Beth J. Asch

Senior Economist; Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.A. in economics, University of Chicago; B.A. in economics, University of California, Los Angeles

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Beth Asch is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation. Her areas of study include labor economics and defense manpower. She has led numerous studies on compensation design in the military and in the federal civil service, on the workforce implications of state and local pension reform, and on military recruiting and personnel supply to the armed forces. Her most recent work includes analysis and redesign of the military pay table, military retirement reform, state and local pension reform, enlistment supply and recruiting resource effectiveness, and retention and compensation in the federal civil service. Asch's research has been widely disseminated as reports, briefings, and journal articles among the policy community, the media, and the academic community. Asch received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Military retirement reform
Recruiting resource effectiveness
Federal civilian workforce retention and compensation
Pilot retention and bonuses
Military pay table reform

Selected Publications

Asch, Beth J., Military Compensation to Support Retention, Performance, and Talent Management, RAND Corporation (CT-505), 2019

Asch, Beth J., Navigating Current and Emerging Army Recruiting Challenges: What Can Research Tell Us?RAND Corporation (RR-3107), 2019

Asch, Beth J., Michael G. Mattock, and James Hosek, The Blended Retirement System: Retention Effects and Continuation Pay Cost Estimates for the Armed Services, RAND Corporation (RR-1887), 2017

Asch, Beth J., Paul Heaton, James Hosek, Paco Martorell, Curtis Simon, and John T. Warner, Cash Incentives and Military Enlistment, Attrition, and Reenlistment, RAND Corporation (MG-950-OSD), 2010

Beth Asch, James Miller, John Warner, "Economics and the All-Volunteer Force," in Better Living Through Economics, John Sigfried (Editor), Boston MA: Harvard University Press, 2009

Beth Asch, James Hosek, John Warner, "New Economics of Defense Manpower in the Post-Cold War Era," in The Handbook of Defense Economics. Volume 2. Chapter 32, Edited by Todd Sandler and Keith Hartley. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2007

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Anderson Independent Mail; AP; Bloomberg News; CQ Weekly; The Economist; Federal News Network; Los Angeles Times; Minnesota Public Radio; The Nation; New York Times; NPR; Stars and Stripes; USA Today; Washington Post; WOSU Public Media Radio Online

Commentary: Boston Globe

Commentary

Military Recruitment

Should Uncle Sam Want You?
Despite some calls to reinstitute the draft, Beth Asch writes in an commentary that the all-volunteer military is working just fine.
Feb 9, 2003
Boston Globe

