2015

commentary

Zero Interest, Greater Inequality?

Low interest rates mandated by the Federal Reserve may have had and possibly continue to have adverse effects on income inequality. Those who argue for continuing near-zero short-term interest rate policy should be cognizant of this.

Charles Wolf, Jr.

commentary

Partition Syria to Crush the Islamic State

The Islamic State will never join in any settlement. Peace in Syria therefore requires that everyone else stop fighting each other and join in suppressing the Islamic State.

James Dobbins

commentary

The West Needs to Take a Tougher Line with Putin

By responding more robustly to Russia's interventions, the West could reduce military asymmetries in Ukraine and Syria and improve prospects for negotiated outcomes.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, Donald Jensen

commentary

How Will China Respond to Future U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations?

On October 27, the USS Lassen carried out the first freedom of navigation patrol to challenge China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. In assessing China's potential response to follow-on operations, the extremes of either complete inaction or a military attack can be ruled out.

Timothy R. Heath

commentary

Sniping: Homeless Youths' High-Risk Smoking Practice

Any intervention to help homeless youth quit smoking must also address 'sniping.' This high-risk activity involves scavenging cigarette butts and filters to make a 'new' cigarette.

Joan S. Tucker, William G. Shadel

commentary

Partisans Without Parties

It is tempting to describe Egypt's parliamentary elections as history repeating itself. Yet today's Egypt is not Mubarak's Egypt. Rather, it is a state transitioning from single-party rule to a new system whose pecking order is still being hashed out.

Emad Shahin, Jeffrey Martini

commentary

Bringing FARC in from the Cold

The announcement of a preliminary peace accord by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government is not receiving public support. Most Colombians manifest a strong desire for peace but they reject the possibility that crimes committed in the name of revolution should receive amnesty.

Arturo Munoz

essay

Warriors in the Civilian Workforce: Helping Veterans Transition

​Americans who served during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to face higher jobless rates than nonveterans. A growing body of RAND research has sought to identify what can help get more of them back on the job.

commentary

When Public Trust in Corporations Is Shaken

The Volkswagen scandal comes at a time when the public's trust in both the automotive industry and tech companies is at risk. The level of public trust in an individual organization could end up burnishing — or infecting — an entire industry or new technology.

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

announcement

RAND Named One of 50 Greatest Places to Work by Washingtonian

Washingtonian's biannual feature honors organizations that are recognized — by their employees — for excellent pay and benefits, challenging and interesting work, work/life balance, opportunities to learn and grow, commitment to charity and community, and the recognition and respect given to staff.

q&a

Helping the Most Vulnerable: Q&A with Rajeev Ramchand

Rajeev Ramchand discusses drug abuse, suicide, and how research can make a difference for society's most vulnerable.

commentary

How to Overcome the Risks of Artificial Intelligence

The warnings and promises of artificial intelligence aren't new, but advances in technology make them more pressing.

Andrew J. Lohn, Andrew Parasiliti @ATParasiliti, et al.

commentary

The Shared Savings Model: An Innovative Way to Attack Rapidly Rising College Costs

The challenge facing policymakers is how to lessen the college cost pressure felt by families while incentivizing institutions to innovate to reduce cost and improve quality. What if cost savings from increased productivity were quantified and a portion returned to institutions?

Trey Miller, Van L. Davis

commentary

Benghazi: Questions Unasked and Opportunities Missed

Instead of asking whether a video precipitated the attack or whether Ambassador Stevens should have been in Benghazi on that fateful night, the right question to ask is under what conditions the United States should have a diplomatic presence in high-risk areas.

Radha Iyengar Plumb

commentary

Five Options for the U.S. in Syria

How should the United States respond to Russia's intervention in Syria's civil war? Here are five options intended to encourage rational thinking based upon realistic presumptions, not media or campaign-driven hype.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins