James V. Marrone

Economist

Washington Office

Education

PhD in economics, University of Chicago; MSc in economics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; BS in mathematics, University of Chicago; BA in physics, University of Chicago

One Page Bio

Overview

Jim Marrone (he/him) is an economist at RAND Corporation. He is primarily a methodologist, using a variety of statistical methods to conduct causal inference for national security research. Major topical focuses are: military families and young servicemembers; counter-extremism and disinformation; and cultural heritage in disaster and conflict zones. Recent examples of research projects include quasi-experimental analyses of military attrition, experimental and theoretical analyses of Russian online disinformation tactics, and the development of scalable methods to assess damage to historic and archaeological sites. Ongoing work includes a study on the association between financial distress and military suicide; an investigation of domestic extremist financing strategies; an analysis of the geography of military spouse employment; and an evaluation of Army enlistment waiver policy. He was on temporary detail at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Office of Servicemember Affairs in 2020, and he is also an adjunct professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Chang, Joseph C., James V. Marrone, David Metz, Sean Colbert-Kelly, Matthew A. DeNardo, Keith Gierlack, Chelsea Kolb, Ryan Bauer, Devon Hill, and Kristin J. Leuschner, Risk-Informed Analysis of Transportation Worker Identification Credential Reader Requirements, RAND Corporation (RR-A1687-1), 2022

Williams, Heather J., Luke J. Matthews, Pauline Moore, Matthew A. DeNardo, James V. Marrone, Brian A. Jackson, William Marcellino, and Todd C. Helmus, Mapping White Identity Terrorism and Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism: A Social Network Analysis of Online Activity, RAND Corporation (RR-A1841-1), 2022

Marrone, James V., S. Rebecca Zimmerman, Louay Constant, Marek N. Posard, Katherine L. Kidder, Christina Panis, and Rebecca Jensen, Organizational and Cultural Causes of Army First-Term Attrition, RAND Corporation (RR-A666-1), 2021

Helmus, Todd C., James V. Marrone, Marek N. Posard, and Danielle Schlang, Russian Propaganda Hits Its Mark: Experimentally Testing the Impact of Russian Propaganda and Counter-Interventions, RAND Corporation (RR-A704-3), 2020

Marrone, James V., Predicting 36-Month Attrition in the U.S. Military: A Comparison Across Service Branches, RAND Corporation (RR-4258-OSD), 2020

Silvia Beltrametti and James V. Marrone, "Market Responses to Court Rulings: Evidence from Antiquities Auctions," Journal of Law and Economics, 59(4), 2016

Resetar, Susan A., James V. Marrone, Joshua Mendelsohn, Amy Schwartzman, and David M. Adamson, Cultural and Historical Resources Recovery Planning in Puerto Rico: Natural and Cultural Resources Sector Report, Volume II, RAND Corporation (RR-2859-DHS), 2020

Carole Roan Gresenz, Jean M. Mitchell, James V. Marrone, Howard J. Federoff, "Effect of Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease on Household Financial Outcomes," Health Economics, 29(1), 2020

Commentary

Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

How Can Platforms Deal with Toxic Content? Look to Wall Street
History proved time and time again that self-regulation was insufficient to mitigate financial risks. So why should it work for tech? In fact, history already shows that it doesn't. The Dodd-Frank framework may offer several benefits for tech regulation.
May 26, 2023
Barron’s
Employment and Unemployment

Arts Policy During the Pandemic: What Are We Measuring, and What Can We Know?
Few data sources exist for the labor market for artists. Of the sources that do exist, each measures a different piece of a larger puzzle. Those studying the arts labor market will have to grapple with which data source to use and how “the arts” should be defined before undertaking any analysis.
Mar 8, 2021
The RAND Blog
Humanities and the Arts

The Pandemic Is a Disaster for Artists
The arts as we know them are likely to be shut down for the foreseeable future, and the vast majority of artists have likely lost some or all of their income. How many artists are out of work, and what could be done to help them?
Aug 4, 2020
The RAND Blog
Humanities and the Arts

Arts and Cultural Workers Are Especially Vulnerable to the Pandemic
Workers in the arts and cultural industries could be especially vulnerable to the economic shocks of COVID-19. As the United States reopens and decides its future, it should recognize these vulnerabilities, as well as the benefits that the arts and cultural industries offer.
Jul 23, 2020
The RAND Blog
Information Operations

How You Can Fight Russia's Plans to Troll Americans During Campaign 2020
The goal of Russian interference is to trigger emotional reactions and drive people to ideological extremes, making it nearly impossible to build a consensus. But Americans are less likely to have their emotions manipulated if they are aware that manipulation is the goal.
Jul 14, 2020
Los Angeles Times
The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)

We're Just Beginning to Grasp the Toll of the Islamic State's Archaeological Looting in Syria
During the Islamic State's rise, looted artifacts were said to be a significant source of income for the group. But no one had identified the value, using empirical data and systematic calculations, of the artifacts that were known to exist in Syria's archaeological sites. Until now.
May 15, 2019
The Conversation

