2021

Racial Discrimination
blog
Historic Lynchings and Voter Registration, China in Space, Firefighters' Mental Health: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 30, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on the link between historic lynchings and voter registration, Afghanistan in the era of fentanyl, supporting firefighters’ mental health, and more.
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International Economic Relations
commentary
Cryptocurrency Should Be Added to the U.S.-Japan Trade Deal
Sale Lilly @SaleLilly, Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold
Jul 28, 2021
Nikkei Asia
As the Biden administration begins to define its approach to international trade, and the Suga administration looks to further tighten cooperation with the United States, it may be worth reconsidering the exclusion of cryptocurrency from the U.S.-Japan trade deal. Substantial economic equities are at stake for both sides.
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Data Analysis
commentary
Equitable Data Analysis: Lessons from a COVID-19 Research Collaborative
Linnea Warren May @LinneaKWMay, Jason Beery, Tiffany L. Gary-Webb, Evan D. Peet, Jared Kohler
Jul 27, 2021
The RAND Blog
The health inequities exposed by COVID-19 underscored the importance of collecting race-stratified data to inform local policymakers. For the public health researchers trying to provide that, the pandemic also revealed some major pitfalls, especially about relying on open-source data.
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Health Care Payment Approaches
commentary
Fintech's Role in Reducing Disparities and Financial Barriers to Health Care Access
Sam Alom, Sonja Marjanovic @SonjaCambs
Jul 26, 2021
The RAND Blog
Given the growing pressures on health care systems globally and the need for innovative approaches to financing health care, the time may be ripe to develop a robust evidence base and share learning on fintech-enabled approaches that could support universal health coverage agendas and healthier and more stable societies.
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Russia
commentary
Disrespecting Europe Could Cost Russia
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jul 26, 2021
The National Interest
Western unity is critical to addressing authoritarian challenges. Brexit, immigration, leadership transition in Germany, and COVID-19 provide grist for Russian propaganda claims of European weakness. But unified EU action on Ukraine, Navalny, and Belarus shows that Europe is a force with which to be reckoned.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
How the Coronavirus Changed the Childcare Debate
Kathryn A. Edwards @keds_economist
Jul 26, 2021
The RAND Blog
Policymakers have long had evidence that childcare enables mothers to work. What the COVID-19 pandemic taught everyone is how the lack of childcare can be a disastrous constraint.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
A Taiwan Contingency and Japan's Counterstrike Debate
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold, Satoru Mori
Jul 23, 2021
The Diplomat
The United States and Japan could be drawn into a conflict in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan whether they like it or not. Allied defense planning could consider how Japan might further reinforce deterrence and if necessary improve its ability to contribute to the common defense.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
The Fight Against COVID, Sexual Violence in the Military, Disinformation on Social Media: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 23, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on the ongoing fight against COVID-19, countering sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, disinformation on social media, and more.
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Afghanistan
commentary
China and the Taliban Begin Their Romance
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jul 22, 2021
Foreign Policy
The upcoming U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will remove the most formidable obstacle to total Taliban takeover of the country. China is set to benefit significantly if the Taliban come to power again. It is worth following this dynamic closely in the coming weeks and months.
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Workplace Well-Being
commentary
As Fire Season Heats Up, Burnout Looms
Grace Hindmarch, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg, Jay Balagna
Jul 21, 2021
The RAND Blog
Increasingly intense fire seasons are taking a physical and mental toll on wildland firefighters. Without more direct attention paid to firefighters' mental health, burnout could decimate the ranks of those who protect lives and property across the West.
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Prison Reform
commentary
Investing in Social Change: Lessons Learned from Foundation-Funded Criminal Justice Research
Stephanie Brooks Holliday
Jul 20, 2021
The RAND Blog
Investing in policy-focused research can be among the ways foundations catalyze change. Impactful work may involve strong collaborations across funders, researchers, and community partners. And it may require flexibility in design and execution as well as a commitment to getting the findings into the hands of decisionmakers who can use the findings to create change.
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Social Media Analysis
commentary
Platforms Should Use Algorithms to Help Users Help Themselves
Christopher Paul, Hilary Reininger
Jul 20, 2021
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Social media users generate massive volumes of content, which then spreads at extraordinary speeds. Yet platforms generally rely on a slow process of human moderation to remove prohibited content. What if moderation could happen before the content is even posted?
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Global Health
commentary
Split-Screen Recovery from Pandemic Isn't Sustainable
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_
Jul 20, 2021
United Press International
In a world connected by commerce and the air we breathe, it's hard to see how any COVID-19 recovery that's confined to specific segments of the population is sustainable. Failing to address gaps in the pandemic response would run the risk that a future mutation of this virus could send us scurrying for cover. Again.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
commentary
When the World Shut Down, She Packed Up and Headed Home
Lisa Davis
Jul 19, 2021
Nebraska Quarterly
With COVID-19, all the advantages of an urban lifestyle for a RAND researcher and her family vanished. So they packed up and moved home to Nebraska for the year.
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Oceania
commentary
America's Strategy in Oceania: Time for a Better Approach
Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney, Alan Tidwell
Jul 19, 2021
War on the Rocks
China has moved in earnest to engage with Oceania, while the United States is vying to get a toehold in the region. To develop an effective strategy for engaging there, Washington could seek guidance from key allies to better understand their experience, lessons, and efforts already underway.
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Postsecondary Education
blog
Paying College Athletes, Preventing Suicide, Planning for Heatwaves: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 16, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on a potential step toward paying college athletes, helping college freshmen overcome COVID-19 learning loss, the effects of U.S. sanctions in Syria, more.
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