The Ecosystem Approach to Opioid Policy
RAND researchers created a tool to help federal, state, and local policymakers better understand issues surrounding opioids as an ecosystem—and explore innovative policy ideas.
Susan M. Gates is an adjunct senior economist at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. She leads research and analysis efforts focused on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of federal, state, and local government agencies and systems. Her research applies insights from the economics of organizations, personnel economics, and labor economics to help public and private sector organizations make better decisions and deploy resources effectively. Two key areas of emphasis throughout her career have been defense workforce and resource management, and K–12 school leadership. Her defense research has focused on the cyber workforce, acquisition workforce, requirements, military-civilian conversion, outsourcing and privatization, readiness, total force management, training and professional development, and options for improving the provision of services that support the warfighter, such as military child care and finance and accounting services. Gates received her Ph.D. in economics from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and her M.A. in Russian and Eastern European studies from Stanford University.
Education
Ph.D. in economic analysis and policy, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University; M.A. in Russian and Eastern European studies, Stanford University; A.B. in mathematical economics, Brown University
Selected Work
- Hodgson, Quentin E., Susan M. Gates, Getting the Fundamentals of Cyberspace Force Readiness Right, RAND Corporation (PE-A2761-1), 2025
- Gates, Susan M., Fernando Esteves, Elizabeth Roth, and Jonas Kempf, Implementation of the New Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Framework: End of Fiscal Year 2022 Update, RAND Corporation (RR-A758-3), 2024
- Gates, Susan M., Matthew Baird, Benjamin K. Master and Emilio R. Chavez-Herrerias, Principal Pipelines: A Feasible, Affordable and Effective Way for Districts to Improve Schools, RAND (RR-2666), 2019
- Werber, Laura, Susan M. Gates, Brian Phillips, Lucas Greer, Jonas Kempf, and Samantha Cherney, Understanding and Improving Civilian Employer Experiences with Guard and Reserve Duty, RAND Corporation (RR-A852-1), 2024
- Gates, Susan M., Ashley Woo, Lea Xenakis, Elaine Lin Wang, Rebecca Herman, Megan Andrew and Ivy Todd , Using State-Level Policy Levers to Promote Principal Quality: Lessons from Seven States Partnering with Principal Preparation Programs and Districts. , RAND (RR-A-413-1), 2020
- Susan M. Gates et al., "Mobility and Turnover Among School Principals," Economics of Education Review, 25(3), 2006
- Fairlie, Robert W., Kanika Kapur and Susan M. Gates, "Is employer-based health insurance a Barrier to Entrepreneurship?" Journal of Health Economics, 30(1), 2011
- Dominic J. Brewer, Susan M. Gates and Charles Goldman, In Pursuit of Prestige: Strategy and Competition in U.S. Higher Education, Transaction Press, 2006
Authored by Susan M. Gates
112 Results
