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

Developments in Child and Family Policy in the EU in 2019
01 Dec 2020

This third annual trend report outlines and summarises new policy developments in the area of child and family policy in the 27 EU member states and the UK during 2019. The report provides information on key trends that took place in relation to the provision of early childhood education and care, family leave and actions to improve work-life balance, social and income support for families, and children's right to participation.
Anti-bullying practices from the repository of the European Platform for Investing in Children
01 Dec 2020

The European Platform for Investing in Children (EPIC) collects and disseminates innovative and evidence-based practices that have a positive impact on children and families in EU member states. This report showcases a selection of practices collected by EPIC that focus on anti-bullying interventions.
The impact of vertical integration of health services
01 Dec 2020

In several locations across England and Wales, NHS organisations responsible for managing acute hospitals have also taken over the running of primary care medical practices. Vertical integration is a valuable option to consider when GP practices look likely to fail due to recruitment and financial difficulties, but it is not an option that should be imposed from the top down.
Incentivising parents to return to the labour market after parental leave
25 Nov 2020

Employers in the EU have a wide range of options to incentivise parents of young children to return to work. Government policies addressing the unequal distribution of unpaid (care) work and reducing the gender pay gap would also help increase the employment of mothers.
Independent evaluation of the Flow Coaching Academy programme
25 Nov 2020

To help improve patient flow through the healthcare system, researchers evaluated a novel programme that applies team coaching skills and improvement science at the care pathway level.
Foreign funding of religious institutions in the Netherlands
20 Nov 2020

Undesirable influence through foreign donations to religious institutions is of concern to the Dutch government, which asked RAND Europe, together with research collaborator Breuer&Intraval, to conduct an independent study mapping the nature and size of the foreign funding of religious institutions in the country.
What factors encourage witnesses of intimate partner violence to help?
13 Nov 2020

Numerous factors discourage witnesses of intimate partner violence to report to the police or other relevant authorities. Strengthening protection for witnesses and including the option to report anonymously may help encourage witnesses to help.
Evaluating collaborations between primary care general practices in the UK
10 Nov 2020

Primary care networks can help GPs run a wider range of services for their patients and make changes that are needed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be important to have additional clarification and support around the role of primary care networks in the wider NHS in England.
COVID-19 and the cost of vaccine nationalism
28 Oct 2020

Without a vaccine, the worldwide economic impact of COVID-19 could be $3.4 trillion a year. But even when a vaccine is available, an unequal allocation of COVID-19 vaccines could cost the global economy up to $1.2 trillion a year in GDP.
Evaluating a programme to support ex-Service personnel in the criminal justice system
22 Oct 2020

Researchers identified several improvements that could increase the efficacy of a programme that helps to fund projects aimed at reducing reoffending and supporting ex-Service personnel who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.
Estimating the cost of growing the NHS cancer workforce in England by 2029
13 Oct 2020

Cancer Research UK asked researchers to help determine how much Health Education England would need to increase its budget in order to meet its ambition of growing the NHS cancer workforce by 45 per cent by 2029. Researchers used workforce and cost data to build a demographic stock-flow model to provide important information about which workforces will require the most significant interventions, as well as the estimated costs.
Identifying innovations in adult social care and social work
17 Sep 2020

Researchers identified 158 innovations for potential evaluation and held a workshop with 23 stakeholders to prioritise a shortlist of top innovations to evaluate in adult social care and social work.
What influences improvement processes in healthcare?
15 Sep 2020

Although many healthcare organisations are engaging in activities to improve the quality of healthcare, there are still considerable challenges in doing so. Additional research on quality improvement could help inform a better understanding of how improvements in patient care can be achieved and sustained.
Understanding researcher views on REF2021
07 Sep 2020

To understand researcher perceptions around the Research Excellence Framework, how they view the experience, and how it affects academic environments, RAND Europe is leading a real-time evaluation of the REF 2021 assessment process while researchers submit their work.
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.
Transforming social care provision
12 Aug 2020

The demand for adult social care in the UK is rising and will continue to rise. But the supply of such care is struggling to keep up. Innovation in social care can enable more and better care to be delivered more cost-effectively.
Identifying conflict-affected and high-risk areas for EU importers of minerals
30 Jul 2020

RAND Europe is developing and maintaining an updated list of conflict-affected and high-risk areas to facilitate the calibration of due diligence efforts made by EU importers of specific metals and minerals.
How quality of life informs local decision making
29 Jul 2020

Quality of life measures have shaped decision making when planned and implemented early, but there is little evidence to suggest that such measures are being used by local authorities and decision makers.
Examining COVID-19 and intimate partner violence
28 Jul 2020

An increase in intimate partner violence has been a worrying consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers are working to identify promising measures for protecting and supporting women victims and their children, both during and in the aftermath of lockdown measures.
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.
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.