The RAND Blog

commentary

What Elinor Ostrom Teaches Us About Avoiding the 'Tragedy of the Commons' in Delivering the Public Interest in the Post COVID-19 World

The public interest can be an elusive concept, especially when trying to distinguish between shared and individual interests, a problem brought into sharper focus as we try to find the right path to a post COVID-19 world. Governments are seeking to do the best for their societies with limited information. As more data is being acquired, how can public policy achieve common interest?

Tom Ling

commentary

Keep Voters Healthy. Keep Elections Secure. Can the U.S. Do Both?

U.S. adversaries have stepped up cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The United States should expect these foes to take advantage of the logistical challenges of voting in a COVID-19 world to redouble their efforts against elections.

Quentin E. Hodgson @QHodgson, Jennifer Kavanagh

commentary

Considering Military Culture and Values When Adopting AI

As the U.S. military contemplates increasing the number and diversity of AI and other autonomous systems, it should consider timely means of mitigating any potential negative side effects.

Marta Kepe @martakepe

commentary

The Dangers of Designating Antifa as a Terrorist Organization Now

The notion of designating Antifa as a terrorist organization may be intended to be a discrete act. But the precedent it would set could bring major strategic changes to how the United States uses counterterrorism laws, with uncertainties about whether those changes better serve national security.

Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill

blog

Protests and Police Reform, Facial Recognition, Gun Policies: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on protests and police reform after the killing of George Floyd, facial recognition bans, gun policies that likely reduce deaths, and more.

commentary

China Just Botched a Monumental Opportunity with the Philippines

China hailed Philippines President Duterte's announcement in February of an end to the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in six months as evidence the United States was losing the great power competition with China in the Indo-Pacific. But on June 2, Duterte decided to postpone the VFA termination, breathing new life into the decades-long agreement.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

COVID-19 Reveals Need for More Research About Guns

Recent reports suggest that Americans reacted to the pandemic by purchasing guns and ammunition in massive numbers. What does this mean for public safety? And how can policymakers ensure that this doesn't result in more injuries or deaths?

Andrew R. Morral @AndrewMorral, Jeremy Travis

q&a

Protests and Police Reform: Q&A with RAND Experts

After the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis and subsequent nationwide protests, the United States is seeing urgent action to reform policing. Here are insights from four RAND researchers who work on policing and community safety issues.

commentary

Bans on Facial Recognition Are Naive. Hold Law Enforcement Accountable for Its Abuse

Broader police reform may be difficult to achieve. But in the long run, it will be more effective than any specific technology ban.

Osonde A. Osoba @OsondeOsoba, Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

commentary

Long-Term Furloughs During COVID-19 Hold Risks for Employee Health and Well-Being

Governments around the world have offered furlough schemes to try to delay employers from making any restructuring decisions during the pandemic. The aims of such programs are laudable. But they may come with unintended consequences.

Carol Black, Christian Van Stolk

commentary

As COVID-19 Makes Clear, U.S. Allies in the Indo-Pacific, Not the Money They Pay to Host U.S. Forces, Are the Value Proposition

The great value the United States extracts from its alliances with Japan and South Korea is not the money they provide to offset the costs of hosting U.S. forces; the value is the deep and abiding alliances themselves and the liberal, democratic, rule of law market economies and societies to which they link the United States.

Jeffrey W. Hornung, Scott W. Harold

blog

Air Travel Data to Predict COVID Risk, Heatwave Planning, Caregiver Time Off: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on using air travel data to predict COVID risk, planning for a heat wave during the pandemic, why caregivers need time off, and more.

commentary

Nuclear Testing Not Needed Now

Trump administration officials are reported to have recently discussed conducting a nuclear test, breaking a moratorium the United States has observed since 1992. Such a move is not necessary to ensure the reliability of the U.S. arsenal and could increase threats to U.S. and allied security by giving a green light to others to conduct nuclear tests.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, Frank G. Klotz

commentary

Working Moms at Risk of Being Left Behind in Economic Recovery

Being a working parent was hard enough before the pandemic. If COVID-19 intensifies the perception that parenting is at odds with work, then there may be devastating career consequences for working mothers.

Melanie A. Zaber @MelanieZaber, Kathryn A. Edwards

commentary

Once a COVID-19 Vaccine Is Ready, Getting People to Take It May Be a Bigger Challenge

With COVID-19 vaccine development well underway, implementation of a vaccination program warrants attention. Vaccine effectiveness demands a certain percentage uptake. But since health care delivery in the United States is fragmented, a coherent federal intervention may be necessary.

Alina I. Palimaru, Marcus Dillistone, et al.