2016

Retirement and Retirement Benefits

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You're Never Too Young to Plan for Retirement
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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Sep 2, 2016
The RAND Blog
Jeremy Burke, Angela A. Hung
Military Budgets and Defense Spending

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In Defense of Defense Analysis
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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Sep 2, 2016
War on the Rocks
John Speed Meyers, Jonathan P. Wong @jonpwong
Military Families

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The Impact of Deployments on Military Marriages
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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Sep 2, 2016
Family Studies
Thomas E. Trail @TomETrail
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Working for $7.25 an Hour: Exploring the Minimum Wage Debate
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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Sep 1, 2016
The RAND Blog
Jeffrey B. Wenger
Crime

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The True Cost of 'Scams' and How Policies Can Help
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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Sep 1, 2016
The RAND Blog
Daniel Schweppenstedde, Martin Stepanek
Wages and Compensation

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College Education No Panacea for Worker Inequality Woes
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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Aug 31, 2016
The RAND Blog
Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice
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Eliminating Jobs or Strengthening the Economy? The Impact of Trade Policies on the American Worker
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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Aug 30, 2016
The RAND Blog
Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
People with Disabilities

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Accommodation for Disabled Workers: Knowledge of Rights a Good Start
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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Aug 29, 2016
The RAND Blog
Kathleen J. Mullen
Russia

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The West Must Do Far More to Keep Putin at Bay
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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Aug 27, 2016
Newsweek
William Courtney @courtneywmh, David A. Shlapak
Veterans Employment

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From the Battlefield to the Boardroom: Transferring Veterans' Skills to the Civilian Labor Market
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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Aug 26, 2016
The RAND Blog
Kimberly Curry Hall
Science and Technology

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'Star Trek' at 50: How the TV Series Inspired a Boy to Become a Scientist
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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Aug 26, 2016
Los Angeles Times
William Marcellino
Terrorist Organizations

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Why Syria's War May Be About to Get Even Worse
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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Aug 25, 2016
Reuters
Colin P. Clarke, Chad C. Serena
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Living Longer, Working Longer
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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Aug 25, 2016
The RAND Blog
Michael D. Hurd, Susann Rohwedder
Vocational Education

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Getting Technical: Preparing High School Students for the Workforce America Needs
Fields such as computers, engineering, and health care are expected to grow. Employers and policymakers have a vested interest in ensuring that America's high schoolers are ready to meet future employment needs. Access to high-quality career and technical education programs is key.
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Aug 25, 2016
The Hill
Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Robert Bozick
Cybercrime

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The Future of Cyber Investigations at the FBI Is Unclear
Evidence presented by the FBI in the case of U.S. v. Jay Michaud was excluded because the agency was unwilling to reveal the software exploit used to collect it. If the FBI exposes its capabilities, other criminals can patch their computers, but concealing its techniques risks the ability to prosecute cyber criminals.
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Aug 24, 2016
Inside Sources
Sasha Romanosky, Cortney Weinbaum @cortney_dc