Featured Research

  • Estimated Savings from International Reference Pricing for Prescription Drugs

    International reference pricing would have lowered U.S. spending on select prescription drugs in 2020 by 52 percent ($83.5 billion).

    Dec 9, 2021

  • Addressing Climate Migration

    As the effects of climate change increase in scope and severity, more people will relocate to preserve or enhance their lives and livelihoods. A review of how six countries are managing climate mobility provides options for policymakers considering the needs of climate migrants and their host communities.

    Dec 7, 2021

  • Democracy Remains Fragile in the Asia-Pacific

    In Asia, there has been a reduction in the number of autocracies over time but also a rise in the number of partial democracies. What makes some Asian states slide toward authoritarianism? What policies can support democratization, and how can external actors help?

    Dec 6, 2021

  • The U.S. Army's Role in the Pacific Theater: A Panel Discussion with General Charles A. Flynn

    Speaking at a RAND Corporation event, General Charles A. Flynn, head of the U.S. Army Pacific, said that the nation's land force provides two distinct values in a maritime region: (1) supporting allies and partners and (2) providing enabling capabilities to the Joint Force, including sustainment and logistics.

    Dec 6, 2021

  • Understanding the Online Extremist Ecosystem

    By the early 2010s, it was clear that the internet provided white supremacists and other extremists a tool to operationalize their hateful ideas and cause real-world harms. How can the average user understand their risk of exposure to extremist content and make informed decisions about the platforms they use?

    Dec 2, 2021

  • A Guide to Extreme Competition with China

    The U.S.-China competitive dynamic is at a critical crossroads. What realistic, actionable policy options should U.S. policymakers consider in developing effective strategies for this competition?

    Dec 1, 2021

  • What Are the Predicted Effects of U.S. Gun Policies, According to Experts?

    As part of the RAND Gun Policy in America initiative, experts with diverse gun policy views were surveyed on how they predicted specific gun laws would affect outcomes, such as suicide, mass shootings, and individuals' privacy. This expert-opinion tool shows where these experts agree and disagree.

    Nov 30, 2021

  • Addressing Anti-Asian Racism in the Era of COVID-19

    Public anxiety and fear during the pandemic and negative rhetoric by politicians triggered the current wave of anti-Asian hate. It has galvanized the community to build newfound alliances and resilience. Advocates are working to increase reporting of hate incidents and develop strategies to fight anti-Asian racism.

    Nov 30, 2021

  • Forecasting Religious Affiliation in the United States Army

    Changes in the religious composition of the United States could affect the religious composition of recruits into the U.S. Army. This, in turn, could significantly alter the religious needs of the Army population. How has the religious composition of enlisted soldiers and of officers changed over time?

    Nov 29, 2021

  • Stabilizing Great-Power Rivalries

    The international system is headed for a renewed era of intense competition among major powers. And there are serious grounds for concern about U.S. rivalries with Russia and China. To ensure stability—and avoid war—the policy response should be nuanced and go beyond bolstering military capabilities.

    Nov 29, 2021

  • Technological Approaches to Human Performance Enhancement

    Human performance enhancement (HPE) will have implications for military and intelligence operations. A variety of HPE could be of potential military and intelligence operational value. What are some approaches to HPE?

    Nov 23, 2021

  • Weighing Entanglement Risks of U.S. Security Relationships

    Some analysts argue that security relationships cause the United States to adopt its partners' interests, incentivize allies and partners to engage in reckless behavior, and risk getting dragged into conflicts. Others contend that the United States avoids entanglement by keeping its own interests in mind.

    Nov 22, 2021

  • How Diplomacy Could Be Used to Discourage Russian Arms Sales

    Countering Russian arms sales could reduce Russia's influence on other nations as well as revenue that indirectly enables its irresponsible international behavior. The United States and its allies need to provide credible diplomatic and military alternatives, and work with countries to address their security needs.

    Nov 18, 2021

  • Evaluating New York's Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver

    New York State’s Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver seeks to enroll a majority of Medicaid beneficiaries into managed care, increase access and service quality, and expand coverage to more low-income New Yorkers. RAND researchers examined whether two components of the 1115 Demonstration Waiver have helped achieve the program’s goals.

    Nov 17, 2021

  • Are Educators Considering Student Voice?

    Asking students to voice their perceptions can provide valuable insights that adults in a school do not have access to, while also generating more student engagement in learning.

    Nov 17, 2021

  • Soldier Preferences and Retention Effects of Changes in Army Reserve Training Requirements

    Soldiers in the U.S. Army Reserve have traditionally been required to attend 39 days of training per year. However, across the readiness cycle, units may have their requirements changed with minimal notice. How do changes in training requirements affect a soldier's interest in staying in the Reserves?

    Nov 16, 2021

  • Developing a Pipeline of Diverse Talent into the Public Sector

    Public-sector agencies, schools, and community organizations could attract more diverse and talented workers by articulating leadership commitment to recruiting from underrepresented groups, communicating the benefits of public-sector careers, and improving awareness of jobs and internships.

    Nov 16, 2021

  • Assessing Social Equity in Disaster Preparation, Response, and Recovery

    In this webinar, senior social scientist Melissa Finucane reviews the complex nature of social equity—including contextual, procedural, and distributional equity dimensions—and how a robust, evidence-based approach is needed to measure progress toward equity in disaster contexts.

    Nov 16, 2021

  • Developing, Disseminating, and Assessing Command Narrative

    In the contemporary era marked by informational competition, one of the most important activities of a strategic or operational command is the development, presentation, and support of the command's narratives. What are some best practices for the effective use of command narrative?

    Nov 15, 2021

  • Tracking News Manipulation by Malicious State Actors

    During the pandemic, both Russia and China used authoritarian power over the media to manipulate the news. What can be done to better detect such propaganda campaigns—and guard against them in the future?

    Nov 15, 2021