Publications

Draft
The Effects of Public Sector Retirement Plan Reform on Workforce Retention: Evidence from Teachers in Three States
In this working paper, the authors examine the impact of recent changes in public sector retirement plans on career retention decisions of public sector workers by using administrative personnel data to predict teachers' incentives to stay or leave.
Jan 3, 2023
Research Brief
Food Insecurity in the U.S. Military: Responses to Eight Topics Raised by Congress
In response to a congressional query, RAND researchers examined the extent of food insecurity among military service members, their participation in food assistance programs, and the advisability of a basic needs allowance.
Jan 3, 2023
Report
Food Insecurity Among Members of the Armed Forces and Their Dependents
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 directed the Secretary of Defense to report on food insecurity among service members and their dependents. RAND researchers examined this directive and recommended other topics for analysis.
Jan 3, 2023
Report
Evaluation of Flexible Spending Accounts for Active-Duty Service Members
This report presents an analysis of the implications of flexible spending accounts for active-duty service members and their families that would allow pre-tax payment of dependent care expenses, insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Dec 12, 2022
Report
Civilian Cyber Workers in the U.S. Department of Defense: Demographics, Retention, and Responsiveness to Training Opportunities
Although training is necessary to ensure the continual productivity of the U.S. Department of Defense civilian cyber workforce, simulations indicate that training without consideration of external pay opportunities could adversely affect retention.
Jul 15, 2022
Research Brief
Fit for Duty: Alternative Approaches for Determining Department of Defense Disability Compensation
RAND researchers evaluated four hypothetical alternative U.S. Department of Defense disability compensation approaches that would support a simpler disability evaluation process by reducing reliance on disability ratings.
Feb 9, 2022
Report
Payment of the Full Rate of Special and Incentive Pays to Members of the Reserve Components
In this report, the authors consider the feasibility and advisability of paying eligible part-time members of the reserve component the same full monthly rate of special and incentive pays that full-time active component members receive.
Feb 9, 2022
Report
Recouping Separation Pay from U.S. Service Members and Veterans Who Later Receive Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation
The authors study how many service members and veterans experience recoupment -- or withholding -- of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs compensation due to receipt of military separation pay and how much more money they would receive but for recoupment.
Feb 7, 2022
Report
U.S. Department of Defense Disability Compensation Under a Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation Approach
In this report, the authors evaluate four hypothetical alternative U.S. Department of Defense disability compensation approaches that would support a simpler disability evaluation process by reducing reliance on disability ratings.
Jan 28, 2022
Report
What Happened to Military Recruiting and Retention of Enlisted Personnel in 2020 During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
In this report, researchers provide an exploratory and descriptive analysis of the changes in military enlisted recruiting and retention during the first six months of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Jan 18, 2022
Report
Increasing Efficiency and Incentives for Performance in the Army's Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Program
This report documents research and analysis whose purpose was to help the Army determine how to best increase incentives for higher performance among enlisted members and to more efficiently achieve Army retention objectives.
Oct 5, 2021
Draft
Public Employee Retention Responses to Alternative Retirement Plan Design: South Carolina Teachers and State Public Employees
Models retention of public sector workers in South Carolina under current policy and designs a tool that can be applied to plan design proposals being considered by policymakers.
Mar 22, 2021
Report
An Empirical Assessment of the U.S. Army's Enlistment Waiver Policies: An Examination in Light of Emerging Societal Trends in Behavioral Health and the Legalization of Marijuana
This report documents an analysis of the performance of U.S. Army recruits who receive waivers, as well as those with a documented history of marijuana, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, or anxiety.
Mar 11, 2021
Report
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Special and Incentive Pays for Career Enlisted Aviators
The authors develop a capability to calculate the efficient amount of special and incentive pays for Air Force career enlisted aviators (CEAs). They also estimate the trade-offs between retaining CEAs and increasing accessions for a given force size.
Jan 7, 2021
Report
Analysis of a Time-in-Grade Pay Table for Military Personnel and Policy Alternatives
In support of the Thirteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, the authors of this report assess the advantages and drawbacks of a using a table based on time in grade, rather than time in service, to set military pay.
