Linnaeus University Centre for Equality of Opportunity and Big Data Policy Analysis

Our research

Linnaeus University Centre for Equality of Opportunity and Big Data Policy Analysis (Lnuc EB) is strongly committed to research excellence and collaborates with leading international scholars and local authorities to ensure its findings reach and benefit society.

A key principle of the Swedish model has long been the equalization of life chances, with the belief that providing equal opportunities is vital for reducing social and economic inequalities. However, recent global challenges—such as climate change, crime, structural shifts, tax reforms, globalization, technological advancements, and migration—are thought to be undermining equality of opportunity.

Promote equal opportunities for future generations

Linnaeus University Centre for Equality of Opportunity and Big Data Policy Analysis (Lnuc EB) aims to assess the accuracy of these claims and to identify cost-effective policies that can promote equal opportunities for future generations. The research will focus on employing large, register-based datasets, often combined with other data sources, to determine causal relationships.

By leveraging modern tools, Lnuc EB will create and analyze new datasets, enabling the exploration of fresh research questions and offering more precise insights into existing ones. Sweden’s extensive individual-level register data, which can be linked across generations and integrated with innovative data collection methods like web scraping, will be central to this approach.

Connect historical and contemporary data

Lnuc EB leverages Sweden's unique capability to link diverse data sources, such as administrative registers, survey data, public records, and unstructured information, including text and images. This distinct feature of the Scandinavian context allows for unprecedented opportunities to explore social and economic inequalities, among other topics. Sweden's ability to connect historical and contemporary data enhances the potential to investigate both new and longstanding research questions. While similar data may be available in other countries, the legal and practical barriers often prevent such comprehensive data linkage. The ultimate goal is to identify effective policies to improve the opportunities for future generations.

Lnuc EB includes both economists and statisticians. This interdisciplinary approach, combined with Sweden's advanced data infrastructure, positions the research team to capitalize on the modern revolution in data access. The initiative is expected to attract significant interest from researchers in Sweden and beyond, promoting natural collaborations and advancing cutting-edge research.