RAND experts have often been among the pioneers of key scientific research, including computer analysis, satellite development, military technology, and the foundations of the Internet. RAND's research has also resulted in the development of new methodologies and ways of analyzing policy issues, from the Delphi method to Robust Decision Making.
By using newly available data from more than 15 countries, researchers are analyzing how the interaction between individual behavior, social context, institutions, and policies shapes health and well-being in old age.
CUBE 2.0, an update of the 2010 release of the 1.0 version, allows users to estimate the "farm-to-gate" greenhouse gas emissions of biomass feedstocks for energy production, as well as the uncertainty in these emissions.
How does policy support science and how does science in turn support policy? What works in terms of funding science and in maximizing academic, social and economic 'payback' from investment in science? RAND Europe is a leader in understanding the returns from different kinds of investment in science and research.
The standard model of educational decisions predicts no (or minimal) effects of deferral on educational attainment, but this model may not tell the whole story. A study of those who were not accepted by lottery to a Mexican college shows that labor market effects must also be considered.
Does one's level of education influence one's patience? A study examining the time preferences of students accepted by lottery to a Mexican college, compared to those of individuals who were not accepted, indicates that more educated individuals do tend to be more patient.
The European Commission's eGovernment benchmarking encourages excellence in government performance. The continuous collaboration of country representatives and the EC has created an atmosphere of friendly competition, shared learning, and benchmarked action amongst participants.
Violent crimes against individuals make headlines, but other types of criminal activity affect day-to-day life more than people may realize. The violation of intellectual property rights (IPR) is the focus of a RAND Europe study that brings together economists, criminologists, policy analysts and IPR legal experts to explore the level and implications of counterfeiting and piracy in the EU.
To understand what policies and incentives influence the decisionmaking patterns of middle-aged and elderly Mexicans, RAND researchers used panel data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study to compare the retirement behavior of non-migrant Mexicans with those who had migration spells to the United States and later returned to Mexico.
The Population Research Center is dedicated to the scientific advancement of population studies in a period when demographic changes are creating especially complex theoretical and public policy issues.
Since 2003, Ofcom has overseen the broader UK communications market as a converged communications regulator. At the request of the National Audit Office, RAND Europe is evaluating Ofcom's performance compared with that of other international regulators that are dealing with similar challenges, such as next generation access networks and access to emergency services using voice-over-internet protocol.
To inform the current debate on migrant selection, RAND analyzed the composition and migration flows of return migrants from the United States to Mexico from 1993 to 2004, based on data from the EMIF (Encuesta sobre Migración en la Frontera Norte de México).
Mexico introduced personal retirement accounts in 1997, and it is important to understand who have been the winners and losers of this type of pension reform. The research team used social security administrative records to examine the effects of the Mexican pension system reform and model other outcomes.
The Pardee Center was established in 2001 to enhance the overall future quality and condition of human life by aggressively disseminating and applying new methods for long-term policy analysis in a wide variety of policy areas where they are needed most.
Technological innovation is central to critical infrastructures like transportation and energy systems, counterterrorism, space enterprise, and nearly every other aspect of society. RAND Transportation, Space, and Technology manages research on new technologies and their implications for the nation and the world.
RAND's American Life Panel surveys people age 40 and over on the Internet, which allows for greater flexibility in survey design and instantly accessible data. Current studies analyze opinions on Medicare Plan D, health shocks, and financial decisionmaking.
Sponsored by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, the National Computer Security Survey will report on the number and consequences of cyber attacks, frauds and thefts of information among the 5.3 million businesses in the United States.
While there is no sure path to improving the future human condition, there is no shortage of books that address themselves to some aspect of improving that future. As part of its mission, the RAND Pardee Center has compiled a list of 50 such forward-thinking books.
RAND Europe's Surface Transportation Programme applies innovative methodologies to analyze transport planning and policy problems. Research focuses on safety and security of the global maritime system, road capacity, freight options, and more.
RAND Health is conducting a study to determine how much patient care could improve and how much money could be saved if U.S. health care professionals increase their use of information technology (IT). Although widely used for administrative systems such as billing, few clinicians use IT for functions such as electronic medical records. The study will focus on this and related clinical applications.
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