Dec 17, 2020
Report
Setting the Level and Annual Adjustment of Military Pay
In support of the Thirteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, this report provides analysis and recommendations on setting the level of military pay and the annual adjustment to military pay.
Dec 17, 2020
Report
Modeling Career Enlisted Aviator Retention in the U.S. Air Force
The authors developed a U.S. Air Force career enlisted aviator (CEA)-specific model that can serve as the foundation for developing the analytic capability required to determine the efficient amount of special and incentive pay for CEAs.
Aug 5, 2020
Report
An Updated Look at Military and Civilian Pay Levels and Recruit Quality
Comparing military pay with civilian pay, the authors find that military pay in 2017 was above the 70th percentile of civilian pay. It was at the 85th percentile for enlisted personnel and the 77th percentile for officers.
Jul 30, 2020
Report
Setting Military Compensation to Support Recruitment, Retention, and Performance
Drawing on a large body of research, this RAND Arroyo Center report describes military compensation as a strategic human resource tool. The author also reviews how well compensation works in this capacity and how it could be improved.
Dec 18, 2019
Report
Navigating Current and Emerging Army Recruiting Challenges: What Can Research Tell Us?
The author draws on a large body of research on recruiting and examines tools and resources—including recruiters and recruiting management, eligibility criteria, and pay and bonuses—that can help the Army meet recruiting challenges.
Dec 3, 2019
Report
An Examination of the Methodology for Awarding Imminent Danger Pay and Hostile Fire Pay
In this report, RAND researchers examine the Defense Department's methodology for awarding hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay and explore whether a different approach might be more effective.
Nov 18, 2019
Report
An Initial Look at the U.S. Air Force Aviation Professional Pay Proposal
The U.S. Air Force has proposed Aviation Professional Pay as a replacement for Aviation Bonus and Aviator Incentive Pay. This Perspective offers analysts' assessment of the proposed plan and an alternative's effects on force size and cost.
Jun 3, 2019
Draft
Predicting Retention Behavior: Ex Ante Prediction and Ex Post Realization of a Voluntary Retirement Incentive Offer
Estimates a dynamic structural model of Chicago Public School teacher retention and made ex ante predictions of the number of teachers willing to take the voluntary retirement incentive and the VRI policy cost relative to the baseline of no VRI.
May 23, 2019
Report
Effects of the Blended Retirement System on United States Army Reserve Participation and Cost
Analysis of the new Blended Retirement System (BRS) finds that it can sustain U.S. Army Reserve participation relative to the legacy system. The analysis also predicts continuation-pay cost and the percentage of reservists opting in to the BRS.
Apr 15, 2019
Report
The Relative Cost-Effectiveness of Retaining Versus Accessing Air Force Pilots
Are special and incentive pays to retain current U.S. Air Force pilot officers more efficient for sustaining the size of the pilot force than accessing new pilots? If so, how much do those pays need to be?
Mar 27, 2019
Testimony
Military Compensation to Support Retention, Performance, and Talent Management
Testimony presented before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel on March 12, 2019.
Mar 12, 2019
Report
Assessing Retention and Special and Incentive Pays for Army and Navy Commissioned Officers in the Special Operations Forces
This report focuses on the effectiveness of monetary incentives, known as special and incentive pays, for U.S. Special Operations Forces commissioned officer retention.
Feb 18, 2019
Report
A Wage Differential Approach to Managing Special and Incentive Pay
The authors review special and incentive pays and the potential to convert some into a wage differential, finding pays with an incentive to select a longer military obligation more cost-effective and possibly more beneficial than a wage differential.
Jan 7, 2019
Report
Military and Civilian Pay Levels, Trends, and Recruit Quality
RAND researchers compared military and civilian pay for 2016, following up on comparisons for 2009 and 1999, and assessed how recruit quality changed as military pay rose relative to civilian pay after 1999.
Dec 3, 2018
Report
Supplemental Career Paths for Air Force Pilots: A Warrant Officer Component or an Aviation Technical Track?
This report documents analyses of two ways to supplement the traditional Air Force pilot career path to enhance force sustainment: a warrant officer component to fill pilot requirements or an aviation technical track for commissioned officers.
Aug 14, 2018
Report
Using the Person-Event Data Environment for Military Personnel Research in the Department of Defense: An Evaluation of Capability and Potential Uses
Researchers seek to determine whether RAND's federally funded research and development centers can effectively use the Person-Event Data Environment (PDE) to support manpower and personnel research and identify potential improvements to the PDE.
Jul 6, 2018
Draft
Exploring Voluntary Retirement Incentives for Teachers: Effects on Retention and Cost in Chicago Public Schools
