Latest Insights

At RAND, we share our research publications in digital format free of charge as a public service. You can access thousands of reports that span 70 years. RAND research reports are peer-reviewed and undergo our rigorous quality assurance process.

The RAND Blog lets our experts weigh in with timely insights and analysis on today's most important policy issues. It features commentary on the latest world news as well as research highlights.

You can also watch videos about our research findings and recommendations. Our podcasts cover Congressional briefings, RAND-hosted events, discussions of important policy issues with RAND experts, and more.

Reports

Health Care Cost Inflation
Private Health Plans Pay Hospitals 247% of What Medicare Would Pay
Sep 18, 2020
Christopher M. Whaley @cm_whaley, Brian Briscombe, et al.

Employers are the largest source of U.S. health insurance yet lack of price transparency makes it hard for them to assess the costs of hospital services. An analysis of hospital spending by private insurers finds that prices vary among states and are on average almost two and a half times more than Medicare's.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
COVID-19 Screening in the Workplace
Sep 17, 2020
Courtney A. Gidengil @c_gidengil, Shira H. Fischer @ShiraFischer, et al.

Workplaces are checking for COVID-19 symptoms verbally, with a paper form or app, with onsite temperature checks, or by combining these approaches. Which are likely to detect infection and help employees feel safer? And which methods are safe, feasible, and protect employee privacy?
Insurance
How Wildfire Risks Affect California's Insurance Market
Sep 14, 2020
Lloyd Dixon, Flavia Tsang, et al.

Wildfires in California destroy thousands of structures each year, devastating homeowners and bringing heavy costs for insurers. And without an aggressive GHG emissions control strategy, climate change will likely increase the risk of wildfires in some areas. How will insurance markets respond?
Wages and Compensation
U.S. Economic Growth Has Not Been Shared Evenly Since 1974
Sep 14, 2020

For two decades after World War II, incomes grew at a rate close to the U.S. economy-wide growth rate. Anemic growth from 1969 to 1974 kept inequality in check. But since then, the benefits of growth have not been evenly distributed. Racial and gender inequality is also manifested in income inequality.
Terrorism Threat Assessment
Who Are America's Jihadists?
Sep 11, 2020
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

U.S. residents who plotted to carry out jihadist attacks at home and those who traveled or attempted to travel to join jihadists abroad represent two dimensions of the terrorist threat. But both types are driven by internal motivations and circumstances as much as they are inspired by external groups.
China
Continuity and Change in China's Foreign Policy
Sep 9, 2020
Andrew Scobell

China's hawkish and assertive foreign policy has experienced both continuity and change in recent years. What is the key criterion for evaluating the success of Beijing's foreign policy? And how do domestic pressures affect it?

View More Reports

Blog Posts

Middle East
In the Middle East, Russia and China Expand Their Influence
Sep 18, 2020
Ali Wyne, Colin P. Clarke

While the United States is concerned primarily about a resurgent China's inroads in the Middle East, it is also nervous about the gambits of a revanchist Russia. As the United States decides when and how to contest China and Russia—in and beyond the Middle East—it will have to resist alarmism as vigorously as complacency.
Wildfires
Wildfires, America's Wealth Gap, Screening for COVID-19 at Work: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 18, 2020

This weekly recap focuses on the growing risk of wildfires, how Americans' incomes have grown (or not), workplace screenings for COVID-19 symptoms, and more.
Homeless Populations
Access to Mobile Technology Could Help to Alleviate LA's Homelessness Crisis
Sep 16, 2020
Sarah B. Hunter, Rajeev Ramchand, et al.

The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness have cell phones, which can often serve as lifelines. Exploring opportunities that provide technological supports to our most vulnerable could result in better service access and ultimately, better quality of life and outcomes.

View More from the RAND Blog »

Multimedia

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Visits RAND
Sep 16, 2020

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited RAND's Santa Monica headquarters on September 16, 2020. Secretary Esper emphasized the importance of deterring China and the role of the U.S. defense industrial base.

View More Multimedia »

Private Health Plans Pay Hospitals 247% of What Medicare Would Pay

COVID-19 Screening in the Workplace

In the Middle East, Russia and China Expand Their Influence

Wildfires, America's Wealth Gap, Screening for COVID-19 at Work: RAND Weekly Recap

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Visits RAND

The Policy Currents Podcast

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Latest Insights

Reports

Private Health Plans Pay Hospitals 247% of What Medicare Would Pay

COVID-19 Screening in the Workplace

How Wildfire Risks Affect California's Insurance Market

U.S. Economic Growth Has Not Been Shared Evenly Since 1974

Who Are America's Jihadists?

Continuity and Change in China's Foreign Policy

Blog Posts

In the Middle East, Russia and China Expand Their Influence

Wildfires, America's Wealth Gap, Screening for COVID-19 at Work: RAND Weekly Recap

Access to Mobile Technology Could Help to Alleviate LA's Homelessness Crisis

Multimedia

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Visits RAND

Connect

Contact Us

I am interested in

Follow

Stay Informed

Resources

Site Information