then used these indicators to create an overarching scorecard for oncology ecosystem performance.
Towards a UK strategy for integrated air and missile defence (IAMD)
30 Jul 2020

The Global Strategic Partnership developed and tested alternative conceptual lenses for thinking about the specific challenges and opportunities of IAMD in the UK context. The research was used by the Ministry of Defence to inform strategy and policy development.
Examining the quality of career guidance in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
21 Jul 2020

Surveying 54 secondary schools and colleges and interviewing 10 career guidance service providers, researchers produced a comprehensive picture of how career guidance is provided in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and how these services meet the needs of children and young people.
How quality of life informs local decision making
20 Jul 2020

Quality of life measures have shaped decision making when planned and implemented early, but there is little evidence to suggest that quality of life measures are being used by local policymakers in Cambridge, UK.
Evaluating the development of the Q initiative from 2016-2020
13 Jul 2020

The Q initiative has established itself as an important resource for quality improvement in health and care, supporting members with skills, new relationships and self-confidence. However, to deliver change at scale there is a need to build on these achievements.
Evaluating the closed coffeeshop chain cannabis experiment in the Netherlands
07 Jul 2020

Researchers are examining the possible effects of a new experiment to cultivate and deliver quality-controlled cannabis through a closed supply chain for coffeeshops in the Netherlands.
Online Shopping: Many Americans' Habits Haven't Changed During COVID-19
07 Jul 2020

Almost two-thirds of Americans haven't changed their online shopping habits since the pandemic began. About one-quarter are shopping online more, but 13 percent are actually shopping online less.
How Middle Eastern SMEs are coping with COVID-19
06 Jul 2020

A survey of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Middle East and Turkey, targeted particularly at businesses owned by migrants, women and young people, sought to understand the impact of COVID-19 on their work and what can be done to support them during the pandemic.
Assisting SMEs with skills management
02 Jul 2020

RAND Europe is conducting a series of interviews with relevant stakeholders to examine if it is feasible to develop a data driven tool or service that would help small and medium sized businesses with skills management.
Examining violence against healthcare
01 Jul 2020

RAND Europe explored the nature of violence against healthcare, the impact of this violence, and corresponding interventions on a global scale – the first time an evidence review of this scale has been undertaken in this area.
Consumer behaviours and attitudes to food in the UK
26 Jun 2020

The way people buy food is changing, and the sales of ethical and sustainable produce have increased. Eating food from outside the home is increasingly common, and what people consume still falls short of dietary guidelines. The reasons vary, and several policy levers may exist to influence people's food choices.
Assessing the impacts of digital government transformation in the EU
26 Jun 2020

A case study on the use of body worn cameras by police forces in the UK offers an example of how governments can potentially take advantage of emerging digital technologies to address systemic challenges.
The benefits and drawbacks of remote voting solutions
25 Jun 2020

RAND Europe and Open Evidence examined the extent to which remote voting solutions—particularly internet voting—are employed in the European member states. The research identified the costs, risks and challenges associated with seven remote voting options.
Using machine learning to detect malign information efforts online
23 Jun 2020

Social media is increasingly being used by human and automated users to distort information, erode trust in democracy and incite extremist views. Our research produced a machine learning model that can successfully detect Russian trolls.
Implications of climate change for UK defence and security
17 Jun 2020

Looking to 2035, the Ministry of Defence could play a key role in developing robust policy and programming on climate change. Researchers identified six high-level recommendations to support the MOD in developing an approach to address climate-related issues.
Strengthening the quality of early childhood education and care through inclusion
16 Jun 2020

Ensuring effective access to quality early childhood education and care for all remains a challenge in Europe, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This policy memo helps decision makers better understand this challenge and suggests some possible solutions.
From COVID-19 Research to Vaccine Application
09 Jun 2020

Moving from vaccine discovery research to developed products, policies and practice often takes years, not months. Monitoring the development of a COVID-19 vaccine may help to identify which of the approaches speeding development and deployment could be usefully applied more widely in the future.
How to best enable pharma innovation beyond the COVID-19 crisis
26 May 2020

Innovating in response to public health challenges like COVID-19 does not always align well with pharmaceutical industry commercial models or shareholder expectations. More sustainable and scalable ways of incentivising innovation in response to infectious disease threats are needed.
Early language intervention shows promise
06 May 2020

A randomised controlled trial into the effectiveness of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention found that it appeared to have a positive impact on children’s language skills and that training and support for staff also had a positive effect on children.
Exploring the criminal use of Zcash and cryptocurrencies
06 May 2020

While most transactions made with virtual coins are legitimate, cryptocurrencies have also been used for criminal purposes. Researchers found no evidence of widespread illicit use of Zcash, but that may be because malicious users do not fully understand its operating model.
Conventional arms control in Europe needs a new approach
27 Apr 2020

Conventional arms control (CAC) was a crucial element of the negotiations that ended the Cold War peacefully. Today, however, the CAC regime is outdated and largely irrelevant. What new CAC measures could lower the risk of conflict in Europe?
The utility of military force and public understanding in today's Britain
16 Apr 2020

To generate a mature attitude to the use of armed force and, if necessary, to the utility of war itself, Britain will require a mature debate about defence—one that trusts and engages the public and allows the armed forces to participate in the discussion, and in which the government enables and enhances the structures to permit those conversations.
How, and how much, do migrants use UK health services?
30 Mar 2020

Recent arrivals to the UK use the NHS significantly less than the UK-born population, though the difference narrows when adjusted for age and self-assessed health. However, more work is needed to provide insights to policy makers on migrant use of the NHS, their health needs, and the quality of health care received.
Deterrence and defence in NATO's north
26 Mar 2020

Key NATO allies regard Norway as being able to ‘punch above its weight’ in the North Atlantic and High North regions, but Norway does face pressing political, strategic, and military challenges, as well as wider security threats to societal resilience.