Philanthropically Supported Research

The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest.

Philanthropic contributions support our ability to take the long view, tackle tough and often-controversial topics, and share our findings in innovative and compelling ways. RAND's research findings and recommendations are based on data and evidence, and therefore do not necessarily reflect the policy preferences or interests of its clients, donors, or supporters.

Featured Research

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  Designing A Strange Game: A Nuclear Wargame for the 21st Century 2023

  Stephen M. Worman, David R. Frelinger, David A. Shlapak, Katherine Pfrommer, Kelly Elizabeth Eusebi, Jenny Oberholtzer

  This report details the theoretical motivation and design of a wargame meant to address the lack of serious games that consider nuclear weapon employment and tools available to teach stakeholders about the challenges of nuclear weapon employment. The game is aimed at players of all experience levels and will be of interest to those in the policymaking community, the nuclear enterprise, and students of nuclear deterrence theory.

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  Revisiting RAND's Russia Wargames After the Invasion of Ukraine: Summary and Implications 2023

  Gian Gentile, John C. Jackson, Karl P. Mueller, D. Sean Barnett, Mark Hvizda, Bradley Martin, David A. Ochmanek, Clint Reach, Barry Wilson

  This report summarizes the conclusions of RAND discussions that reexamined tabletop exercises and analysis from the past eight years. This review assisted in understanding the nature of and reasons for the differences between the wargames and the actual patterns of warfare noted during the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The authors identify implications for future wargaming of potential conflicts involving major powers.

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  Select Space Concepts for the New Space Era 2023

  Bruce McClintock, Dan McCormick, Katie Feistel, Ajay K. Kochhar, Mary Lee, Douglas C. Ligor, Jan Osburg, Henri van Soest, Emmi Yonekura

  In this Perspective, space researchers at the RAND Corporation identify space sustainability, security, and governance concepts that they believe are worthy of future research. Each concept reflects a topic that RAND has not researched in depth before.

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  Supporting the Future Effectiveness of Post-Quantum Cryptography 2023

  Alvin Moon, Michael J. D. Vermeer

  This Perspective provides a focused view of the search for quantum-resistant cryptographic methods. The authors explain options for securing communications from quantum attacks, argue that cryptographic research in the quantum era will benefit from open access to results, and identify ways policymakers can improve the outcome of the coming technology migration.

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  Securing Artificial Intelligence Model Weights: Interim Report 2023

  Sella Nevo, Dan Lahav, Ajay Karpur, Jeff Alstott, Jason Matheny

  As frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models become more capable, protecting them from malicious actors will become more important. If AI systems rapidly become more capable over the next few years, achieving sufficient security will require investments — starting today — well beyond what the default trajectory appears to be. This working paper suggests steps that can be taken now to avoid future problems.

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  A Summary of Veteran-Related Statistics 2023

  Eric Robinson, Justin W. Lee, Teague Ruder, Megan S. Schuler, Gilad Wenig, Carrie M. Farmer, Jessica Phillips, Rajeev Ramchand

  This report documents analysis conducted across a variety of public nationally representative datasets to generate baseline estimates related to veterans' demographics, mental health, and labor market outcomes. The authors offer a summary of relevant estimates and trends to support the work of policymakers and researchers focused on veteran-related issues and to inform public audiences interested in the welfare of the U.S. veteran population.

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  Prevalence of Past-Year Serious Psychological Distress Among U.S. Veterans 2023

  Megan S. Schuler, Eric Robinson, Justin W. Lee, Teague Ruder, Gilad Wenig, Carrie M. Farmer, Jessica Phillips, Rajeev Ramchand

  Certain subgroups of veterans — including female veterans, veterans aged 18–34, multiracial veterans, and bisexual veterans — experienced past-year serious psychological distress at rates significantly higher than the overall veteran population.

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  U.S. Veteran Labor Market Trends 2023

  Megan S. Schuler, Eric Robinson, Justin W. Lee, Teague Ruder, Gilad Wenig, Carrie M. Farmer, Jessica Phillips, Rajeev Ramchand

  Veterans, regardless of race/ethnicity, have lower unemployment rates than nonveterans and are more likely to work in the public sector. The top industries for veteran employment are public administration and manufacturing.

