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A Summer Reading List for Congress

To help Hill staffers make the most of the Congressional recess, RAND has developed a list of must-read research and commentaries that will help ensure policymakers will return ready to hit the ground running.

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China Signals Resolve with Bomber Flights Over the South China Sea

Since the PCA tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines' case on July 12, invalidating many of China's claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has sought to demonstrate its military strength in the region. The PLAAF's H-6K has played a key role.

Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Cristina L. Garafola @CLGarafola, et al.

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Why Rents Have Gone Through the Roof in New Orleans and Across the Nation

The rental affordability crisis was caused by declining incomes since 2000, the slowing of new construction, households getting smaller, and the seven million foreclosures during the recession. It is a national problem in need of a national solution.

Richard K. Green, Heather L. Schwartz @schwartz_hl, et al.

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How to Counter Putin's Subversive War on the West

Russian cybercrime, Olympics doping, and other active measures have one thing in common: Moscow admits no wrongdoing. These scandals exacerbate the frigid relations between Moscow and the West. Diplomacy sometimes works slowly, but it helps.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, Martin C. Libicki

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The U.S.-China Cyber Agreement: A Good First Step

The 2015 U.S.-China cyber agreement is a potentially important first step toward addressing the problem of Chinese espionage. But it is by no means a final step.

Scott W. Harold

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The High Cost of Free College

Tuition subsidies may encourage institutions to raise tuition, since the government would foot the bill. One possible solution: develop and implement policies that encourage greater productivity from higher education institutions.

Trey Miller

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Tesla Fatal Crash Reminds That Human Interface Remains Important

The first reported fatality in a self-driving vehicle is a chilling reminder that the evolving relationship with increasingly robotic motor vehicles needs to be a partnership, an undertaking with humans and machines managing the risks.

Shawn McKay

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Can the Bioweapons Convention Survive Crispr?

Crispr is a biotechnology that's making genetic editing easier, cheaper, and far more accessible, but it has also been called a major security threat. Do such advances in biotechnology make the bioweapons convention obsolete?

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

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The Rio Olympics Are the Site of a Battle Against 'Super Bacteria'

Brazilian scientists detected drug-resistant bacteria growing off some of Rio de Janeiro's beaches, close to where it will host sailing and wind-surfing events, and in the lagoon where the rowing and canoeing events will take place.

Jirka Taylor, Elta Smith

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Keeping Up with the Policymakers: The Unclassified Tearline

Unclassified tearlines could convey the bottom line and potential implications of a classified story in unclassified terms, while obscuring sensitive sources and methods. There are good reasons to build them into the business process and culture of intelligence agencies.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

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NATO Decides to 'Troop the Colours' As Symbol of Deterrence in the Baltics

At its Warsaw summit in July, NATO agreed to establish a permanent rotating presence of its troops in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The decision may be interpreted as NATO's commitment to take its Baltic members' concerns seriously.

Marta Kepe @martakepe

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The End of Nuclear Proliferation?

As the last case of nuclear proliferation fades further into history, it may become politically difficult to allocate resources to preventing it, as other pressing threats, such as bio- and cyber-terrorism, continue to emerge.

Todd C. Robinson

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Patients with Severe Schizophrenia Aren't Getting the Help They Need

Clozapine has proven effective for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, but the health system is poorly configured to provide it. The drug has possible side effects that require extra patient monitoring, but it saves costs by reducing hospitalizations.

Adam J. Rose

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Judgment on the South China Sea: What's Next?

On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines' claims to maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. How China reacts could have far-reaching consequences for all nations that depend on a peaceful and integrated Southeast Asia.

Rafiq Dossani

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Can a Nurse Practitioner Replace a Physician?

The VA is considering expanding the role of nurse practitioners in order to provide veterans timely access to primary-care services. Research has shown that nurse practitioners working in collaborative settings can provide high-quality care.

John N. Mafi, Bruce E. Landon