The RAND Blog

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Russia and Ukraine, Climate Migration, Democracy in Asia: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on Russia and Ukraine, planning for climate migration, the state of democracy in Asia, and more.

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Preventing China from Taking Taiwan

The single most challenging high-end threat to a key American national security interest today is probably a Chinese invasion attempt against Taiwan. The United States could try to make that scenario unthinkable for Beijing by ensuring that China cannot dominate the western Pacific region.

David A. Ochmanek, Michael O'Hanlon

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American Attitudes About Vaccine Globalism

Overall, American support for sharing vaccines with other countries was high even before the Omicron variant. This may reflect recognition of the need to proactively address the pandemic beyond U.S. borders to truly be on the path to recovery.

Katherine Grace Carman, Anita Chandra

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Twelve-Month Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid Adults Can Stabilize Coverage with a Modest Cost Increase

Churning—frequent moving in and out of Medicaid due to income fluctuation—increases insurance coverage gaps, disrupts access to health care, increases unnecessary administrative burden, and leads to suboptimal health outcomes. Federal and state policymakers might consider continuous eligibility to help stabilize Medicaid enrollment.

Harry H. Liu, Leighton Ku

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Avoiding a New Surge of Regime Change

As competition with China in the developing world heats up, the United States need not repeat the sad legacy of the Cold War with a surge of new efforts at covert regime change and harassment. Instead, America could maximize the systemic advantages it has long enjoyed, meet reformist leaders and movements in the developing world on their own terms, and trust the long-term appeal of American norms and values.

Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr

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If Russia Invaded Ukraine

The United States and NATO worry that Russia may be planning an invasion of Ukraine. A renewed crisis could spur the United States and its NATO allies to go beyond, perhaps well beyond, their responses to Russia's 2014 assault.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, Peter A. Wilson

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Green Light for Cannabis Legalisation in Germany Is Not a Clear-Cut Decision

The new “traffic light” coalition in Germany recently agreed to regulate the sale of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops. International experience has shown that great care is needed in how cannabis policy is shaped.

Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens

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The Counterintuitive Sensibility of Taiwan's New Defense Strategy

As the United States prepares to deter China from attacking Taiwan and defend it from an attack, are the Taiwanese themselves doing everything they can to defend their territory?

Raymond Kuo @Kuorum1

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Addressing Anti-Asian Racism, Stabilizing U.S. Rivalries, the Debt-Ceiling Fight: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on countering anti-Asian racism, the instability of U.S. rivalries with Russia and China, the rise in extremist online activity, and more.

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What Are the Practical Considerations for Outcome-Based Payment in the NHS?

Uncertainty can surround the effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of a new medicine, making it difficult to agree on a medicine's price. One solution to avoid unduly delaying or restricting patients' access is to link the medicine's price to the outcomes it produces in a patient. Despite some barriers, outcome-based payment could offer a “win” for patients, the NHS, and industry.

Amanda Cole, Jon Sussex

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Are Military Coups Back in Style in Africa?

There have been five coups in sub-Saharan Africa since August 2020. On a continent that was recently lauded for its democratic advancement, this backsliding suggests the military coup may be dangerously back in fashion. Why are more coups happening now?

Sean M. Zeigler

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Preserving the ROK-U.S. Alliance by Sustaining Military Exercises

The Republic of Korea (ROK)/U.S. military forces based in the ROK are in a constant state of training, which is required to maintain military effectiveness. North Korea seeks to stop this ROK/U.S. military training, but taking the North Korean complaints seriously could be a mistake.

Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett

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Measuring Greenhouse Gases in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles, once the U.S. capital of smog and sprawl, has vowed to lead the nation into a cleaner, greener future by stamping out carbon pollution. A small array of sensors installed on the roof of RAND's Santa Monica headquarters could help it get there.

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Nuclear Strategists Know How Dangerous the Debt Fight Is

Nuclear-war strategists' work offers a warning for Congress: The more times a game is played, the more treacherous it becomes, because when both sides believe catastrophe will always be averted in the end, each behaves more rashly. In the debt-ceiling dispute, the United States could end up defaulting precisely because each side keeps waiting for the other to blink.

Edward Geist @sovietologist

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U.S. 'Entanglement,' Global Health Cooperation, Community Stress: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on competing claims about U.S. partnerships and allies, responding to Russia's tactics in Ukraine, helping communities recover from stress, and more.