Centre for the Study of Public Policy

The CSPP specializes in comparative public policy research. Since 1991 it has developed a unique programme of cross-national cross-time surveys to monitor the transformation of post-Communist societies. In collaboration with the Paul Lazarsfeld Society, Vienna, more than 80 surveys have been completed and more are being planned.

The research covers 15 post-Communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, (East) Germany, Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

The survey research asks a common core of questions specially relevant to societies in transition. Topics covered include: economic enterprise and privatization, democratization, parties and elections, social protection & poverty, involvement in unofficial economies and demographic measures.

Asking comparable questions across time in many countries provides a unique data base for analysis of societies. The New Russia Barometer (NRB) monitors trends with a base line of January 1992. The New Democracies Barometer (NDB) of the Paul Lazarsfeld Society, Vienna, has monitored trends in Central and Eastern Europe since autumn, 1991.

The New Baltic Barometer (NBB) started in 1993.

Neil Munro
University of Strathclyde