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  Alcohol and Substance Use Among U.S. Veterans 2023

  Megan S. Schuler, Eric Robinson, Justin W. Lee, Teague Ruder, Gilad Wenig, Carrie M. Farmer, Jessica Phillips, Rajeev Ramchand

  Nearly one-quarter of all veterans report binge drinking within the past month. Veterans who served after 9/11 have higher rates of all substance use behaviors, including alcohol and drug use disorders, than those who served exclusively before 9/11.

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  Development as a Tool of Economic Statecraft: A Net Assessment of U.S. and Chinese Approaches 2023

  Eric Robinson, Alexandra T. Evans, Raymond Kuo, Howard J. Shatz, Andrew Stravers, Stephanie Stewart

  In this report, the authors conduct a net assessment of U.S. and Chinese development assistance and cooperation. The authors describe each country's differing approaches to economic engagement with developing countries and conduct a data-driven comparison to identify strategic asymmetries that might present opportunities for the United States to better compete with China for relationships and influence in the developing world.

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  An Evaluation of Crime-Free Housing Policies 2023

  Max Griswold, Stephanie Brooks Holliday, Alex Sizemore, Cheng Ren, Lawrence Baker, Khadesia Howell, Osonde A. Osoba, Jhacova Williams, Jason M. Ward, Sarah B. Hunter

  The authors evaluate claims regarding the effects of crime-free housing policies (CFHPs), examine the implementation and enforcement of CFHPs, and assess how CFHPs affect the lived experiences of tenants in California. Proponents of CFHPs claim that these policies reduce crime rates by deterring criminal activity in rental properties. Critics argue that CFHPs lead to increased evictions and disproportionally impact underserved populations.

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  Assessing and Suing an Algorithm: Perceptions of Algorithmic Decisionmaking 2023

  Elina Treyger, Jirka Taylor, Daniel Kim, Maynard A. Holliday

  As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in decisionmaking spreads, public perceptions will have many implications — including for jury judgments about algorithmic liability and support for AI regulation. This report describes a survey experiment that explored such perceptions in the context of employment.

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  Artificial Intelligence and the Labor Force: A Data-Driven Approach to Identifying Exposed Occupations 2023

  Tobias Sytsma, Éder M. Sousa

  The authors explore the relationship between occupational exposure and technologies, wages, and employment related to artificial intelligence (AI). Using natural language processing (NLP), the authors evaluate occupational exposure to all technology patents in the United States, as well as to specific AI technologies, including machine learning, NLP, speech recognition, planning control, AI hardware, computer vision, and evolutionary computation.

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  Rage Against the Machine? Knowing How Technology and Artificial Intelligence Have — and Have Not — Affected Jobs in Recent Decades Offers Insight into How They Could Affect the Future of Work 2023

  Tobias Sytsma, Éder M. Sousa

  The authors explore how technology — especially artificial intelligence (AI) — has affected occupations in the United States in recent history by using natural language processing to sift through technology patents. They assess how AI has shifted exposure, how exposure to technology fluctuates over time, whether new technology reduces the need for human labor, and college degrees and routine cognitive tasks as indicators of exposure.

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  Understanding the Risk of Escalation in the War in Ukraine 2023

  Bryan Frederick, Mark Cozad, Alexandra Stark

  This research brief describes analysis of escalation risks in the war in Ukraine, including what can be learned from the conflict to date and what escalation risks may be most acute going forward.

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  Escalation in the War in Ukraine: Lessons Learned and Risks for the Future 2023

  Bryan Frederick, Mark Cozad, Alexandra Stark

  This report evaluates the potential for further escalation in the conflict in Ukraine, including the prospects for escalation to Russian nuclear use. The report is intended to inform U.S. and NATO policymakers as they consider how to avoid further escalation of the conflict while assisting Ukraine in its efforts to defeat the Russian invasion and to better inform the public debate around these issues.

