2015

commentary

Why Obamacare Lives

Economic reasoning took center stage in the Supreme Court's decision on Thursday to uphold the legality of the Affordable Care Act's subsidies in all states.

Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

announcement

RAND Announces New Center of Excellence on Health System Performance

RAND's new Center of Excellence on Health System Performance will study high-performance health systems that translate new evidence into clinical practice.

essay

The Price of Peace

Groundbreaking analysis by a team of RAND economists and policy experts reveals how much Israelis and Palestinians stand to lose from the enduring conflict, and how much they could gain in peace.

commentary

The Enemy You Know and the Ally You Don't

Arming Iraq's Sunni militias to fight the Islamic State may seem like a quick fix, but newly declassified documents suggest it might only add fuel to the fire.

Benjamin Bahney, Patrick B. Johnston, et al.

commentary

Could You Lose Your License to Drink?

Criminal justice reform requires creating demand for bold ideas about simultaneously reducing incarceration and crime. Given the prominent role alcohol plays in crime — and the strong results from South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety program — suspending one's “license to drink” seems well worth considering.

Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer

commentary

Tunisia in the Crosshairs

The open-ended nature of the Islamic State group's threat against Tunisair suggests that it intends to target Tunisia for the long haul. The United States should counter the threats with steadfast and sustained cooperation and assistance.

Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich, K. Jack Riley @K_Jack_Riley

commentary

The 10 Ps of Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana policy is a growing topic of discussion, and laws are starting to change. Ten choices confronting jurisdictions considering legalization cover many of the critical decisions that will determine whether removing prohibition is a good idea.

Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer

commentary

Paying for Pricey Medications: Debt Financing Options Could Provide a Solution

A new approach may be needed to finance an emerging breed of expensive but highly effective pharmaceuticals and vaccines. The health care industry could learn from other industry approaches such as equipment leases or supplier-financed credit.

Soeren Mattke

commentary

Greek Financial Crisis: All You Need to Know

Europeans should not rush to eject the Greeks from either the euro or the E.U. They should have the patience to let Greek politics run its course.

Charles P. Ries @charles_ries

blog

Terrorism and Television: A Conversation with Howard Gordon

Television producer and writer Howard Gordon discusses 9/11, television's 24, and responsible entertainment.

commentary

Nature and Nurture: What's Behind the Variation in Recent Medical Home Evaluations?

As demonstrated in Pennsylvania, conveners of medical home pilots are drawing from their early experiences to refine their intervention designs and improve their effectiveness. Such a learning process is likely to be a critical part of successfully implementing any new model of payment and care delivery.

Mark W. Friedberg, Connie Sixta, et al.

blog

Summer Learning Day: Stopping the Summer Slide

RAND is conducting the first-ever assessment of large-scale, voluntary, district-run, summer learning programs serving low-income elementary students. The results may help districts, educators, and policymakers make better decisions about funding and implementing programs to stop summer learning loss.

commentary

Caregivers in England Report Poorer Health and Healthcare Experiences

Caregivers in England have poorer health-related quality of life than non-caregivers, reporting an average of 11 fewer days of full health per year.

Catherine L. Saunders

commentary

What Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Want from Each Other

Whatever overlapping interests they may have in dangerous groups like Lashkar-e Taiba, the Saudis and Pakistanis have much bigger reasons for seeking each other's friendship. These reasons may be largely transactional, but the transaction has been a mutually beneficial one for nearly 40 years.

Jonah Blank

commentary

Aging in Asia: Can the 'Tigers' Continue to Roar?

Changing demographics will force Japan and the “Asian Tigers” — Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan — to find ways to remain economically dynamic while increasingly looking after their elderly. How might public policy help accomplish this?

Rafiq Dossani, Rachel M. Swanger