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Economic Planning

Economic planning is the process policymakers undertake to ensure the generation, sharing, and consumption of wealth. RAND has examined the economic planning at local and national levels, the economic cycles that result, and the political issues surrounding the economic planning process.

Report
Modeling and Measuring the Effects of Economic Shocks on a Defense Industrial Base
The purpose of this report is to assist Department of Defense decisionmakers called upon to respond to adverse economic shocks by identifying opportunities for improving analysis of shocks and their effects on U.S. defense postures.
Oct 18, 2022
Commentary
U.S. Military Power Comes from More Than Just the Defense Budget
With U.S. domestic challenges ranging from the ongoing pandemic to long-delayed infrastructure investments, now is a good time to consider spending that provides both domestic and national security benefits. Infrastructure spending offers one such example.
May 10, 2021
Report
How Does Defense Spending Affect Economic Growth?
Prioritizing defense spending over infrastructure investment might undermine economic growth. Given that the size and health of the U.S. economy are ultimately the basis for the nation's military power, policymakers should consider that the economic effects of defense spending have consequences for long-term security.
May 7, 2021
Multimedia
Unemployment Insurance: Why Does It Vary Across States?
RAND economist Kathryn Edwards discusses the variance of unemployment insurance across states and its effect on how workers are financially supported.
Sep 28, 2020
News Release
China 2050: How the U.S. Should Prepare for an Ascendant China
The United States should prepare for a triumphant or ascending People's Republic of China—scenarios that not only align with current PRC national development trends but also represent the most challenging future scenarios for the U.S. military.
Jul 24, 2020
Report
China's Grand Strategy
China aims to be well governed, socially stable, economically prosperous, technologically advanced, and militarily powerful by 2050. Will it succeed? And how might its progress affect U.S.-China relations over the next three decades?
Jul 24, 2020
Commentary
Be Wary of Proposals for Less Defense Budget Transparency
The Pentagon has asked Congress to end the requirement that it make public an unclassified version of the Future Years Defense Program—the department's budget plans for at least the next five years. Although some information needs to be classified, the value of transparency for public debate and oversight in a democracy outweighs the marginal intelligence gains to U.S. adversaries.
Apr 29, 2020
Commentary
Defense Budget Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a dramatic toll on the U.S. economy. This could have significant medium-term implications for the U.S. defense budget. The U.S. Department of Defense will need to find efficiencies that are of at least the same magnitude as the recent sequestration.
Apr 7, 2020
Commentary
On the Horns of the COVID-19 Dilemma
COVID-19 poses two dire threats to the United States: the potential deaths of many thousands of Americans, and the devastation of the $22 trillion annual economy. Protecting the health of as many people as possible by shutting down ordinary life seems completely justifiable, but that necessarily inflicts damage to the economy. This is truly a dilemma.
Mar 30, 2020
Commentary
Investing in Russia's Future
Russia's economic problems can be traced to sanctions, lack of investment and lack of reform. The Kremlin has the power to address these problems. Reforms could unlock economic potential, and enable Russians to improve their living standards.
Mar 1, 2019
Report
Wanxiang Innovation Energy Fusion City: Recommendations for Developing an Innovation Cluster
RAND authors develop a mission statement and recommend policies to help achieve the Wanxiang Group's vision of developing the Wanxiang Innovation Energy Fusion City into an innovative cluster built around smart and green automotive technologies.
Sep 20, 2017
Report
Digital Technology and the Future of Commerce
Advances in digital technology can connect businesses and consumers, develop new and niche markets, and commodify new activities. As the exchange of goods and services evolves, what are the societal impacts?
Aug 30, 2017
Report
Calculating the Gross Regional Product of the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Arabic translation
Estimates the gross regional product (GRP) of the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq in 2012 (excluding natural resources) and describes efforts to set up a system for data collection and analysis to support future annual GRP calculation.
Dec 21, 2016
Report
Calculating the Gross Regional Product of the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Kurdish translation
Estimates the gross regional product (GRP) of the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq in 2012 (excluding natural resources) and describes efforts to set up a system for data collection and analysis to support future annual GRP calculation.
Oct 21, 2016
News Release
Re-establishing Border Controls in Europe Could Cost Up to €3 Billion a Year
Re-establishing border controls across Europe would cost €2 to 3 billion in annual operating costs, plus fixed one-off costs of anywhere between €0.1 and €19 billion. There would also be significant social and political costs.
Oct 13, 2016
Journal Article
The Costs of Reintroducing Border Controls in Europe
The Schengen Agreement in 1985 led to the end of border controls across 26 European nations. Reintroducing these controls would cost billions of euros in economic costs. Social and political costs would also be substantial.
Oct 12, 2016
Commentary
The Olympic Legacy — What Can Rio Learn?
Rio will spend $14.4 billion on the Olympics. Like other host cities, it hopes to achieve an “Olympic legacy” to ensure that this investment pays dividends after the games and provides long-term economic, social, sporting, and cultural benefits.
Aug 3, 2016
Report
Prospects for Russia's Economic Growth
Without major policy changes, the Russian economy will grow slowly in the medium term, even if world market prices for oil rebound sharply. However, returning to policies that Russia has pursued in the recent past could lead to substantially higher rates of growth.
Jun 22, 2016
Report
Developing Long-Term Socioeconomic Strategy in Israel
Israel faces economic and social challenges. The government has not developed and implemented strategic responses to socioeconomic problems that demand longer-term policy action. How can it form and implement a socioeconomic strategy and take a long-term view of these issues?
Apr 25, 2016
Report
Calculating the Gross Regional Product of the Kurdistan Region — Iraq
Estimates the gross regional product (GRP) of the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq in 2012 (excluding natural resources) and describes efforts to set up a system for data collection and analysis to support future annual GRP calculation.
Mar 22, 2016

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