About us
SMAC provides a range of services for the EU institutions to support data collection, questionnaire design and data analysis.
By leveraging the expertise of social scientists (e.g. economists, econometricians, sociologists and political scientists), the team contributes to high-quality data collection and analysis that can effectively guide policymaking in the EU.
The Centre also organises seminars and training on survey related topics.
Our activities
- Surveys
SMAC provides support with data collection and survey design. This includes guidance on sampling strategies, survey mode and duration, questionnaire design, and insights on quality control.
- Data analysis
SMAC provides a range of data analysis services, including descriptive statistics and regression analysis. SMAC can also help to communicate the findings of the analysis, in the form of policy briefs or reports.
- Publications
The SMAC team regularly publishes policy reports, briefs, and peer-reviewed articles in recognised international journals, e.g., The Journal Of Human Resources, European Economic Review, Journal of Health Economics, and Journal of Economic Geography.
- Events
SMAC organises a variety of events and workshops. These include trainings on survey methods, thematic events and research presentations.
Projects
To provide a wider evidence base that can enhance EU policy aiming to achieve this goal, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has embarked on a multi-year cross-national research project to study different aspects of fairness.
The Joint Research Centre, in collaboration with the European Parliament and the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, studies loneliness in the EU within the framework of the pilot project “Monitoring Loneliness in Europe”.
The Survey Methods and Analysis Centre (SMAC) supports the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy in analysing surveys on urban quality of life across Europe since 2007, covering topics like cleanliness, safety, satisfaction with air quality, public transport, job availability, and affordable housing.