Troy D. Smith

@troy_d_smith on Twitter

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

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D. in economics, Stanford University

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.

More Experts

Overview

Troy Smith is an economist at the RAND Corporation and professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His research is in applied microeconomics focusing on education, entrepreneurship, development, and labor.

Smith researches productivity in environments where it is difficult to measure, and how the productivity of organizations interacts with the markets in which they operate. Previous research has focused on business in developing countries by examining the effects of private equity investment on Indian firms, and on education in the United States by examining the supply of private schooling and the effect of public-school policies on the private school market.

Before beginning his Ph.D., Smith worked as an economic consultant at Charles River Associates in Boston, as a research associate at Harvard Business School for the required first year M.B.A. strategy course, and as a researcher at the Small Enterprise Finance Center in the Institute for Financial Management and Research in Chennai, India. Smith holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in economics from Stanford University, and a B.S. in economics and international studies with minors in math and African studies from Brigham Young University.

Research Focus

Pardee RAND Graduate School Courses

Microeconomics I

Recent Projects

Private Equity in India: Efficiency vs. Expansion
Quantifying the Supply Response of Private Schools to Public Policies
Productivity and Market Structure in Private Elementary and Secondary Schooling

Selected Publications

Hosek, James, Beth J. Asch, Michael G. Mattock, and Troy D. Smith, Military and Civilian Pay Levels, Trends, and Recruit Quality, RAND Corporation (RR-2396-OSD), 2018

Johnston, Trevor, Troy D. Smith, and J. Luke Irwin, Additive Manufacturing in 2040: Powerful Enabler, Disruptive Threat, RAND Corporation (PE-283-RC), 2018

Ries, Charles P., Marco Hafner, Troy D. Smith, Frances G. Burwell, Daniel Egel, Eugeniu Han, Martin Stepanek, and Howard J. Shatz, After Brexit: Alternate forms of Brexit and their implications for the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States, RAND Corporation (RR-2200-RC), 2017

Miller, Benjamin M., David Metz, Troy D. Smith, Jesse Lastunen, Eric Landree, and Christopher Nelson, Understanding the Economic Benefit Associated with Research and Services at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: An Approach and Three Case Studies, RAND Corporation (RR-2256-NIOSH), 2017

Joseph P. H. Fan, Jun Huang, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Troy D. Smith, and Mengxin Zhao, "Diversification of Chinese Companies—An International Comparison," Chinese Management Studies, 2008

Troy D. Smith and Acou Sam Ogojoi "Poverty, AIDS, and Street Children in Uganda," in Donald E. Morisky, W. James Jacob, Yusuf K. Nsubuga, and Steven J. Hite (ed), Overcoming AIDS: Lessons Learned from Uganda, Information Age Publishing, 2006

Commentary

Global Climate Change

Curb Climate Change After COVID-19? Fast-Growing India and Brazil Are Key
India and Brazil are facing pressure to launch recoveries after the economic devastation caused by the pandemic. Will they backslide on their Paris climate agreement commitments, or will the expected return of the United States to the pact encourage them to build a more sustainable economic future?
Dec 15, 2020
United Press International
Emerging Technologies

Downloadable Guns and Other 3-D Printing Security Threats
Americans may soon be able to legally access blueprints for 3D-printed guns. The growing opposition to these weapons shows that potential security threats do not have to be inevitable. The security challenges inherent in 3D printing could be addressed, while the development of industry norms can still be shaped.
Jul 31, 2018
Fox News Channel

Publications

Report
Engaging with North Korea: Lessons from Game Theory
In this report, the authors apply a game theoretic lens to the current confrontation between the United States and North Korea to provide insights and recommendations.
Aug 12, 2021
Report
DoD Cyber Excepted Service Labor Market Analysis and Options for Use of Compensation Flexibilities
In this report, the authors examine labor demand and supply for seven U.S. Department of Defense cyber work roles to help determine whether pay adjustments are necessary to support the recruitment and retention of critical personnel.
Jul 19, 2021
Report
From Hermit Kingdom to Open for Business: Developing a Blueprint for North Korea's Economic Development
The authors describe a blueprint for economic development in North Korea using foreign investment as an organizational framework.
May 25, 2021
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
Challenges and Opportunities for the Puerto Rico Economy: A Review of Evidence and Options Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
The authors review Puerto Rico's economic history and provide analysis following the 2017 hurricane season that serves as the context for a set of principles and actions in the recovery plan for rebuilding a healthy economy.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
The Education Sector in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Predisaster Conditions, Hurricane Damage, and Themes for Recovery
Presenting a strategic approach to aid Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the report details prestorm conditions, assesses damage and recovery needs, and describes courses of action for the Education sector.
Sep 30, 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
Selecting and Evaluating Case Studies of the Economic Benefits of Research and Services at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Case Studies on Personal Dust Monitors for Coal Miners, Improved Ambulance Design, and Amputation Surveillance
In this report, the authors define a process for selecting case studies of the economic benefits of research and services at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and evaluate benefits associated with three selected cases.
Jan 6, 2020
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
Additive Manufacturing in 2040: Powerful Enabler, Disruptive Threat
This Perspective -- part of a series examining critical security challenges in 2040 -- offers a new framework for exploring the disruptive dimensions of additive manufacturing technology and explores which sectors and industries might be most affected.
May 8, 2018
Report
Understanding the Economic Benefit Associated with Research and Services at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: An Approach and Three Case Studies
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) asked the RAND Corporation to develop an approach for estimating the economic benefit of NIOSH research, using three case studies. A new report details findings and recommendations.
Jan 2, 2018
Report
After Brexit: Alternate forms of Brexit and their implications for the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States
RAND explored eight plausible post-Brexit trade scenarios involving the UK, EU and U.S. after Brexit. Game theory insights were also used to create a better understanding of how a variety of factors might affect the outcome of Brexit negotiations.
Dec 11, 2017
Tool
Potential Economic Effects of Brexit: Implications for the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States
This online calculator lets users explore five plausible post-Brexit trade scenarios involving the UK, EU and U.S. after Brexit and develop a custom scenario by modifying underlying economic assumptions.
Dec 11, 2017