Rosanna Smart

Photo of Rosanna Smart
Economist; Affiliate Faculty, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in economics, University of California, Los Angeles; M.A. in economics, University of California, Los Angeles; B.A. in economics, Pomona College

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

Rosanna Smart is an economist at the RAND Corporation, affiliate faculty of the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and associate director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center. Her research is in applied microeconomics, with a focus on issues related to health behaviors, illicit markets, drug policy, programs to reduce crime and improve police operations and outcomes, and the determinants of gun violence.

Her work has covered a variety of issues related to better understanding substance use behaviors in the context of evolving policy, including the study of mechanisms to increase access to naloxone, trends and patterns of polysubstance use, the spillover effects of increased medical cannabis availability, and the evolution of recreational cannabis markets. Other research includes projects studying the operational and fiscal impact of criminal justice policy changes on local agencies, barriers to employment facing workers with criminal records, as well as studies to inform effective gun policy in the United States.

Smart received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Research Focus

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Bloomberg Radio

Commentary

  • People cross the Brooklyn Bridge as they attend a March for Our Lives rally, New York City, June 11, 2022, photo by Eric Cox/Reuters
    Gun Violence

    Better Data, Less Gun Violence

    If the United States is serious about fixing the escalating problem of gun violence, the government needs to measure it. Research that is supported by new funding is overdue but will be hampered until federal and state firearm violence data systems improve.

    Oct 5, 2022

    Science

  • A man carries a sign calling for gun reform during a rally and march against gun violence at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., July 13, 2022, photo by Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Reuters
    Gun Policy

    A New Era for Firearm Violence Prevention Research

    Despite many remaining obstacles, the United States may soon have research that clarifies many of the unanswered questions about firearm violence and its prevention. Many critical research questions, neglected for decades, may now benefit from recent federal and private research funding that has supported a surge in research.

    Oct 4, 2022

    Journal of the American Medical Association

  • Signs proclaiming a gun-free zone at an entrance point to Times Square, in New York City, September 1, 2022, photo by Richard B. Levine/Reuters
    Gun Policy

    Facts Still Matter, Even If the Court Signals Otherwise

    The Supreme Court's recent decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen threatens to render decades of scientific studies legally irrelevant. But there is still room for research to inform court decisions about firearm regulations.

    Oct 4, 2022

    Newsweek

  • The U.S. Supreme Court at dusk, in Washington, D.C., August 7, 2022, photo by Graeme Sloan/Reuters
    Gun Policy

    State Gun Regulations Are a Messy Patchwork. The Supreme Court's Bruen Decision Won't Help

    The Supreme Court's decision may not actually narrow the policy gap between states sharply divided over their approach to regulating guns. Rather, its result may not look very different than what we have today—a patchwork of laws that often reflect political and policy demands of individual states.

    Aug 22, 2022

    The Hill

  • A shadow of a hand holding a gun, photo by ugurhan/Getty Images
    Crime and Violence Prevention

    'Stand Your Ground' Laws May Be Causing More Harm Than Good

    Americans have debated whether “stand your ground” laws or gun-free zones make us safer or less safe for decades. These are debates about factual matters that are, in principle, knowable. Without research on these and other topics, bad laws will inadvertently be passed or retained.

    Sep 12, 2019

    Orlando Sentinel

  • A customer browses screens displaying recreational marijuana products at the MedMen store in West Hollywood, California, January 2, 2018
    Cannabis

    How Will Cannabis Legalization Affect Alcohol Consumption?

    How will legalization of recreational marijuana affect alcohol consumption? Will drinking go down because people substitute cannabis for alcohol? Or will drinking go up because cannabis and alcohol complement each other? These questions have important implications.

    Feb 13, 2018

    GreenState (San Francisco Chronicle)

Publications