Research Digest: 2006
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International comparison of neonatal services – 21 December 2007
A new study, commissioned by the UK National Audit Office (NAO), analyses the provision of neonatal services in seven countries: the UK nations of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, Canada, Sweden, and Australia. The report aims to provide a compendium of relevant data to facilitate comparisons and benchmarking of neonatal services across countries. It examines trends in high-risk births, the organisation and scale of neonatal services, neonatal transport, costs and best practices. The study found that all countries studied use neonatal networks, although with varying levels of formalisation, that low staffing is a pervasive problem for UK neonatal services, and that a few international regions are leading the way in the development of high-quality neonatal service provision.
Single Farm Payments in Finland and Germany – 12 December 2007
A new study, commissioned by the UK National Audit Office, analyses the
implementation of the new European Single Payment Scheme of farm
payments in Germany and Finland. This scheme was introduced by the
European Union in 2003 as a new way of supporting its farmers. A large
number of production based subsidies was abolished and replaced by a
new scheme, which distributes support to farmers based on the acreage
they own and previous payments they received.
Against a background of considerable implementation problems of this
scheme in England, the research details the specifics of the national
payment systems and implementation processes in Germany and Finland
and compares the performance of these two countries.
The research was informed by interviews with officials from Germany
and Finland and a document and literature review.
Setting the Agenda for an Evidence-based Olympics – 28 November 2007
A new RAND Europe study examines the key policy issues relating to the 2012 Olympic Games and to London as its host city. It is designed to provide planners and other policy-makers with an evidence base on which to make sound and informed decisions, culminating in a safe and successful outcome with long-lasting benefits to London.
RAND 2012 Olympics Web Site 
News Release
Sustainable digital preservation of scholarly publications – 05 November 2007
The digital revolution has fundamentally modified the way research is conducted, but also the way in which its results are circulated, reviewed, accessed and preserved. Libraries can no longer rely on stacking a print copy a publication on one of their archive shelfs. Hitherto established models of archiving and preservation of scholarly output need to be rethought. RAND Europe has examined the key determinants of the sustainable digital preservation of scholarly publications, with specific reference to developing a robust approach to the archiving of such records at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek in The Netherlands.
Park and ride schemes can effectively reduce urban congestion – 02 November 2007
Park-and-ride schemes can be effective as a means to reduce car travel within congested city centres. Olympic organisers for London 2012 Games have recently announced plans to ban all car travel, making consideration of using Park-and-ride sites more critical. In this REsource note RAND Europe describes findings from research related to the feasibility and growth in demand of P&R sites.
New research team addresses the expanding European information economy – 01 October 2007
New information and communication technologies (ICT), and innovative applications are changing conventional business models and traditional relationships thus, providing new opportunities for citizens, government and business. The high impact and cross-cutting nature of these developments have prompted RAND Europe to set up a new Information Policy & Economics team (IPE) to help policy and decision makers in European governments and private sector enterprises address the challenges and uncertainties posed by the enfolding information economy.
RAND Europe benchmarks English student retention – 01 August 2007
A new RAND Europe report contributes to the UK's NAO value-for-money study on English higher education's performance on student retention. RAND Europe was asked to undertake an international comparison of how higher education institutions in four other countries manage student retention. This study adds to the collection of RAND Europe's work in the area of education and builds on RAND Europe's experience to use international benchmarking as a way to inform policy debates.
Full ReportRelated Report 
NAO Report (www.nao.org.uk)
IVF's potential contribution to increasing fertility rates in Europe – 27 June 2007
Results of a RAND Europe study initially released at a conference of the European Society for Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE) in Prague 2006 and more recently in Lyon 2007, demonstrate that Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as IVF, could help European governments combat the problem of ageing populations if incorporated into population policies. The research is the first step to systematically examine the potential impact of biomedical developments such as fertility treatment on population ageing. The results of this analysis will be of interest to those who are concerned with policy options to reverse low fertility and mitigate the effects of population ageing.
