Economic Policy

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Economic policies are the end results of economic planning: the decisions governments make to influence the production, consumption, and sharing of wealth. RAND research has explored economic policies from the local to the international level, including their effects on international trade and foreign relations, their relation to policies focusing on public health and the environment, and their impact on economic growth and recessions.

  • Commentary

    Will States Take the Wrong Lesson About Unemployment Insurance's Failings?

    By shoring up all state-run Unemployment Insurance programs equally, Congress set a precedent that it will intervene to raise benefits at no cost to state trust funds. From the states' perspective, why hike taxes on businesses to maintain robust unemployment benefits if Congress will step in when the economy goes south?

    Mar 18, 2021

  • Commentary

    Shared Prosperity: The Crying Need for Inclusive Globalization

    The disaffection of a wide swath of the American population has been linked to the political polarization of the country, as well as its divisive tendencies. While globalization is not the only reason for this disaffection, it is an apt lens through which to view the revolt against elitism, expertise, and changing demographics.

    Feb 23, 2021

Explore Economic Policy

  • A Belt and Road Forum (BRF) logo is seen outside the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China, April 25, 2019, photo by Jason Lee/Reuters

    Report

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

    The authors conduct a net assessment of U.S. and Chinese approaches to development assistance and cooperation, using a data-driven comparison to reveal opportunities for the United States to better compete with China in the developing world.

    Oct 23, 2023

  • Filming for “The Dark Knight Rises” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 12, 2011, <a href=

    Commentary

    The City of Pittsburgh's a Movie Star

    Pennsylvania lawmakers and other stakeholders should consider updates to the film tax credit law and economic development strategy to improve the state's competitiveness, enhance the stability of the industry, and fill gaps in the current workforce.

    Oct 5, 2023

  • Actor Denzel Washington attends the premiere of the film

    Report

    The Film Industry in Pittsburgh: What's the Economic Contribution?

    A Pennsylvania tax credit has attracted many film productions to Pittsburgh. What economic contribution does the film industry make to the local economy? And what are the factors that help attract film productions and grow the film industry in a given area?

    Aug 10, 2023

  • International Congress, many flags of different countries on flagpoles, photo by Aleksandr Koltyrin/Getty Images

    Multimedia

    Big Themes and Geopolitics with Robert B. Zoellick

    Robert B. Zoellick shares two complementary perspectives on risks to global democracy, identifying transnational trends and pointing out geopolitical shifts in Eurasia. His message concludes with implications for the future.

    Jun 27, 2023

  • Report

    Report

    Comparing Taliban Social Media Usage by Language: Who's Speaking and What's Being Said

    Focusing on the economy, relationships with other militant groups and neighboring countries, and women's status in Afghan society, the authors examined whether Taliban social media messaging across various regional languages was similar or different.

    Apr 25, 2023

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Economic Security and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Addressing a Changed World and Evolved Threat Landscape

    This Perspective describes the evolving strategic environment for and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's critical role in economic security.

    Apr 13, 2023

  • Images in a circle, cover image of RAND: Making a Difference

    Brochure

    RAND: 75 Years of Making a Difference

    To commemorate its 75th anniversary, RAND took a closer look at some of its most influential research. The selections in this volume demonstrate RAND's positive—and enduring—contributions in addressing some of the world's most challenging problems.

    Jan 19, 2023

  • A soldier's hands on a battery, photo by Staff Sgt. Sarah M. McClanahan/U.S. Air Force

    Report

    Critical Material Supply Chains Should Be More Resilient

    The COVID-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine highlight the vulnerabilities of supply chains that are dependent on foreign inputs. How can the U.S. Department of Defense increase the resilience of its supply chains for materials essential to national security?

    Dec 15, 2022

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    The Racial Wealth Gap, the Effects of Long COVID, Teacher Diversity: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on understanding the racial wealth gap, why long COVID may threaten the U.S. economy, what prevents people of color from becoming and staying teachers, and more.

    Dec 9, 2022

  • Illustrations of a black man and a tree representing wealth, illustration by Pete Soriano, from Atlas Illustrations and dar/Adobe Stock

    Report

    Overcoming Compound Racial Inequity

    Differences in Black and white Americans' economic status show how the harms of the past—slavery, segregation, discrimination—live on in the present. Could wealth allocations help to close the racial wealth gap?