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  Reducing Policy Barriers to SNAP Participation by Food-Insecure Veterans 2023

  Tamara Dubowitz, Andrea Richardson, Teague Ruder, Catria Gadwah-Meaden

  Food-insecure veterans are consistently less likely than their nonveteran peers to be enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but there are opportunities to improve policies and boost veterans’ program participation.

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  Food Insecurity Among Veterans: Examining the Discrepancy Between Veteran Food Insecurity and Use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 2023

  Tamara Dubowitz, Andrea Richardson, Teague Ruder, Catria Gadwah-Meaden

  Food-insecure veterans are consistently less likely than their nonveteran peers to be enrolled in SNAP, and two groups are particularly at risk of falling through the cracks in SNAP access: older veterans and disabled veterans. This research adds to the evidence base on the potential reasons for food-insecure veterans' lower SNAP enrollment and the role of state-level SNAP policies.

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  Prevalence of Veteran Support for Extremist Groups and Extremist Beliefs: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey of the U.S. Veteran Community 2023

  Todd C. Helmus, Ryan Andrew Brown, Rajeev Ramchand

  Radical groups find military members and veterans attractive potential recruits because of their skills and training. To help address concerns about the risk of radicalization among the U.S. veteran community, the authors conducted a nationally representative survey to examine the prevalence of support for specific extremist groups and ideologies, including support for political violence.

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  The Rise of Generative AI and the Coming Era of Social Media Manipulation 3.0: Next-Generation Chinese Astroturfing and Coping with Ubiquitous AI 2023

  William Marcellino, Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Amanda Kerrigan, Lev Navarre Chao, Jackson Smith

  In this Perspective, the authors argue that the emergence of ubiquitous, powerful generative artificial intelligence poses a potential national security threat in terms of the risk of misuse by U.S. adversaries (in particular, for social media manipulation) that the U.S. government and broader technology and policy community should proactively address. The authors explore the Chinese military's use against Taiwan as a case study for these risks.

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  The Prisoner Dilemma: Policy Options to Address Circumstances of ISIS Prisoners in Northeastern Syria 2023

  Karen M. Sudkamp, Howard J. Shatz, Shelly Culbertson, Douglas C. Ligor

  RAND researchers hosted a subject matter expert workshop, supplemented by an in-depth literature review, to determine proposed courses of action to reduce security threats from and meet international standards for prisons holding presumed former Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters. The prisons are insecure, presenting a danger to the region and world given their potential for fueling an ISIS resurgence with prisoners in legal limbo.

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  The Impact of State Voting Processes in the 2020 Election: Estimating the Effects on Voter Turnout, Voting Method, and the Spread of COVID-19 2023

  Samuel Absher, Jennifer Kavanagh

  Many states implemented automatic voter registration, removed excuse requirements for absentee ballots, and expanded early voting windows ahead of the 2020 election. This report examines the effects that these changes in voting laws — meant to encourage turnout and protect public health during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic — had on levels of voter turnout and, relatedly, the effects of in-person voting on the spread of COVID-19.

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  Russian Logistics and Sustainment Failures in the Ukraine Conflict: Status as of January 1, 2023 2023

  Bradley Martin, D. Sean Barnett, Devin McCarthy

  Before its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military enjoyed a reputation as a professional and modernized force — a reputation widely accepted in the West. However, the Russian military's battlefield performance has not lived up to expectations since its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The authors examine the issues of logistics and sustainment facing Russia's forces throughout its campaign against Ukraine.

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  A Call for Leadership: Persistent State and Local Public Pension Crises Across the United States 2023

  David Knapp, Beth J. Asch, Philip Armour, Zhan Okuda-Lim

  In untangling the facets that compose public pension crises, RAND researchers identified six common contributors: assumptions, institutional setting, poor governance, lack of expertise, policy culture, and conflicting incentives and interests.

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  Steps for Effectively Addressing State and Local Pension Crises: A Prototype Road Map for Stakeholders 2023

  David Knapp, Beth J. Asch, Philip Armour, Zhan Okuda-Lim

  To help stakeholders understand what drives state and local public pension funding crises and what solutions exist, RAND Corporation researchers developed a prototype road map for reform that takes a holistic perspective.

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