ESRA 2027 sessions by theme

Back to Overview of Sessions

Session Details

Regional inequalities have become a growing concern across Europe and beyond. Differences in health, income, employment, education, housing, service accessibility, and quality of life can persist not only between countries but also within countries, regions, cities, and local communities. At the same time, policymakers increasingly seek evidence to support place-based interventions, evaluate their impact, and ensure that resources are allocated where needs are greatest. Regional statistics and survey data are therefore essential for understanding territorial disparities and informing effective policy responses.
This session explores the role of survey data in measuring, understanding, and addressing regional inequalities. We welcome contributions that use surveys to investigate geographical differences in social, economic, health, environmental, and demographic outcomes, as well as studies examining trends in regional disparities over time. Particular attention will be given to methodological challenges associated with producing reliable regional estimates, including small sample sizes, hard-to-reach populations, cross-regional comparability, nonresponse bias, and the need for innovative estimation methods.
We also invite papers examining how survey data can be combined with administrative records, geospatial information, environmental data, and other emerging data sources to generate more detailed and actionable evidence for regional policymaking. Multi-source data systems offer new opportunities to understand the drivers of inequality and to monitor the effects of policies across different population groups and territories.
The session aims to bring together survey researchers, official statisticians, policy analysts, geographers, public health researchers, and data scientists. By sharing methodological innovations, empirical findings, and policy experiences, we seek to advance discussion on how survey data can contribute to reducing regional inequalities, strengthening social cohesion, and supporting evidence-informed decision-making at local, regional, national, and European levels.
This session is particularly relevant for researchers interested in the intersection of survey methodology, territorial analysis, public policy, and social equity.