Population and Aging

RAND research on population and aging analyzes demographic and immigration trends and explores a range of concerns, from family planning to religion to discrimination. RAND also addresses vulnerable populations—such as the elderly and the poor—analyzing retirement and other aspects of financial decisionmaking, welfare, and end-of-life issues.

Research conducted by: RAND Labor and Population; RAND Europe; RAND Health; RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment; RAND Child Policy; RAND Gulf States Policy Institute; Center for the Study of Aging; Population Research Center; Center for Population Health and Health Disparities

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More Americans Will Delay Retirement – Implications for Social Security and Medicare

An unprecedented upturn in the number of older Americans who delay retirement is likely to continue and even accelerate over the next two decades, a trend that should help ease the financial challenges facing both Social Security and Medicare.

Commentary (43)

Celebrating Birth Control on Mother's Day? Not as Counterintuitive as It Sounds — May 11, 2012

Reliable birth control contributed to economic development by reducing women's risk of dropping out of school associated with early childbearing and high fertility rates, contributing in turn to increases in women's labor force participation, the continuity of their careers, and the standard of living of women, children and families, writes Chloe Bird.

Book Review: 'Why Nations Fail,' by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson — Apr 20, 2012

"Why Nations Fail" is a sweeping attempt to explain the gut-wrenching poverty that leaves 1.29 billion people in the developing world struggling to live on less than $1.25 a day. You might expect it to be a bleak, numbing read. It's not. It's bracing, garrulous, wildly ambitious and ultimately hopeful, writes Warren Bass.

Terror's 'Invisible Women' — Apr 4, 2012

For their part, a younger generation of female jihadists has come to believe that acts of violence can be just as liberating politically and spiritually for women as for men, writes Karla Cunningham.

Narrowing the Economic Achievement Gap: The Role of Housing — Jan 11, 2012

The results from Montgomery County demonstrate that an integrative housing policy can be an effective form of school policy for disadvantaged children, writes Heather Schwartz.

Seven Billion? No Need to Panic — Nov 4, 2011

We cannot wish away serious ecological issues, such as the steady increase in greenhouse gases or the steady decrease in critical resources (e.g., phosphates). But population growth per se need not portend ecological catastrophe, writes Martin Libicki.

Awlaki's Death Hits al-Qaeda's Social Media Strategy — Sep 30, 2011

Though Awlaki will be difficult to replace—since he effectively coupled both propaganda and operations—al-Qaeda will continue to plan attacks overseas against Western targets, writes Seth Jones.

A Risk to Themselves — Oct 20, 2010

Drivers 65 and older are only 16 percent more likely per mile driven to cause a traffic accident than are drivers ages 25–64. And their total contribution to the nation's traffic accidents is surprisingly small, writes David S. Loughran.

Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? — Jun 30, 2010

In his inaugural address, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu clearly accepted his dual challenge: rebuild a city that welcomes its still-displaced residents, and make long-needed changes to attract newcomers as well, writes Melissa Flournoy.

A House Divided: Polarization and Partisanship — May 14, 2010

Certainly, ideology should play a role in public policy decisions. But when many policies—regardless of their merits—are simply off-limits for ideological reasons, then the nation as a whole has a problem, writes James A. Thomson.

Do Higher Crime Rates Cause a Decrease in Religiosity? — Mar 1, 2010

If we observe that high crime and low levels of religious belief or high levels of belief and low crime go hand in hand, how should we interpret that correlation? asks Paul Heaton.

Reducing Traffic Congestion and Improving Travel Options in Los Angeles — Jan 8, 2010

While traffic congestion plagues many cities, Los Angeles stands apart, routinely ranking first for both total and per-capita congestion delay, with an estimate annual cost at close to $10 billion, writes Paul Sorensen.

Human Side of Katrina Recovery Still Needs Work — Oct 19, 2009

Four years after Hurricane Katrina, many people in the Gulf Coast region are still "just surviving," struggling with the economic devastation and the physical and psychological toll of these kinds of disasters, write Anita Chandra and Joie Acosta.

G-20 Growing Pains — Sep 24, 2009

The increasing importance of the G-20 summits is testimony to the growing role emerging states now play in managing the international economy. But integrating these newcomers into the global community is unlikely to be straightforward or simple, writes Lowell H. Schwartz.

The Decline of Racial Profiling — Jul 30, 2009

President Obama called the arrest of Professor Henry Gates a "teachable moment." This is a moment to learn the facts of race and policing these days. Racial profiling has indeed been an ugly reality for many years. But our research finds little evidence that it continues to be a major problem, write Greg Ridgeway and Nelson Lim.

Redefining 'Old Age': 60 Is the New 40 — Apr 27, 2009

China's population is aging quickly. To address the issue, there are basically two options: try to slow it down; develop policies and programs to deal with whatever negative consequences there might be, writes Linda G. Martin.

Seeking New Approaches to Old Problems — Apr 9, 2009

Mississippi can work to find smart ways to address the chronic social and economic problems that have plagued the state for decades — now, not in some far-flung future, writes Melissa Flournoy.

Could Mexico Fail? — Feb 13, 2009

The lawlessness along the mexican border has gone way beyond a local crime wave: there has been a dramatic increase in armed robberies, not by lone gunmen but by heavily armed gangs. Kidnappings and homicides are way up—and not just murders but beheadings.... It is starting to look like a terrorist campaign, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

Change Choices, Not Conversation — Aug 24, 2008

Too often we talk only about the ongoing challenges facing education, health care, transportation and economic development across the Gulf South — Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.... We need to determine new ways to work together across state lines to focus on solutions that will benefit the entire region, writes Melissa Flournoy.

Police Need to Do a Better Job of Explaining Stop-and-Frisk — Dec 6, 2007

Police stops of pedestrians and vehicles, while an important tool in police work, can fuel tensions if not handled properly. Law enforcement agencies must develop plans to address the disparities and tensions that result from their efforts, write K. Jack Riley and Greg Ridgeway.

Consequences of a Graying World — Jun 29, 2007

While attention is focused on efforts to make the world go green, the world is also changing dramatically because it is going gray. People over age 65 are starting to outnumber those under 16 in many countries, write Jonathan Grant and Stijn Hoorens.

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