We conduct research that contributes to assuring the social and economic sustainability of the welfare state
The ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit works impartially and scientifically. A distinguishing feature of our research is that it always takes as its starting point significant and relevant challenges to the welfare state. The objective of the research is to improve the level of knowledge and the quality of the public debate, thus contributing to creating the best possible foundation for political decision-makers.
Latest releases from the Research Unit
Research report
The Missing Talent in Public Sector
February 2025
Knowledge overview
Talented Young Individuals Opt Out of Leadership Careers in the Public Sector
February 2025
Podcast
Healthcare Expenditures and the Aging Population
February 2025
Research report
Public Sector Ledership
February 2025
Knowledge overview
Good leaders in the public sector have teams with low absenteeism
February 2025
Research report
The Impact of Paydays on Violent and Sexual Crime Rates
January 2025
Knowledge overview
Violence and sexual assaults increase significantly after payment days.
January 2025
Podcast
How does divorce affect a child’s well-being?
January 2025
Impartial research
The research is primarily conducted on the basis of project grants from the Board of the ROCKWOOL Foundation, but is always executed completely independently of the Board.
The research is often carried out in close cooperation with external researchers from the best universities and research institutions in Europe and the United States.
In order to ensure relevance and a high academic standard, all projects are presented to a research programme committee before they are submitted to the Board. The research programme committee is composed of leading professors from Scandinavian universities.
The ROCKWOOL Foundation Europe
A section of the ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit is physically located in Berlin. The new section is under the day-to-day management of Professor Christian Dustmann and has its own, independent profile.
In the same way as for the ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit in Copenhagen, one of the key missions of the Berlin Unit is to improve the foundations for the political decisions taken in Denmark and the rest of the EU with regard to the challenges facing the sustainability of the welfare state. This is achieved through independent, impartial research of the highest calibre, communicated to decision-makers and to the general public.
While the research unit in Copenhagen focuses in particular on challenges facing the Danish welfare state, the unit in Berlin places greater emphasis on challenges pertaining to international conditions, such as future trade links with Asia and how these may affect welfare for all EU citizens. One highly prioritised area comprises the challenges to the welfare state arising from international migration.
Seminars
The Research Unit hosts a seminar every two weeks, where researchers from all over Europe present their work.