Uses a dynamic model of teacher retention behavior to predict the number of Chicago Public Schools teachers willing to accept voluntary retirement incentive and retire.
May 22, 2018
Draft
Teacher Pension Workshop: Connecting Evidence-Based Research to Pension Reform: Reforming the U.S. Military Retirement System
Presentation by Michael G. Mattock and Beth J. Asch to the Teacher Pension Workshop at the RAND Corporation on March 8-9, 2018.
Apr 19, 2018
Report
Capping Retired Pay for Senior Field Grade Officers: Force Management, Retention, and Cost Effects
This report considers the effects of capping retired pay for mid-grade military personnel so that only those in the highest grades and with the most years of service would receive the highest retired pay.
Mar 12, 2018
Report
An Assessment of the Military Survivor Benefit Plan
This report assesses the Survivor Benefit Plan in terms of participation and benefits, compares it with similar plans in public and private organizations, and considers the feasibility of having the plan provided by commercial sources.
Feb 26, 2018
Report
The Blended Retirement System: Retention Effects and Continuation Pay Cost Estimates for the Armed Services
This report assesses the effects of the Blended Retirement System on military retention and continuation pay cost for the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy and finds that retention can be sustained relative to the legacy system.
Aug 15, 2017
Report
The Role of Special and Incentive Pays in Retaining Military Mental Health Care Providers
Describes a methodology, based on RAND's dynamic retention model, for assessing how alternative special and incentive pay adjustments affect the retention of mental health care officers.
Mar 9, 2017
Report
Toward Efficient Military Retirement Accrual Charges
This report presents a theoretical model and empirical estimates explaining why each service's retirement accrual charge is inaccurate under the current system and how this could be fixed by service-specific accrual charges.
Feb 1, 2017
Report
An Enhanced Capability to Model How Compensation Policy Affects U.S. Department of Defense Civil Service Retention and Cost
Researchers extend RAND's dynamic retention model for Defense Department civil service workers, add costing capability, and simulate the effects of mandating workers to pay a larger share of contributions into the Federal Employees Retirement System.
Dec 6, 2016
Report
Workforce Downsizing and Restructuring in the Department of Defense: The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Program Versus Involuntary Separation
Assesses the cost-effectiveness for the U.S. Department of Defense of using incentives for voluntary separations, together with or instead of imposing involuntary separations, to reduce the size of its civilian workforce.
Oct 13, 2016
Report
Policies for Managing Reductions in Military End Strength: Using Incentive Pays to Draw Down the Force
A dynamic retention model determines appropriate voluntary separation pay levels to achieve drawdowns for multiple components and services, for enlisted personnel and officers, and for the steady state and the transition to it.
Oct 10, 2016
Report
Can We Explain Gender Differences in Officer Career Progression?
The report provides a quantitative analysis of the differences in the career progression of officers based on gender, as well as the factors that explain these differences.
Aug 17, 2016
Report
Retention, Incentives, and DoD Experience Under the 40-Year Military Pay Table
In a multimethod analysis, RAND researchers assess whether the military should continue using its 40-year pay table to retain experienced personnel or whether such retention could be equally achieved with a 30-year pay table.
Aug 3, 2016
Report
Retaining U.S. Air Force Pilots When the Civilian Demand for Pilots Is Growing
Increases in major airline hiring could cause Air Force pilot shortfalls. The authors analyzed supply, compensation, and demand to estimate changes in civilian pilot pay and hiring and the level of aviator retention pay needed as a countermeasure.
Jul 12, 2016
Research Brief
Not All Changes Are Equal: Assessing How Different Pension Policies Can Impact Teacher Retention
RAND researchers developed a dynamic retention model to estimate and analyze the relationship between different retirement benefit policies and retention over the career of Chicago public school teachers.
May 2, 2016
Report
Retirement Benefits and Teacher Retention: A Structural Modeling Approach
The authors develop and estimate a stochastic dynamic programming model to analyze the relationship between compensation, including retirement benefits, and retention over the career of Chicago public school teachers.
May 2, 2016
Report
Reforming Military Retirement: Analysis in Support of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission
Using the Dynamic Retention Model, this report evaluates the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission's proposed reforms to military compensation and retirement, especially their ability to sustain the current force size/shape.
Jul 17, 2015
Report
Toward Meaningful Military Compensation Reform: Research in Support of DoD's Review
Through analysis of many alternatives, develops two concepts for reforming the military compensation system, both of which retain positive aspects of the current system while addressing criticisms related to fairness and fiscal sustainability.
