2016

Educational Program Evaluation
commentary
What Does the Stern Review Mean for the Research Excellence Framework?
Molly Morgan Jones, Susan Guthrie
Sep 6, 2016
The RAND Blog
The Stern Review's release at the end of July raised two pertinent questions about the Research Education Framework. What purposes does the REF serve? And does it offer good value for money for the UK's higher education institutions?
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China
commentary
How Do Chinese Surface-to-Air Missile Forces Train?
Cristina L. Garafola @CLGarafola
Sep 6, 2016
The National Interest
Surface-to-air missile (SAM) forces play a crucial role in Chinese military planning. Recent training activity indicates that PLAAF SAM units' operational readiness and capabilities may vary depending on their location and the time of year.
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Retirement and Retirement Benefits
commentary
You're Never Too Young to Plan for Retirement
Jeremy Burke, Angela A. Hung
Sep 2, 2016
The RAND Blog
Saving early for retirement is critical, but it's also important to stay on track during job changes. Younger workers tend to change jobs often, and if they cash out of their plans with each position, that can affect their long-term savings.
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Military Budgets and Defense Spending
commentary
In Defense of Defense Analysis
John Speed Meyers, Jonathan P. Wong @jonpwong
Sep 2, 2016
War on the Rocks
Rather than characterize Robert McNamara's legacy as one of inefficiency, his economic, quantitative analysis of military problems should be portrayed as an innovative, if flawed, first adoption of more sophisticated methods for defense analysis.
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Military Families
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The Impact of Deployments on Military Marriages
Thomas E. Trail @TomETrail
Sep 2, 2016
Family Studies
The evidence linking combat deployments directly to poorer marital functioning has been sparse and contradictory. Although marital satisfaction among military couples declined from 2003 to 2009, the divorce rate among them remained steady.
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Politics and Government
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Working for $7.25 an Hour: Exploring the Minimum Wage Debate
Jeffrey B. Wenger
Sep 1, 2016
The RAND Blog
Critics of raising the minimum wage argue that proponents are ignoring the laws of supply and demand, that it would generate unemployment. Recent theory suggests that increasing wages results in higher quality workers entering the market and improving the quality of the employee-employer match, raising productivity and lowering turnover.
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Crime
commentary
The True Cost of 'Scams' and How Policies Can Help
Daniel Schweppenstedde, Martin Stepanek
Sep 1, 2016
The RAND Blog
Each year, loss due to scams in the UK is in the range of £1.2 to £5.8 billion. To combat this scourge, the National Trading Standards Scams Team needs more support, both financially and legislatively.
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Wages and Compensation
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College Education No Panacea for Worker Inequality Woes
Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice
Aug 31, 2016
The RAND Blog
The earnings gap between high school and college graduates has grown with each generation, but even a college degree does not ensure a good income. Just as the nature of jobs for high school graduates has been changing due to consolidation, trade, and technology, the quality of employment for college graduates is beginning to shift.
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International Trade
commentary
Eliminating Jobs or Strengthening the Economy? The Impact of Trade Policies on the American Worker
Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
Aug 30, 2016
The RAND Blog
The enormous benefits of trade include economic growth, more variety for industry and consumers, and lower prices. But trade can displace some American workers. Training programs, relocation assistance, and wage insurance can help.
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People with Disabilities
commentary
Accommodation for Disabled Workers: Knowledge of Rights a Good Start
Kathleen J. Mullen @KathleenJMullen
Aug 29, 2016
The RAND Blog
With a 36 percent chance of becoming disabled at least once before reaching age 50, it is imperative that workers know their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the resources available to help them.
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Russia
commentary
The West Must Do Far More to Keep Putin at Bay
William Courtney @courtneywmh, David A. Shlapak
Aug 27, 2016
Newsweek
Russia is more willing than the West to use military power, even though it has less of it. The West should reconsider whether its efforts to deter Russian military interference are enough.
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Veterans Employment
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From the Battlefield to the Boardroom: Transferring Veterans' Skills to the Civilian Labor Market
Kimberly Curry Hall
Aug 26, 2016
The RAND Blog
The number of returning veterans is expected to grow to 4.2 million over the next decade. This robust talent pool can be an asset to the civilian workforce. Investments in translating veterans' skills, certification and licensing, and comprehensive career counseling can improve this transition.
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Science and Technology
commentary
'Star Trek' at 50: How the TV Series Inspired a Boy to Become a Scientist
William Marcellino
Aug 26, 2016
Los Angeles Times
William Marcellino discusses how “Star Trek” convinced him at an early age that science and the advancement of human knowledge could make the world a better place.
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Terrorist Organizations
commentary
Why Syria's War May Be About to Get Even Worse
Colin P. Clarke, Chad C. Serena
Aug 25, 2016
Reuters
Whether or not Jabhat Fateh al-Sham's new name means a genuine break from its parent organization al Qaeda, the mere rebranding could prolong Syria's civil war. The worst-case scenario is that the group could embed itself within the rebel opposition in Syria the way Hezbollah did in Lebanon.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
Living Longer, Working Longer
Michael D. Hurd, Susann Rohwedder
Aug 25, 2016
The RAND Blog
When people live longer, the costs of Social Security and Medicare increase and threaten the sustainability of these programs. Households also worry about how to finance more retirement years. But people are working longer, and if they continue to do so, they will reduce some of the problems.
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