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

The impact of vertical integration of health services
12 Jan 2022

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.
Juggling work and childcare during COVID-19
11 Jan 2022

This report examines policies introduced in 2020 by ten EU member states that aimed to support working parents during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and takes stock of their common features and impact.
Evaluating collaborations between primary care general practices in the UK
05 Jan 2022

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.
Integrating channels of communication to achieve influence
05 Jan 2022

Researchers are identifying strategies, approaches, methods and tools that UK Defence can implement to design multi-channel influence campaigns aimed at overseas audiences, comprising both online and offline forms of communication, and developing ways to monitor and measure the campaigns' effectiveness..
Smoke-free environments and the advertising of tobacco and related products
04 Jan 2022

Although EU member states are generally compliant with national rules on smoke-free environments and tobacco-related advertising, some areas require closer scrutiny, including protecting children from the harms of smoking.
Case studies examine early childhood development interventions at scale
23 Dec 2021

Researchers developed case studies on ‘what works’ in early childhood development at scale in the Netherlands, Israel, Peru, and Brazil. They ensured that efforts were systematically captured, assessed and available for other governments, practitioners and foundations to use.
Supporting parental behavioural change: Multichannel and cross-sector campaigns in Israel
23 Dec 2021

This case study describes two campaigns in Israel that supported parental behavioural change. The success of the campaigns was attributed to their multichannel approach, partner network and involvement of expertise. It offers valuable lessons for others aiming to encourage behavioural change at scale.
‘Green’ jobs and skills development for disadvantaged groups
20 Dec 2021

While much has been written about employment for vulnerable groups, and employment in the green economy, little research exists that bridges these two areas. RAND Europe, with philanthropic support from JP Morgan Chase, is working to remedy that.
Using social media data to ‘nowcast’ migration around the globe
16 Dec 2021

Because official statistics can be delayed or fail to correctly capture the full extent of migration, making informed policy decisions can be a challenge. Researchers developed an approach to compute near-real-time migration estimates for Europe and the United States using social media data.
The Global Digital Skills Gap: Current Trends and Future Directions
15 Dec 2021

Researchers sought to better understand at a macro level whether and why the digital skills gap is widening, its implications for digital and social inequalities, and what various stakeholders are doing in response.
Exploring the opportunities and challenges of UK research engagement with China
15 Dec 2021

An independent, evidence-based study into research engagement by UK academics with China aims to improve the UK government’s wider understanding of engagement with China on joint research activities, the benefits of collaboration, how to manage risk, and more.
Examining the digital skills gap
15 Dec 2021

Researchers assessed the evidence associated with the digital skills gap. The study analysed the key trends driving the gap at a global level and articulated some practical steps to address this challenge and potentially ‘close’ the gap.
Assessing EHR for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control
10 Dec 2021

Electronic health records (EHR) data could greatly help infectious disease surveillance, but their use varies across Europe. Researchers mapped EHR use to assess the feasibility of using EHR data for infectious disease surveillance.
The potential socio-economic impact of telemedicine in Canada
06 Dec 2021

RAND Europe researchers examined the potential impact in Canada of continued, long-term use of telemedicine, which can include the use of 'smart' devices to conduct medical tests, the digital storage and sharing of medical records, and real-time tele-consultations between healthcare providers and patients.
Greater telemedicine adoption in Canada could offer economic and social benefits
06 Dec 2021

Alongside the benefits from tools such as telemonitoring and digital health records, researchers found that widespread use of teleconsultations could lead to significant benefits for Canadian patients, the Canadian economy and wider Canadian society.
Assessing POCT for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control
02 Dec 2021

Researchers examined the availability of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices to diagnose 56 communicable diseases and related health issues under EU surveillance — not including COVID-19 — and mapped trends in the use of POCT in Europe.
Understanding researcher views on REF 2021
24 Nov 2021

A real-time evaluation of the REF 2021 assessment process found that overall views on the REF are mixed. Many researchers perceive that the REF has a negative influence on UK researchers and the research community, but views on specific aspects and influences of the REF are more nuanced.
Making outcome-based payment a reality in the NHS: Phase 2
23 Nov 2021

To prepare for the implementation of a pilot scheme to pay for cancer drugs based on achieved outcomes, researchers addressed issues identified in the first phase of research, such as the quality and completeness of real-world data on key patient outcomes.
Understanding how rail construction affects mental health and wellbeing
18 Nov 2021

Researchers are exploring how the UK's High-Speed Rail 2 development might affect people who live near the railway line. What they learn will contribute to the design and assessment of later phases of the HS2 scheme.
European strategic autonomy in defence and implications for NATO, U.S., and EU relations
09 Nov 2021

Competing visions of European strategic autonomy have been widely debated in European Union (EU) policy circles. Researchers examined the meaning of European strategic autonomy in defence and its implications for the U.S., NATO and EU-U.S. relations using a scenario methodology and transatlantic expert consultation.
Reviewing the work and health research landscape
29 Oct 2021

Researchers mapped the funding landscape for work and health research in the UK for the first time. They examined how much has been spent in the area since 2015, what types of research topic are funded and what the priorities for future work and health research should be.
Understanding how acts of violence are classified
26 Oct 2021

Based on input from a range of experts, researchers found that classifying an act of violence is driven by knowledge of the perpetrator’s motivation, recognition of the ideology, and availability of information on mental health and social media use. Public perception, knowledge of available definitions and the classifier’s own background also influence classification.
How UK Defence could support societal resilience to crisis events
21 Oct 2021

Using case studies from five countries, researchers developed a conceptual framework that includes three phases of societal resilience: Prepare, Respond and Recover. The team identified a set of proposals to help UK Defence improve how it conceptualises and operationalises societal resilience.
Achieving global mobility for the UK Armed Forces
14 Oct 2021

Researchers propose a range of options that could help the UK MOD meet its global mobility requirements between now and 2040 while offering the mobility fleet both effectiveness and resilience.
Provision of school meals across the EU
01 Oct 2021

One goal of the European Commission is to provide all children in the EU with adequate nutrition. Researchers examined the rationales underpinning school meal programmes across the EU, the barriers and facilitators of school meal programmes, and what the evidence says about the outcomes of school meal programmes.