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Economics

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Economics is a discipline concerned with the consumption, production, and transfer of wealth by and among individuals (microeconomics) and communities or nations (macroeconomics); subspecialties range from economic development and planning to health economics and international economic relations. RAND's many economists contribute to multidisciplinary research projects by exploring the intersections where economics informs social, military, and governmental policy decisions.

Report
The Abraham Accords Could Have Wide-Reaching Economic Benefits
The Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim nations represent a possible new chapter in the region's development—away from conflict and toward a shared vision of economic prosperity. Israel's partners could gain 150,000 new jobs. And that could grow to 4 million new jobs over a decade if other nations join.
Mar 18, 2021
Research Brief
A New Approach to Measuring Income Inequality
A new method for measuring income inequality reveals that, from 1975 to 2018, the only group for which actual income gains exceeded U.S. GDP growth was the group near the 99th percentile of income distribution.
Apr 30, 2021

Explore Economics

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
Report
A New Era of Major-Power Competition
While there is a general consensus that the United States is now in a new era of strategic competition with China and Russia, there is not yet a clear understanding of what that means or what forms it could take. How can the United States best position itself to succeed?
Nov 30, 2022
Journal Article
Partially Different? The Importance of General Equilibrium in Health Economic Evaluations: An Application to Nocturia
The main findings of this study highlight the magnitude of general equilibrium effects when assessing the potential productivity costs associated with health conditions.
Nov 29, 2022
Journal Article
Incentives and Reminders to Improve Long-term Medication Adherence (INMIND): Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel intervention that uses SMS text messages and conditional incentives to support ART initiators in establishing pill-taking habits.
Nov 22, 2022
Journal Article
Advancing a Well-Being Narrative: Expanding How Decision-Makers Think About Progress in Order to Transform Priorities and Actions, and Appendix
We developed a summary of research on well-being narrative testing, which has not yet been pursued in this way in the U.S., along with ideas for experimentation and early action.
Oct 20, 2022
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
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
Report
Health Care Consolidation: What Does the Evidence Say?
Hospital horizontal consolidation is associated with higher prices paid to providers. And there is some evidence of the same for vertical consolidation of hospitals and physician practices. What effect might the No Surprises Act—created to protect consumers from surprise medical bills—have on consolidation trends?
Sep 30, 2022
Report
A New Approach to U.S. Security Policy in the Middle East
U.S. interests in the Middle East and the risks posed to them have evolved in ways that call for a modified set of priorities. The United States should not disengage from the region, but instead protect its interests by relying less on military operations and more on diplomacy and other civilian tools.
Sep 22, 2022
Journal Article
Higher Medicare Spending On Imaging And Lab Services After Primary Care Physician Group Vertical Integration
This study highlights how the growing trend of vertical integration, combined with differences in Medicare payment between hospitals and nonhospital providers, leads to higher Medicare spending.
Sep 20, 2022
Dissertation
Three Essays on HIV Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa
Examines the HIV-related health decisions and investments that are made by people living with HIV as well as the institutions that serve them, and it assesses their indirect effects.
Sep 6, 2022
Journal Article
The Gross Developmental Potential (GDP2): A New Approach for Measuring Human Potential and Wellbeing
The Gross Developmental Potential (GDP2) is proposed as a new capabilities-based framework for assessing threats to thriving and understanding progress in achieving lifelong health and wellbeing.
Sep 2, 2022
Report
Economic Benefits of U.S. Alliances and Military Engagement
Decisions about alliances and forward military presence should be based on a range of factors beyond potential economic benefits. But there is evidence that military engagement has historically helped the U.S. economy by promoting international commerce.
Sep 1, 2022
Multimedia
North Korean Sanctions Evasion
The United Nations imposed increasingly restrictive sanctions on North Korea after each of the six nuclear weapons tests that it conducted between 2009 and 2016. In this film, experts discuss the threats posed by North Korean proliferation and the importance of enforcing sanctions.
Aug 15, 2022
Announcement
James P. Smith, Economist and Former Director of RAND's Labor and Population Studies Program, Dies at 79
James P. Smith, an economist and expert on aging who directed the Labor and Population studies program at the RAND Corporation for nearly two decades, shaping a research agenda that focused on domestic labor markets, demographic trends in the United States, and economic development in developing countries, died on August 4. He was 79.
Aug 10, 2022
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
Journal Article
Improving Diet Quality in U.S. Adults: A 30-Year Health and Economic Impact Microsimulation
Microsimulation (Future Adult Model) predicted 30-year improved diet quality impacts across 12 demographic groups. Diet improvement reduced prevalence of heart disease by 7.6% to 13.8% across groups and reduced healthcare costs by $10B in year 30.
Jul 12, 2022
Journal Article
Diet Quality Improvement and 30-Year Population Health and Economic Outcomes: A Microsimulation Study
Microsimulation (Future Adult Model) predicted 30-year US population changes from improved diet quality. Diet improvement reduced prevalence of diabetes, heart disease and stroke by 11%, 7%, and 10%, and reduced healthcare costs by $144B in year 30.
Jul 12, 2022
Journal Article
Depressive Symptoms Among US Adults During the Great Recession and Economic Recovery
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data show a statistically significant increase in depressive symptoms from 2005/2006 to 2007/2008 (the beginning of the Great Recession), but there were no significant or consistent changes after 2007/2008.
Jul 7, 2022
Journal Article
Diet Quality in the United States Improved During the Great Recession and Deteriorated During Economic Recovery
During the Great Recession, American diets became more consistent with Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations, possibly because of a shift toward food prepared at home instead of prepared food bought away from home.
Jul 7, 2022

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RAND Topic:
Economics

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Krishna B. Kumar

Vice President, International

Krishna Kumar (he/him) is vice president, International; Distinguished Chair in International Economic Policy; and a senior economist at the RAND Corporation. He is also a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, where he teaches economic development. He previously directed RAND's Labor and…
Benjamin M. Miller

Economist

Benjamin Miller is an economist at the RAND Corporation, a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and a research quality assurance manager for RAND's Social and Economic Well-Being Division.

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