Responsibility in the Global Information Society: Towards Multi-stakeholder Governance – 31 May 2007
As part of British Telecommunication's annual Hot Topic series, RAND Europe was asked to conduct a research study investigating the reponsibilities and opportunities facing global ICT companies. The RAND Europe report assesses the ICT sector's responsibilities and identifies the kinds of actions that can be taken through a 'multi-stakeholder governance' approach to respond adequately to the challenges.
Prescribing in primary care: Understanding what shapes GPs' prescribing choices and how might these be improved – 18 May 2007
The National Audit Office (NAO) asked RAND Europe to conduct a
qualitative study into General Practitioners' (GP) prescribing
behaviour. The study aims to understand what shapes GPs' prescribing
decisions, and how the cost efficiency of prescribing might be improved
in the future. This qualitative study contributes to the NAO's larger
investigation into primary care prescribing in England and more
specifically, how financial savings can be delivered by helping primary
care prescribing to deliver better value for patients.
Full Report NAO Report (www.nao.org.uk)
Developing transport demand models – 01 May 2007
RAND Europe's modelling team develops
state-of-practice tools to enable detailed assessment of transport
policy over large areas. These tools assist transport authorities
across the globe in mitigating congestion and the environmental hazards
that result from traffic.
Tackling Obesity and Promoting Health in Europe – 28 March 2007
The report presents the Platform's achievements by summarising information contained in 121 monitoring forms that were provided by Platform members. Achievements are organised into the following sections, which represent the range of activities being undertaken by Platform members:
- promoting healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, and physical activity;
- labelling;
- advertising and marketing;
- product development and reformulation;
- dissemination activities;
- policy development; and
- research into areas of relevance to the Platform.
RAND Europe evaluates EC's Scientific Committees in areas of consumer products, and health and environmental risks. – 31 January 2007
RAND Europe released its report conducted for the European Commission's Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General (SANCO). The report provides an interim evaluation of the procedures and functions of the three non-food Scientific Committees that provide the EC with scientific advice on existing and emerging issues related to consumer safety, and health and environmental risks.
RAND Europe's report concluded that the Scientific Committees are functioning adequately so far, and make substantial contributions to the evidence-base upon which related EC decision making relies. However, the evaluation identified practical recommendations, which could lead to improvements in the process of providing scientific advice and its implementation in SANCO policy making.Security Challenges to the Use and Deployment of Disruptive Technologies – 30 January 2007
RAND Europe recently completed a study, commissioned by DG Information Society & Media of the European Commission, assessing the security challenges involved in the use and deployment of so-called 'disruptive technologies.' These technologies were: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Trusted Computing, Wireless Microwave Access (WiMAX), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). Methods used in the study included expert review, case study examination and evaluation at an expert workshop.
Findings showed that some challenges were common to all technologies, most notably those surrounding the business case for their implementation, while others were technology-specific. The study was the latest in a series conducted for the European Commission in the area of Network and Information Security.Grant given for continued Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) study – 3 January 2007
Governments worldwide are searching for ways to cope with ageing populations. This trend threatens the affordability of public pensions and health care systems, and sparks concern over future economic sustainability in general.
RAND Europe released the results of its preliminary study in June 2006, which examined the potential contribution of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as IVF, to reverse declining birth rates in some European countries. The study (DB-507-FER) found that the impact of facilitated access to ART on birth rates is in a similar order of magnitude as other policy measures such as increasing child benefit. An unrestricted grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals made this research possible.
Ferring has recently asked RAND Europe to build on previous findings to investigate the demographic, economic, and wider social and health effects of an ART policy. In particular the study will widen its geographic scope; deepen understanding of the economic implications of changes in fertility; and develop models to understand couples' behaviour related to the decision to undergo reproductive treatment. Results are expected in fall 2007. Contact Stijn Hoorens (stijn_hoorens@rand.org) for more information.
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