Nov 12, 2014
Report
How Do Federal Civilian Pay Freezes and Retirement Plan Changes Affect Employee Retention in the Department of Defense?
The dynamic retention model is used to provide an initial assessment of how compensation policies, including pay freezes, unpaid furloughs, and changes to civil service retirement, affect retention of federal civil service workers.
Nov 4, 2014
Report
The Federal Civil Service Workforce: Assessing the Effects on Retention of Pay Freezes, Unpaid Furloughs, and Other Federal-Employee Compensation Changes in the Department of Defense
Simulations based on the dynamic retention model are developed to assess how compensation policy, including pay freezes and unpaid furloughs, affects retention of federal civil service workers.
Oct 2, 2014
Report
Toward Improved Management of Officer Retention: A New Capability for Assessing Policy Options
This report documents efforts to implement a capability for the U.S. Department of Defense to assess alternative policies to enhance officer retention provides source code and foundations of a spreadsheet version of the model.
Jul 28, 2014
Report
Making the Reserve Retirement System Similar to the Active System: Retention and Cost Estimates
A proposal allowing vested Army reservists to receive military retirement benefits immediately upon retiring is analyzed for effects on the size and experience mix of the Army reserve and active components and on Army personnel costs.
Jun 4, 2014
Report
A New Tool for Assessing Workforce Management Policies Over Time: Extending the Dynamic Retention Model
Extends the capability of the dynamic retention model, which supports decisionmaking about workforce management policy, to allow simulations of the effects of alternative policies both in the steady state and in the transition to the steady state.
Aug 26, 2013
Report
Ensuring Language Capability in the Intelligence Community: What Factors Affect the Best Mix of Military, Civilians, and Contractors?
Draws on interviews, academic literature, and an exploratory quantitative analysis to identify factors that affect the cost-effectiveness of military, government, and contractor personnel in providing language capability in the intelligence community.
Aug 1, 2013
Report
A Policy Analysis of Reserve Retirement Reform
This report analyzes reform of the reserve retirement system, discusses the goals and obstacles to reform, and provides a quantitative assessment of the reserve retention and cost effects of possible reform proposals.
Jan 30, 2013
Report
Should the Increase in Military Pay Be Slowed?
Assembles the latest available data on recruiting, retention, and military versus civilian pay, and recommends a slower increase in military pay. Discusses implementation strategies if the Defense Department moves forward with limited pay increases.
Jul 30, 2012
Research Brief
Slowing the Increase in Military Pay
Examines the possibility for the Department of Defense to save money on military pay while sustaining a high-quality force.
Jul 30, 2012
Report
Reserve Participation and Cost Under a New Approach to Reserve Compensation
Presents officer and enlisted retention and cost effects of a new approach to reserve compensation proposed by the 11th QRMC. The approach is viable, enhances force management, costs less, but requires supplemental pay to sustain retention.
Jun 28, 2012
Report
A New Look at Gender and Minority Differences in Officer Career Progression in the Military
Examines differences in the rates at which minority and women officers are retained and promoted within the U.S. military, as well as differences in the rates among women officers serving in occupations that are partially closed to women.
May 24, 2012
Report
Mitigating Corruption in Government Security Forces: The Role of Institutions, Incentives, and Personnel Management in Mexico
Mexico has undertaken reforms in recent years to professionalize its police. This report analyzes police reform in Mexico, suggesting progress on some fronts, though police corruption remains high and more work is needed.
Sep 2, 2011
Research Brief
Sexual Orientation and U.S. Personnel Policy Revisited
Summarizes results of a RAND Corporation study on sexual orientation and U.S. military policy requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Secretary of Defense in order to weigh repeal of the law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Dec 23, 2010
Report
Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: An Update of RAND's 1993 Study
Shares results of a study on sexual orientation and U.S. military policy, requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Secretary of Defense in order to weigh the repeal of the law known as ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell.''
Nov 18, 2010
Report
An Analysis of the Incidence of Recruiter Irregularites
Data from 2007 through 2009 are used to tabulate the incidence and prevalence of recruiter irregularities.
Nov 9, 2010
Research Brief
Do Bonuses Affect Enlistment and Reenlistment?
Congress has questioned the scope and efficacy of enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, but Army high-quality recruiting would have been lower without them; they are more cost-effective than pay but less so than recruiters as a way to gain recruits.
Jun 9, 2010
Report
