2016

commentary

Measuring What Works: Workplace Well-Being

The link between productivity and well-being is recognized and increasingly accepted as a prerequisite of strong employer and employee performance. HR professionals and CEOs believe that high employee well-being means high staff engagement and a real intention to do well for the workforce.

Michael Whitmore, Christian Van Stolk

commentary

The Islamic State-Taliban Rivalry in Afghanistan

The weakening of the Islamic State is a positive step. But Taliban successes against the group have strengthened the Taliban's power, bolstered its reputation, and complicated U.S. and Afghan government efforts to wind down the Afghan war.

Seth G. Jones

commentary

With Trump in the White House, States Could Step Up on Climate Change

The new administration has expressed skepticism about climate change. But states may choose to pursue their own climate change initiatives.

Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, Debra Knopman

commentary

America's Shifting Labor Market in a Technology-Driven World

Making America competitive in a transitioning market will require examining future labor market requirements. Workforce development programs that target building labor capacity for a new economy will be essential.

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

commentary

DIUx: Capturing Technological Innovation

The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) aims to find new sources of advanced technology to give America an edge over potential foes. DIUx is evidence of another form of innovation: organizing in new ways to capture new ideas.

Cynthia R. Cook @CynthiaRCook

commentary

Counties Need to Help Parolees Access Health Care

Health needs can be big challenges for former prisoners seeking to reenter communities. But recent policies in California promise to reduce that barrier.

Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis, Susan Turner

commentary

'If You Want Peace, Prepare for Resistance'

Lithuania's government issued a guide on how its citizens can resist a potential Russian invasion and occupation. Resistance is a key element of the “Total Defense” strategy all three Baltic states have been pursuing, spurred on by Russian aggression.

Jan Osburg, Stephen J. Flanagan, et al.

commentary

The Turkish-Russian Rapprochement: How Real? How Durable?

The recent strengthening of ties between Turkey and Russia may represent more of an economic marriage of convenience than a deeply rooted political alliance. On a number of important issues, particularly the Syrian conflict, the two nations have very different interests and priorities.

F. Stephen Larrabee

commentary

Can Trump Really Do Deals with Vladimir Putin?

Russia is a declining economic power whose foreign policy has led to isolation and criticism. But Putin may have an inflated sense of Russia's importance and expect one-sided U.S. concessions. If so, diplomacy could run into headwinds early in the Trump administration.

Colin P. Clarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh

commentary

What ISIS Leaves Behind in Mosul Will Reveal a Lot

The capture of Mosul, Iraq, may produce a potential trove of information about how ISIS organized itself to run a large city. Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating this material will be a major effort, one of the most important as the city is liberated.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

What If Being a Leader in Public Health Is About More Than Just Health?

Public health leaders should be able to articulate the business case for their work and should have the skills to work with others outside the health sector. Schools could help by preparing students to think beyond the traditional boundaries of public health.

Linnea Warren May @LinneaKWMay, Jennifer Sloan

commentary

Need a Doctor Now? Solve the Acute Care Crisis

Many Americans struggle to receive acute care when they need it. The health care system is not focused on meeting unscheduled needs. Reforming acute care delivery will require making it a policy and research priority.

Mahshid Abir, Brendan G. Carr

commentary

To Increase Diversity in Tech, We Need to Rethink What 'Tech' Is

Rethinking what defines today's tech jobs, along with greater investment in public-private partnerships, could go a long way toward bridging the diversity gap.

Diana Gehlhaus

blog

The Challenges of Measuring Effective Teaching

While educators, policymakers, and parents may agree on the need for more effective teachers, they often use different criteria to judge whether schools are doing their job. Parents have varied priorities for what they want in teachers and in schools.

blog

The Return of a Cold War Threat

The danger of blundering into a nuclear war through miscalculation or human error has returned, said former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry at RAND's Politics Aside event. No leader is seeking nuclear war, but there are new dangers that didn't exist during the Cold War that could lead to one.