    Dec 7, 2022

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    'Security Is a Prerequisite for Development': Consensus-Building Toward a New Top Priority in the Chinese Communist Party

    Chinese Communist Party leaders conducted an internal debate over whether economic development should remain the Party's top priority. As of 2020, the Party embraced a new guiding principle elevating security interests alongside economic growth.

    Dec 7, 2022

  • A pedestrian passes a help wanted sign in the door of a hardware store in Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 8, 2022, photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters

    Commentary

    How COVID-19 Transformed the Jobs Market

    The COVID-19 pandemic initially devastated the U.S. economy. It also exposed and exacerbated existing inequities in society. But in as yet unpredictable ways, it may have accelerated profound changes in how labor works today.

    Dec 1, 2022

  • China's President Xi Jinping speaks ahead of the 25th anniversary of the former British colony's handover to Chinese rule, in Hong Kong, China, June 30, 2022, photo by Selim Chtayti/Pool/Reuters

    Commentary

    Xi Jinping Is Weaker Than You Think

    Although Xi wields significant influence over Chinese domestic politics—certainly more than his most recent predecessors—he still needs support from the Party elite. And on that front, some cracks are showing.

    Oct 14, 2022

  • A sign advertising for workers outside of a gas station in Danville, Pennsylvania, March 29, 2022, photo by Paul Weaver/Reuters

    Commentary

    Got a Labor Shortage? Make It Easier to Work

    If the United States wants to avoid a long-term worker shortage, it should look to what policy can—but has failed to—fully address. We have a long history using carrots and sticks, but this is a problem we may not be able to cajole or punish our way out of. Finding workers can be as simple as giving more people a chance to work.

    Aug 2, 2022

  • A man walks past the New York State Department of Labor offices in Brooklyn, New York, March 25, 2020, photo by Anthony Behar/Reuters

    Commentary

    Is a Recession Coming? A Key Indicator Is Also the King of Mixed Messages

    When fears of inflation arise in the United States, people start paying a lot of attention to weekly unemployment-insurance claims, as an early indicator of layoffs that could augur a broader slump. But unemployment claims are a flawed gauge that may be particularly skewed by the pandemic.

    May 27, 2022

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    Extremism Online, Russia's Military, Preventing Police Killings: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on the internet's role in stoking extremism and hate, how Russia has failed its military personnel, a research roadmap to help prevent police killings in the United States, and more.

    May 20, 2022

  • People stand in line in front of Huawei's new flagship store, as it officially opens in Shanghai, China, June 24, 2020, photo by Aly Song/Reuters

    Report

    Business Community Support for U.S. Policies Toward China

    Policies implemented by the Trump administration were designed to confront China over its problematic behaviors, such as theft of technology and intellectual property. U.S. businesses agreed with the policies, but questioned some of the tactics used. How can Washington address corporate concerns and still compete against China?

    May 16, 2022

  • Clouds of pollution released by an industrial plant, photo by rui_noronha/Getty Images

    Commentary

    How Could the United States Incentivize Investors to Decarbonize the Economy?

    While mandatory climate-related disclosure may improve information and decisionmaking for investors, it alone is unlikely to accelerate investment in decarbonization at the rate needed. To motivate private investment in climate mitigation, policymakers could explore additional policies.

    May 12, 2022

  • Report

    Report

    Disruption Without Change: The Consequences of COVID-19 on the Global Economic Balance

    The author reviews the economic track record of the United States, its competitors, and its allies to discern how economic changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic could affect geopolitical competition and the security environment.

    Mar 21, 2022

  • Wind turbines surrounded by fog in Costa Rica, photo by OGphoto/Getty Images

    Report

    A Green Costa Rican COVID-19 Recovery

    Before COVID-19 hit, Costa Rica had been taking a leading role in addressing the effects of climate change by investing in decarbonization. Could these same investments also accelerate Costa Rica's pandemic economic recovery and help address historical inequities?

    Feb 24, 2022