2016

Turkey
commentary
What Erdogan and Khomeini Have in Common
Alireza Nader
Aug 24, 2016
Foreign Policy
The analogy between Islamist Iran and a possibly soon-to-be Islamist Turkey is not perfect. But there are striking similarities between the state of affairs in Turkey today and the 1979 revolution in Iran that established the Islamic Republic.
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Technical Professions
commentary
Back to Work: Middle-Skill Jobs in the STEM Economy
Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Robert Bozick
Aug 24, 2016
The RAND Blog
The STEM economy will grow by 17 percent through 2018, with expected job vacancies totaling 2.4 million. Middle-skill STEM jobs—such as computer support specialists, web developers, and engineering technicians—are in the highest demand.
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Globalization
commentary
Evolving 21st-Century Workplace and the American Workforce: Trends and Policy Responses
Lynn A. Karoly, Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_
Aug 23, 2016
The RAND Blog
Three trends have important implications for the future of work: a shifting demography toward older workers, more women, and more diversity; continuing technological change that will increase the demand for skilled workers; and increased globalization.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Demystifying the Islamic State
Andrew Liepman, Colin P. Clarke
Aug 23, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
To counter the threat posed by the Islamic State group, it is crucial to understand what the terrorist organization is and what it is not. Attributing all jihadist violence to a ruthless gang headquartered in Raqqa exaggerates the power of the group and plays into their propaganda and recruiting efforts.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
President Obama's Controversial Legacy as Counterterrorism-in-Chief
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Aug 22, 2016
The Mark News
There were no attacks like 9/11 during Obama's eight years in office. But there were plenty of terrorist adversaries. While he will be judged in part for his domestic achievements, Obama's counterterrorism choices are a major part of his legacy.
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Al Qaida
commentary
A Persistent and Resilient Adversary: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Aug 22, 2016
The Cipher Brief
The history of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula catalogues every dimension of frustration in combatting terrorism. But is it possible that the United States and its Gulf allies are finally getting the measure of AQAP?
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commentary
Labor Day Blog Series: American Worker
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_, Robert Bozick, Joy S. Moini
Aug 22, 2016
The RAND Blog
To celebrate Labor Day, the American Worker series of commentaries offers research, reflections, and policy insights on a variety of topics that affect American workers.
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Cannabis
commentary
Promises and Pitfalls of Cannabis Taxes
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Aug 22, 2016
San Francisco Chronicle
Setting the cannabis tax should not be considered a one-time event. Smart jurisdictions will revise their decisions over time to incorporate new data about taxes, testing, and the cannabis plant itself — without being influenced by those seeking to maximize profits.
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Academic Achievement
essay
Personalized Learning: The Latest Buzz in Classroom Instruction
Aug 22, 2016
Students in personalized learning classrooms made greater gains in math and reading than their peers in other schools. But there are barriers to fully personalized learning, including rigid state standards and time demands on teachers.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
New Nutrition Labels Will Do Little to Bring Quality to American Diet
Deborah A. Cohen
Aug 19, 2016
Fox News Channel
Although good intentions led to the new nutrition labels, it is unlikely that they will improve the quality of the American diet. The label changes have not been tested in a real-world setting with the various factors that influence what people buy.
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Antimicrobial Resistance
commentary
European and American Efforts to Tackle AMR: Great Minds Think Alike (Almost Always)
Jirka Taylor, Elta Smith
Aug 19, 2016
The Health Care Blog
The U.S. and the EU are committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance. Their efforts share objectives around key areas for improvement, such as the stewardship of existing antimicrobials, surveillance of their use, and development of new antimicrobials.
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Gender Equity in the Workplace
essay
Transgender Troops: Fit to Serve
Aug 18, 2016
The Pentagon's decision to open the ranks to transgender service members was informed by months of RAND research into the costs and numbers involved.
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Mental Health and Illness
commentary
Who's Funding Mental Health Research Worldwide?
Steven Wooding, Alexandra Pollitt
Aug 17, 2016
Health Affairs Blog
The size and diversity of mental health research is significant, but it remains a loosely defined field in which funders tend not to spell out what counts as mental health. An outline of the current state of mental health research funding worldwide helps to address the huge challenges of mental illness.
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Terrorist Organizations
commentary
ISIS vs. Al Qaida: Battle of the Terrorist Brands
Colin P. Clarke, Steven Metz
Aug 16, 2016
The National Interest
Rather than thinking of defeating terrorists solely in traditional military terms, it might make sense to think of bankrupting them. It might help to consider the factors that cause luxury brands to lose their luster or big box retailers to fail.
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Principals
commentary
Principals in Small Districts Receive Far Less 'Instructional Leadership' Support, Survey Shows
Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman
Aug 16, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Until recently, little was known about how much support principals in the United States receive to be effective “instructional leaders.” A national survey shows that mentors and supervisors do provide feedback focused on principals' role in teaching and learning, but the amount varies.
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