Cash Incentives and Military Enlistment, Attrition, and Reenlistment
The Department of Defense budget for enlistment and reenlistment bonuses increased greatly over the past decade, leading some to ask whether bonuses were the most cost-effective way to increase the supply of personnel to the armed forces.
May 14, 2010
Research Brief
Explaining Recent Army and Navy Minority Recruiting Trends
Identifies factors that explain recruiting trends among blacks and Hispanics from 2000 to 2007, including the responsiveness of these groups to various recruiting resources as well as other factors, such as the effect of the Iraq war.
Aug 28, 2009
Report
Recruiting Minorities: What Explains Recent Trends in the Army and Navy?
Identifies factors that explain trends in black and Hispanic representation among high-quality recruits in the Army and Navy; considers which policies are likely to be most effective in increasing high-quality enlistments within different groups.
Aug 26, 2009
Journal Article
The Effects of Workforce-Shaping Tools on Retirement: The Case of the Department of Defense Civil Service
Provides an example of a study of the public health labor market and how wages and benefits affect workforce outcomes, including recruiting, retention, and retirement for the Department of Defense civil service workforce. The authors analyze the financial incentives to retire that are specifically embedded in the retirement system and how different workforce-shaping policies would affect these incentives. They find that buyouts, retention incentives, and other workforce-shaping tools have a sizable effect on predicted retirement behavior.
2009
Report
Military Enlistment of Hispanic Youth: Obstacles and Opportunities
Explores ways to increase Hispanic enlistment in the U.S. armed forces.
2009
Report
Assessing Compensation Reform: Research in Support of the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation
To inform the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, this monograph presents the results of estimation and simulations of a model designed to assess the U.S. military's current retirement-benefit system and several policy alternatives.
Oct 27, 2008
Report
Reserve Retirement Reform: A Viewpoint on Recent Congressional Proposals
Provides input regarding alternativec ompensation proposals for the reserve components and the broader issues surrounding reserve retirement reform.
2006
Report
What Factors Affect the Military Enlistment of Hispanic Youth? A Look at Enlistment Qualifications
Hispanics are a growing segment of the youth population yet have been underrepresented historically in military accessions. This documented briefing summarizes early results of RAND analysis of possible factors leading to this underrepresentation.
Dec 15, 2005
Report
The Quality of Personnel in the Enlisted Ranks
The military must attract, retain, and promote high-quality personnel. This monograph examines its ability to meet these goals. Using the quality index, we find that those who stay until midcareer and are promoted are significantly higher quality.
Oct 18, 2005
Report
High-Performance Government: Structure, Leadership, Incentives
In this book, RAND experts in public policy and management suggest practical ways to implement the recommendations and define a research agenda for the future.
Jan 5, 2005
Report
Reserve Recruiting and the College Market: Is a New Educational Benefit Needed?
Preliminary assessment of new educational benefits programs, such as those offered by some active components, to help reserve components attract high-quality recruits and of whether potential of programs warrants further evaluation.
Jan 1, 2005
Report
Looking to the Future: What Does Transformation Mean for Military Manpower and Personnel Policy?
Discusses how manpower and personnel policies can be used to produce the changes in military culture needed for transformation.
Dec 20, 2004
Report
Policy Options for Military Recruiting in the College Market: Results from a National Survey
Presents the results of a national survey of college youth on their level of interest in military enlistment under various hypothetical programs.
Dec 17, 2004
Research Brief
The Employment and Earnings of Military Wives
Military spouses may encounter unique obstacles to pursuing work, including the rigid and unpredictable demands on the military member's time as well as frequent reassignments and changes of residence.
2004
Research Brief
Have Improved Resources Increased Military Recruiting and Retention?
This research brief assesses the effects of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 and reviews the context of military recruiting and retention in recent years.
2004
Research Brief
Hitting the Books Before Military Service: Policy Options for Recruiting in the College Market
Key findings RAND found that incentives are effective in recruiting individuals from the college market into the military. They include --the Loan Repayment Program (LRP), i.e., repayment of federal college loans --increases in enlistment bonuses and...
2004
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 28, No. 3, Fall 2004
Proposes ways to transform the U.S. military's personnel and compensation systems; also examines the influence of family socioeconomic background on student educational achievement and lessons of the Green Revolution for the "Gene Revolution."
2004
Research Brief
