From the RAND Blog

See below for the latest commentary from the RAND Education and Labor team. For a complete list of related blog content, see education posts and workforce posts on the RAND Blog.

China and Russia, Wages and Insurance, Refugees and Technology : RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 15, 2021

This weekly recap focuses on China-Russia ties, considerations when raising the minimum wage, how refugees use digital devices, and more.
Is the Fight for $15 Going to Cost Low-Wage Workers Their Health Insurance?
Oct 11, 2021

Minimum wage increases can lead to reductions in employer-sponsored health insurance for some workers and their dependents. If policymakers want to raise the minimum wage, they should look beyond standard labor market outcomes and take into account other potential effects.
Hacking Equity: Ideas for a More Equitable Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sep 24, 2021

For this unique virtual hackathon designed by the Pardee RAND Tech + Narrative Lab, RAND is partnering with Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. Hackathon participants will use big data and the tools of policy analysis to identify promising solutions for a more equitable recovery from the pandemic.
China-Pakistan Partnership, Media Literacy, Incarcerated Parents: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 24, 2021

This weekly recap focuses on the China-Pakistan partnership in light of the Taliban's rise to power, media literacy education, parenting from prison, and more.
Prescription Drug Prices, Unemployment Insurance, Anti-Asian Racism: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 17, 2021

This weekly recap focuses on lowering prescription drug prices, reforming unemployment insurance, addressing anti-Asian racism, and more.
U.S. Failure in Afghanistan, Critical Race Theory Bans, Income Inequality: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 3, 2021

This weekly recap focuses on how early mistakes led to America's failure in Afghanistan, the potential effects of critical race theory bans, an art installation that breaks down RAND data on income inequality, and more.
How State Critical Race Theory Bans Could Trickle Down to the Classroom
Aug 31, 2021

Given the potential blowback to teaching anything related to race or gender, avoiding lessons on the experiences of women or people of color will be the path of least resistance in many schools. But discussing racism and sexism in a safe environment is crucial for students to become active, knowledgeable citizens.
Just How Many Lives the Vaccines Have Saved, Afghanistan, Unemployment: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 27, 2021

This weekly recap focuses on the number of lives saved during the early U.S. vaccination effort, what leaving Afghanistan says about other U.S. commitments, global competition for virtual-reality dominance, and more.
Job Openings Are at a Record High. Why Aren't People Going Back to Work?
Aug 25, 2021

The U.S. labor market had 10.1 million job openings at the end of June, but 8.7 million workers were still unemployed in July. If there are so many more openings than job seekers, why are there unemployed workers left?
Can the AR/VR Industry Support Law Enforcement Training?
Aug 24, 2021

Law enforcement departments are increasingly considering using augmented reality and virtual reality for training. How can the AR/VR industry be incentivized to ensure that content responds to user needs and is accessible?
Defunding Prisons, Preventing Cyberattacks, Promoting COVID-19 Vaccinations: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 13, 2021

This weekly recap focuses on defunding prisons, how to deter ransomware attacks, overcoming barriers to COVID-19 vaccination, and more.
Reframing Retirement
Aug 9, 2021

Retirement is a fluid concept. Many retirees would consider returning to the workforce if conditions were right and they could set their own pace. A reframing of the aging and retirement process would allow us to see the issue in a new way.
How the Coronavirus Changed the Childcare Debate
Jul 26, 2021

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.
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.
Next Year's Freshman: How Corequisites Might Help Address COVID-19 Learning Loss
Jul 13, 2021

As states and colleges look to address learning loss due to COVID-19, it is important that they not turn to traditional models of remediation that prevent students from directly entering college coursework. Instead, they should look to new, effective models of corequisite support.