Publications

Report
Veterans' Employment During Recessions: Veterans' Issues in Focus
Veterans and nonveterans have different employment support needs and are affected differently by recessions. Understanding these differences can help veterans, employers, policymakers, and veteran-serving organizations prepare for economic shocks.
Mar 29, 2023
Report
Improving Precommissioning Assignments and Readiness on the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter
Researchers identified approaches the U.S. Coast Guard could take to improve crew satisfaction with precommissioning assignments on offshore patrol cutters and overall fleet readiness, then evaluated the options using five criteria.
Dec 13, 2022
Report
Risk-Informed Analysis of Transportation Worker Identification Credential Reader Requirements
This report assesses the cost-effectiveness of a U.S. Coast Guard rule that requires any facility handling certain dangerous cargoes to biometrically verify the identity of anyone accessing a secure area of that facility.
Nov 10, 2022
Research Brief
A Dangerous Web: Mapping Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism
The authors reviewed literature on racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), analyzed social media data from six platforms, and created a global network map to better understand how to inform counter-REMVE strategies online.
Aug 22, 2022
Report
Mapping White Identity Terrorism and Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism: A Social Network Analysis of Online Activity
The authors reviewed literature on racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), analyzed social media data from six platforms, and created a global network map to better understand how to inform counter-REMVE strategies online.
Jun 7, 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
Organizational and Cultural Causes of Army First-Term Attrition
The U.S. Army invests significant resources in new soldiers. When a soldier does not complete a full contract term, the Army views this as a net loss. This report assesses the organizational mechanisms that could be driving attrition.
Oct 5, 2021
Report
Russian Propaganda Hits Its Mark: Experimentally Testing the Impact of Russian Propaganda and Counter-Interventions
This report, the third in a series, describes a study designed to assess how people react to and engage with Russia's online propaganda. Media literacy advisories and labeling the source of the propaganda were found to have a counter effect.
Oct 15, 2020
Report
From Consensus to Conflict: Understanding Foreign Measures Targeting U.S. Elections
Russia might try to manipulate and divide U.S. voters via social media during the U.S. political campaign season of 2020. This first report in a series of four reviews research on foreign actors targeting local, state, and national elections.
Oct 1, 2020
Report
Cultural and Historical Resources Recovery Planning in Puerto Rico: Natural and Cultural Resources Sector Report, Volume II
Many of Puerto Rico's cultural resources were devastated in Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The authors discuss their importance, the damage they endured immediately after the storms, and detail recovery actions in Puerto Rico's recovery plan.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Countering Violent Extremism in Indonesia: Using an Online Panel Survey to Assess a Social Media Counter-Messaging Campaign
This report presents the results of an evaluation designed to assess the effects of countering violent extremism–themed social media content used in a campaign to promote tolerance, freedom of speech, and rejection of violence in Indonesia.
Sep 9, 2020
Report
Promoting Peace as the Antidote to Violent Extremism: Evaluation of a Philippines-Based Tech Camp and Peace Promotion Fellowship
This report contains an evaluation of and recommendations from a countering violent extremism (CVE)–themed set of tech camps and fellowships in the Philippines. This report also contains research from a study of CVE radio programming on Mindanao.
Sep 9, 2020
Report
The Risk-Mitigation Value of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential: A Comprehensive Security Assessment of the TWIC Program
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is designed to enhance security at U.S. ports. This report provides the findings from an assessment of the TWIC program, along with the assessors' recommendations.
May 13, 2020
Report
Tracking and Disrupting the Illicit Antiquities Trade with Open Source Data
The sale of illicit goods provides an important funding source for terrorist organizations, organized crime, and rogue states. The authors of this report use open-source data to examine these networks and guide future policy to disrupt the trade.
May 12, 2020
Report
Predicting 36-Month Attrition in the U.S. Military: A Comparison Across Service Branches
The author analyzes first-term attrition, using administrative data for all accessions across four military service branches in fiscal years 2002 through 2013 to show what characteristics predict attrition across the first 36 months of service.
Apr 28, 2020
Report
Countering Violent Extremism in Nigeria: Using a Text-Message Survey to Assess Radio Programs
The authors present the results of a text message–based randomized controlled trial designed to assess the impact of a countering violent extremism (CVE)–themed radio program broadcast in northern Nigeria in 2018–2019.
Mar 12, 2020
Journal Article
Effect of Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease on Household Financial Outcomes
Our goal in this study is estimate, on net, the financial effects of early-stage Alzheimer's Disease, from the start of first symptoms to diagnosis, on individuals and their families.
Mar 10, 2020
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
Draft
The Impact of a Spouse Incentive on Employee Retention: Evidence from a Military Spouse Scholarship
The authors evaluate the impact of the U.S. Department of Defense's My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance to military spouses for education and training, on the retention of military personnel.
Aug 23, 2019
Draft
Re-Evaluating the Returns to Language Skills Using Latent Trait Estimates
Constructs more robust latent trait measures of language fluency using well-established psychometric methods, and re-evaluates the evidence for the wage premium.
Nov 17, 2017