LISER Policy Lab

Learn more about LISER’s departments, shaping our contributions to societal and scientific challenges.

Discover research that examines key challenges in employment, economic trends and social dynamics within the labour market, offering valuable insights into these important areas.

Living Conditions

Engage with research that investigates the factors influencing living standards, with a focus on income distribution, housing conditions and social inclusion, providing evidence-based insights into these crucial areas.

Urban Development and Mobility

Studies urban dynamics to identify pathways of actors to stimulate sustainable urban transitions.

Appel à Communications: Les relations industrielles dans un monde du travail en mutation

Learn more about our cross-departmental programmes, which combine interdisciplinary expertise to tackle transversal challenges.

Crossing Borders

Discover how our research into the complexities of cross-border mobility is advancing knowledge, shaping policy, benefiting society and addressing global challenges.

Health and Health Systems

Engage with research dedicated to enhancing public health, improving healthcare accessibility, and promoting equitable and efficient health solutions at a global scale.

Discover LISER's initiatives, driving scientific progress and fostering meaningful collaborations with stakeholders.

Doctoral programmes

Meet a dynamic community of researchers addressing critical societal challenges through innovative and interdisciplinary studies. Our doctoral programme offers exceptional training, mentorship and opportunities to shape impactful policies and drive innovation in diverse fields.

Data Science and Simulation

The Centre of Competence for Data Science and Simulation (DSS) is a cross-departmental initiative. Our ambition is to develop infrastructure, tools and competences in in machine learning, big data, microsimulation and geoexperimentation to conduct excellent research and advise policy-makers as well as stakeholders.

Policy Lab

The LISER Policy Lab is an innovative initiative that integrates rigorous scientific research into policymaking to support decision-makers in tackling major challenges in areas like the economy, climate, health, digitalisation, housing, education, and social cohesion.

cc-EXPAR - Competence Centre in Experimental and Participatory Research

The Competence Centre in Experimental and Participatory Research (EXPAR) is a cross-departmental initiative. Our ambition is to improve awareness of and skills in experimental and participatory research methods to strengthen LISER’s position at the forefront of internationally high quality, scientifically rigorous and societally relevant research.

LISER Policy Lab

Turning evidence into policy pathways that shape the future

Introduction

Rigorous evidence for impactful policies

Analytics for adaptive policy systems

Key policy areas

Featured flagship projects

Key methodologies

News

Rigorous evidence for impactful policies

The LISER Policy Lab, created by the Luxembourg Institute for Socio-Economic Research (LISER), is a pioneering initiative to tackle Luxembourg’s and Europe’s most pressing challenges.

At a time when public policies are becoming increasingly complex and costly, the LISER Policy Lab brings rigorous scientific analysis into decision-making. It provides independent, high-quality insights across areas such as economic development, climate change, public health, digitalisation, housing, education, and social cohesion.

Analytics for adaptive policy systems

The LISER Policy Lab follows a four-stage cycle to ensure policies remain effective and adaptable:

Policy identification – spotting challenges and opportunities early
Ex-ante evaluation – testing proposals before they are launched
Impact monitoring – measuring effectiveness in real time
Ex-post evaluation – learning from results to refine future action

Built on impartiality, transparency, and collaboration, the Lab positions Luxembourg as a leader in evidence-based governance.

Key policy areas

The LISER Policy Lab supports policy design, monitoring, and evaluation across multiple domains, aligning priorities with the needs of citizens, communities, and businesses.

Labour and skills

Designing and evaluating policies that promote fair wages, job security, and skills development.

Innovation and growth

Analysing socio-economic trends and innovation policies to foster socially and economically sustainable growth.

Immigration and social cohesion

Shaping policies that enhance integration, diversity, and social cohesion.

Housing and urban planning

Providing insights to develop housing strategies and urban policies ensuring liveability and affordability.

Transport and mobility

Informing sustainable and efficient transport policies to improve accessibility and reduce congestion.

Development cooperation

Contributing to policy frameworks that enhance international development and global partnerships.

Climate change and environment

Supporting policies that address climate change, resource management, and environmental protection.

Poverty, inequality and welfare

Evaluating policies aimed at reducing disparities and improving social welfare systems.

Health, family and wellbeing

Shaping health, family, and social policies to enhance overall wellbeing.

