We conduct research that contributes to assuring the social and economic sustainability of the welfare society
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 society. 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.
ROCKWOOL Foundation
Productivity & Prosperity
The ROCKWOOL Foundation’s newest unit explores solutions to one of today’s most pressing economic challenges: productivity and competitiveness. The initiative is driven by growing concerns about Europe’s economic future—and with it, Denmark’s position in a globally challenged economy.
The unit is led by the Foundation’s Head of Research, former economic adviser Jan Rose Skaksen. He believes Europe stands at the threshold of a new era in economic policy, and that productivity is crucial to ensuring future prosperity and addressing the challenges we face—both nationally and internationally. This is especially true in a more uncertain world marked by rising military spending and growing restrictions on free trade.
Productivity & Prosperity will deliver in-depth research aimed at identifying effective, long-term solutions to issues such as access to labour and capital, investment, industrial policy, and taxation. The goal is to help strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and economic sustainability.
Latest releases from the Research Unit
Analysis
The national well-being surveys provide little meaningful insight into the well-being at individual schools
June 2025
Research report
Attrition in longitudinal surveys and estimates of the effect of health on the employment of older workers
June 2025
Research report
Health and employment of older workers – an analysis using administrative data
June 2025
Knowledge overview
Health Declines After Age 45 Contribute Only Modestly to the Drop in Employment by Age 70
June 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 society. 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 society, 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 society arising from international migration.
Seminars
The Research Unit hosts a seminar every two weeks, where researchers from all over Europe present their work.