Reserve Recruiting in the College Market: New Educational Benefits Could Attract High-Aptitude Recruits
RAND found that, for most military service members, college attendance is compatible with Reserve service. Many reservists successfully combine service with both civilian jobs and college, and use the educational benefits available to them. However, ...
2004
Report
Recruiting Youth in the College Market: Current Practices and Future Policy Options
Explores how military service can be made more compatible with college plans instead of being perceived as an alternative to attending college.
2003
Research Brief
Cash Compensation for Active-Duty Military Personnel
This research brief describes work documented in A Look at Cash Compensation for Active-Duty Military Personnel (MR-1492-OSD).
2003
Testimony
The Defense Civilian Workforce: Insights from Research
Testimony presented to the United States Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia on May 12, 2003.
2003
Report
The Effects of Workforce-Shaping Incentives on Civil Service Retirements: Evidence from the Department of Defense
Estimates the effects of three workforce-shaping policies among DoD workers covered by the Civil Service Retirement System.
2003
Report
Military Recruiting and Retention After the Fiscal Year 2000 Military Pay Legislation
Relevant to the annual report to Congress by the Department of Defense mandated by the FY00 National Defense Authorization Act, this document presents estimates of the predicted effects of the act's basic pay increases for FY00 and FY01 and provides rich
May 1, 2002
Report
A Look at Cash Compensation for Active-Duty Military Personnel
A Look at Cash Compensation for Active-Duty Military Personnel
Apr 29, 2002
Report
Married to the Military: The Employment and Earnings of Military Wives Compared with Those of Civilian Wives
Examines differences between military and civilian wives' contribution to family income.
Apr 10, 2002
Report
Air Force Compensation: Considering Some Options for Change
The authors describe Air Force recruitment and retention, then examine the current pay system and suggest how it could be strengthened. Finally, they assess two pay concepts and consider ways to analyze their effects and cost-effectiveness.
2002
Research Brief
The Effect of Voluntary Financial Incentives on Separation Rates for Mid-Career Military Personnel
This research brief describes work documented in An Examination of the Effects of Voluntary Separation (MR-859-OSD).
2002
Report
Ensuring Successful Personnel Management in the Department of Homeland Security
Identifies the characteristics of effective personnel management to help the new Department of Homeland Security develop its HR system.
2002
Research Brief
Paying, Promoting, and Retaining High-Quality civil Service Workers in the Department of Defense
DoD personnel managers might need to adjust the department's compensation system if they want to continue to promote and retain highly educated civilian personnel—those with postgraduate degrees—in the future.
2002
Report
The Pay, Promotion, and Retention of High-Quality Civil Service Workers in the Department of Defense
Evaluate whether high-quality workers are promoted faster, are paid more, and stay longer in civil service than other workers.
2001
Report
Military Recruiting: Trends, Outlook, and Implications
Based on indications of increased difficulty in meeting recruiting goals, RAND was asked to examine recent trends in the recruiting market and to assess their implications for meeting accession requirements.
2001
Report
An Examination of the Effects of Voluntary Separation Incentives
In this report, the authors address questions about the VSI/SSB (Voluntary Separation Incentive/Special Separation Benefit) program using Defense Manpower Data Center data on Army enlisted personnel.
2001
Report
An Analysis of Pay for Enlisted Personnel
This documented briefing addresses the questions of whether military compensation is adequate to enable the military to meet their manpower requirements now and in the future and whether action to change military compensation is required now.
2001
Research Brief
Military Recruiting: Trends, Outlooks, and Implications
RAND was asked to first make a quick assessment of the recruiting situation and then carry out a longer-term, in-depth analysis to examine recruiting trends, identify potential problems, and recommend ways to counter them.
2001
Report
An Assessment of Recent Proposals to Improve the Montgomery GI Bill
Congress recently has proposed several changes that would bolster the Montgomery GI Bill's provisions and hopefully boost recruitment during an era when youth are increasingly choosing college alone.
2000
Research Brief
Military Compensation: Trends and Policy Options
Since 1993, overall military pay has declined relative to civilian pay, by 6.5 percent for enlistees and by 10 percent for officers.
2000
Research Brief
The Montgomery G.I. Bill: Assessing Proposed Changes
Researchers found that while most proposed changes would improve overall recruiting, some could actuallycreate a recruiting problem by reducing the military's ability to channel high-quality recruits to hard-to-fill skill areas.
2000
Report
Should We Bring Back the Draft?
Should We Bring Back the Draft?
2000
Report
The Thrift Savings Plan: Will Reservists Participate?
Jan 1, 2000
Report
Attracting College-Bound Youth into the Military: Toward the Development of New Recruiting Policy Options