Political institutions and fiscal policy

Assessing political and fiscal strategies to ensure economic stability and equitable taxation.

Featured flagship projects

Crossing Borders

CliC:ME

Explore and use comprehensive data on climate change-driven migration, including its socio-economic impacts.

Labour Market

UNTANGLED

A three-year interdisciplinary Horizon 2020 research project (2021-2024) that examined the interconnected trends of globalisation, demographic change and technological transformation, and their effects on labour markets in the European Union and beyond.

Urban Development and Mobility

FragMent

The FragMent project aims to assess how the environments in which we live and travel, as well as our daily activities, contribute to daily and chronic stress.

people walking in a bright office alike environment

Living Conditions

SHARE PROJECT

SHARE, the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, is a research infrastructure for studying the effects of health, social, economic and environmental policies over the life-course of European citizens and beyond.

Crossing Borders

CAIPD

Developing countries face significant structural challenges related to their demographic composition, poverty and inequality, insecurity, political instability, and climate change.

Urban Development and Mobility

TRANSITER

TRANSITER is observing and supporting the TRANSItion of TERritories, and lifestyles in Luxembourg. The TRANSITER observatory in Luxembourg leads the assessment of societal acceptance for decarbonisation and resilience measures.

Urban Development and Mobility

MMUST

MMUST is an ambitious project for modeling and simulating travel across the Greater Region.

Urban Development and Mobility

SURREAL

Through cutting edge research, co-creation and collaboration with academics and stakeholders, the SURREAL project aims to develop a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the complex relationships between exposures to environments, behaviors and urban health.

Labour Market

WeLaR

WeLaR is an interdisciplinary research project examining the impact of four megatrends – digitalisation, globalisation, climate change and demographic shifts – on labour markets and welfare states in Europe.

Key methodologies

Every policy choice involves timing, targeting, and trade-offs. The LISER Policy Lab equips policymakers with the analytical tools needed to activate the right levers — at the right moment, in the right place, and in the right way.

Qualitative research methods

In-depth interviews, focus groups and case studies to explore behaviours, perceptions, and experiences.

Quantitative data analysis

Statistical analysis of survey and administrative data to measure trends, attitudes, and policy impacts.

Living lab

Real-world testing environments for co-creating, developing and evaluating policies with stakeholders.

Participatory research

Engaging stakeholders in the research process to co-develop relevant and actionable policy solutions.

Randomised controlled trials

Experimental approach to assess policy effectiveness by comparing treatment and control groups.

Lab experiment

Controlled settings to study decision-making, behaviours, and policy interventions.

Quasi-experimental method

Evaluating policy impacts using observational data and statistical techniques without full randomisation across regions or sectors.

Benchmarking analysis

Comparative monitoring and assessments to evaluate policy impact, and best practices across countries regions or sectors.

Econometrics and machine learning

Processing large datasets to uncover trends, correlations, and policy-relevant insight.

Microsimulation modelling

Simulating individual or household-level policy effects based on demographic and economic data.

Macrosimulation modelling

Analysing policy impacts on national or regional economies using macroeconomic models.

News

Browse all news

POLICY LAB IN ACTION

1 FEB 2026

POLICY LAB IN ACTION

1 FEB 2026

Policy Lab study shapes Luxembourg’s Anti-Racism Plan

Scientific evidence from LISER underpins Luxembourg’s first National Action Plan against racism and discrimination.

Racism & Discrimination Quantitative data analysis

POLICY LAB IN ACTION

2 JAN 2026

Closeup of peoples hands packing food supplies into the boxes - Policy Lab Study Shapes Luxembourg’s Anti-Racism Plan - Hero image

POLICY LAB IN ACTION

2 JAN 2026

Policy Lab informs Luxembourg’s National Action Plan on poverty

LISER provided scientific input for the National Action Plan to prevent and combat poverty.

Poverty, inequality and welfare

POLICY LAB IN ACTION

8 DEC 2025

Human hand marking the circles around group of people icons on the galss wall - Shaping Luxembourg’s Future Talent Landscape - hero image

POLICY LAB IN ACTION

8 DEC 2025

Strengthening refugee employability with tailored training

A pioneering trial strengthens vulnerable refugees’ job prospects with targeted language training now underway in Luxembourg.

Racism & Discrimination Labour and skills

Policy areas and methodologies at a glance

News