The RAND Blog

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A New Prescription for Sleepless Americans: Take Advice, Not a Pill

New guidelines from the American College of Physicians favor behavioral therapy over meds as the first-line treatment for insomnia. However, the ACP's recommendation will not in itself raise the level of access to optimal care for insomnia patients.

Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Judith Owens

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The Smoke and Mirrors of Tobacco Regulations

With new regulations on more products such as e-cigarettes, the FDA is moving forward to protect the public from the harms of tobacco. But there are many ways the regulations as they're currently proposed could change.

William G. Shadel

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Helping Pittsburgh Stay on the Cutting Edge of Education Innovation

Local organizations, educators, and leaders are creating remarkable learning experiences for Pittsburgh's young people, and other cities around the country are striving to replicate their innovations.

John F. Pane @JohnFPane, Laura S. Hamilton

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Expo Line Could Enhance Wellbeing in Santa Monica

On May 20, the long-awaited Metro Expo Line will begin service to Santa Monica. Viewing urban mobility as a key component of community wellbeing may be an instructive way to assess the impact of Expo and other infrastructure efforts.

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

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Friends If We Must: Russia and China in the Arctic

Russia's rebalancing toward China is particularly important in the Arctic, a region in which Russia has great ambitions, but also struggles with major vulnerabilities. Russia needs China as an investor, as a technological partner, and as a key consumer of energy to support its flagging, energy-dependent economy.

Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Timothy William James Smith

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Iraq Reconciliation Requires American Help

It is time for the United States to step in and take the lead on the crucial process of reconciling the Sunnis with their government in order to bolster the tactical fight against ISIL and to ensure Iraq does not further destabilize.

Ben Connable

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Taking the American Pulse This Election Season

For the past decade, a unique RAND survey has asked Americans how they feel about the economic crisis, health care reform, and more. Now, it's focused on the 2016 presidential election.

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Out of Line: How to Better Protect Airports from Terrorist Attacks

In airport security, it's not the size of a potential terrorist bomb that matters most, it's where it detonates. Fortunately, new technologies may present opportunities to get travelers out of line and keep them safe.

Henry H. Willis @HenryHWillis, Michael A. Brown

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A Competing Risks Approach to Security Sector Assistance for Fragile States

How should the U.S. balance the risks of cooperating with troubling governments against the risk that ISIS or similar groups could gain strength in these fragile states?

Stephen Watts

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What Makes Stakeholders Want to Become Involved in Research?

Involving stakeholders in comparative-effectiveness research is important. But competing demands for their time can make this a challenge. Why do stakeholders get involved in this research, or not?

Thomas W. Concannon @tconcannon, Virginia Kotzias, et al.

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Five Years After the Death of Osama bin Laden, Is the World Safer?

What effect did killing bin Laden have on al Qaeda's ability to pursue its jihadist goals? Does high-value targeting contribute to counterterrorist strategy more broadly? Does killing terrorist leaders work?

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

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Strong Winds Ahead for Cloud Computing: Can Data Localization Threaten Future Growth?

A growing number of constraints have been imposed around the world on information in the cloud, fueling concerns that the Internet, the economic engine of the information age, may become hopelessly fragmented.

Marlon Graf, Jakub P. Hlavka, et al.

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Science and the Healing Arts

Americans spend billions of dollars out of pocket seeking relief from chronic conditions in alternative schools of health, such as acupuncture or chiropractic. What would it take to more fully integrate such practices into the mainstream?

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Obama Should Visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki

During his upcoming visit to Japan, President Obama will have an opportunity to do something that none of his predecessors have ever done: visit the first and last cities to suffer atomic bombings.

Scott W. Harold

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Will the Arctic Remain a Warm Spot in Chilly U.S.-Russia Relations?

The United States should continue with its policy of engagement with Russia within Arctic institutions. This is the only way to keep building on a track record of successful agreements that make the Arctic safer for all.

Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Abbie Tingstad