TÁRKI Social Research Inc. is an independent, employee-owned research organisation that specialises in policy research in the fields of social policy and the social consequences of economic policies. This includes related data-collection, archiving and statistical activities. We recently increased our involvement in the areas of strategic market research and health policy analysis. In addition, we regularly contribute to basic research, in the areas of social stratification and inequality, and to the methodology of empirical social research.

Social Situation Observatory

The reports (commissioned by the Unit for Social and Demographic Analysis, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission) can be downloaded here:

The results of the first four years of the project are summarized in the book "European Inequalities".

Annual monitoring reports:

Monitoring Report - 2008

Executive Summary: Monitoring Report - 2007

Monitoring Report - 2007

Executive Summary: Monitoring Report - 2006

Monitoring Report - 2006

Executive Summary: Monitoring Report - 2005

Monitoring Report - 2005

More on the project on the website of the DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

The official website of the project.

Social Situation Observatory

Since 2005 TÁRKI is a member of a consortium that monitors and reports on trends in income distribution and social inclusion - i.e. on the overall inclusiveness of European society. The Social Situation Observatory monitors regularly the situation regarding income and wealth, the impact of the tax-benefit system, access to services, questions related to poverty, and population groups particularly at risk of exclusion. This involves examining the relationship between income and living standards and the extent to which the former, as usually defined and measured, determines the latter, and, accordingly, how far households and the people living in them are able to participate fully in society and avoid deprivation and exclusion. It also involves consideration of other factors that influence living standards and involvement in society, particularly the tax and benefit system in place in different countries, and other measures implemented by governments to provide social support, as well as access to employment, decent housing and so on.
The Social Situation Observatory was established by the European Commission in 2005.
The Observatory includes three multi-disciplinary networks of independent experts covering health, demography and income distribution. The network on income distribution and living conditions consists of Applica in Brussels (consortium leader), the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research in Vienna, Tárki in Budapest and ISER at the University of Essex in the UK.
The task of the network is to analyse each year the latest data on income distribution, the risk of poverty and social deprivation across the EU and to examine major issues in this broad area and so contribute to the development of evidence-based policies.
The results of the analysis are published in the annual Monitoring Report , a series of Research Notes , Methodological Papers and Policy Briefs on specific issues of policy relevance as well as in the Social Situation Report.