Dr Paul Mathews talks about newly-published research showing that women who close family and friends are more likely to have a first and a second baby.

The influence of close family and friends on fertility

The Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex is home to a world-class team of survey and research experts who specialise in the production and analysis of longitudinal data – evidence which tracks changes in the lives of the same people over time.

ISER enjoys an international profile for its cutting-edge socio-economic research, which is used by academics and researchers, policy makers, other influential bodies, charitable organisations and journalists involved in ongoing debates about society. It is also one of the leading centres in the world for research into how surveys are carried out.

The ISER podcast series showcases some of ISER's research in easy-to-listen-to 5-6 minute interviews, in which researchers talk about the background to their work, how they got their information, their key findings and what they mean.

Science & Medicine

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Social Sciences

Medicine

The development of mobile technology has brought with it some exciting opportunities for those interested in collecting data from households about their finances. Funded by the NCRM, Dr Jäckle has been working to gain a better understanding of household finances through better measurement. See https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/resources/podcast/?id_specific=46title=Using%20mobile%20devices%20to%20understand%20spending

Using mobile devices to understand spending

John Letizia, Director of Public Affairs for the Income Protection Insurance company UNUM discusses research commissioned from ISER to look at the cost to individuals of long term sickness.

Long term sickness: the costs to individuals

Professor Nick Buck, Director of Understanding Society, discusses two pieces of research using the study to look at movements in and out of poverty and household change.

Poverty triggers and household change

Dr Birgitta Rabe talks about new research looking at the impact of recent childcare policies on children's educational outcomes and helping mothers into work.

Childcare policy - has it had any impact?

Professor Mike Brewer talks about research for the Nuffield Foundation on the impacts on adults and children when couples split up.

The influence of close family and friends on fertility

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