The authors suggest the Department of Defense should consider nontraditional policy options to enhance recruitment of college-bound youth.
1999
Report
Separation and Retirement Incentives in the Federal Civil Service: A Comparison of the Federal Employees Retirement System and the Civil Service Retirement System
This report compares the retirement and separation incentives embedded in FERS versus those in CSRS to see whether the incentives embedded in FERS are consistent with these hypotheses.
1999
Research Brief
Competing with College: Developing New Recruiting Options for the Military
Explore the factors underlying this increased interest in college, assess the effectiveness of current programs for combining military service and college, and outline potential approaches for increasing the attractiveness of military service to college-bound youth.
1999
Testimony
Military Compensation: Testimony Presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel
Testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Personnel, Senate Armed Services Committee, March 1999.
1999
Report
Military Compensation: Trends and Policy Options
Military Compensation: Trends and Policy Options
1999
Research Brief
Modifying Federal Civil Service Retirement Incentives
Does FERS increase turnover among mid- and late-career individuals and defer retirement among those in senior positions?
1999
Report
Reforming the Military Retirement System
Summarize the principal features of a model of military compensation developed by the authors earlier and use it to analyze the effects of converting the current military retirement system to an alternative system.
1998
Research Brief
Reforming the Structure of the Military Compensation System
Analyze whether a compensation system that has changed little since the end of World War II can enable the military to efficiently meet its current and future force size, composition, and wartime capability objectives.
1998
Report
Encouraging Recruiter Achievement : A Recent History of Military Recruiter Incentive Programs
To examine this potential problem, the report reviews, in considerable detail, service by service, the evolution of recruiter incentive plans over the last 15 to 20 years, describing how these plans have changed over time.
1997
Report
Educational Benefits Versus Enlistment Bonuses: A Comparison of Recruiting Options
The relative cost-effectiveness of two incentive programs for recruitment — enlistment bonuses and educational benefits — are analyzed.
1994
Report
Emigration and Its Effects on the Sending Country
The available data suggest that, on net, emigration has a positive effect on the sending country.
1994
Report
Military Support for Youth Development: An Exploratory Analysis
This report assesses existing evidence about the potential of military service and training as methods to prepare disadvantaged youth for productive roles in the work force and society.
1994
Report
A Policy Analysis of Alternative Military Retirement Systems
Summarizes the authors' previously developed theoretical model of compensation in a large, hierarchical organization like the military that permits an analysis of the issues surrounding the design of military compensation.
1994
Report
Recent Recruiting Trends and Their Implications: Preliminary Analysis and Recommendations
This report provides the results of a preliminary analysis of recent trends in enlistment propensity and in the levels of specific supply and demand factors, and their implications for recruiting.
1994
Report
A Theory of Military Compensation and Personnel Policy
A primary goal of military compensation is to enable the military to meet its manning objectives for force size, composition, and wartime capability.
1994
Report
Reserve Supply in the Post Desert Storm Recruiting Environment
This study lays the groundwork for formulating future military reserve recruiting policy following the end of Desert Storm.
1993
Report
Designing Military Pay: Contributions and Implications of the Economics Literature
What should be the structure of military compensation for active-duty personnel? This broad question is the focus of the review of the economic literature presented in this report.
1993
Report
The Role of the Job Counselor in the Military Enlistment Process
This report describes a theoretical framework of the enlistment process that accounts for the joint role of counselors, the person-job-match algorithm, and the supply of recruits in determining the number of enlistments, occupation, term of service and enlistment benefits chosen.
1993
Report
The effect of employer sanctions on the flow of undocumented immigrants to the United States
This report examines several data series to test whether the employer sanctions mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 have reduced the flow of undocumented immigrants to the United States. Specifically, the authors use app...
1990
Report
Navy Recruiter Productivity and the Freeman Plan
The Navy's pool of potential 17- to 21-year-old recruits is expected to diminish. A strategy for aiding the Navy's future recruiting effort is to alter its recruiter management techniques, particularly its incentive program, the Freeman Plan.
1990

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Military Compensation to Support Retention, Performance, and Talent Management
Mar 12, 2019