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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

Commentary
China Does Not Have to Be America's Enemy in the Middle East
China and Iran made a deal in which China promised to boost its investment in Iranian infrastructure in exchange for a steady supply of oil. This uptick in Chinese influence does not necessarily erode U.S. power in the region. The United States may even find overlapping interests with China since both have a stake in containing conflicts and instability.
Apr 19, 2021
Research Brief
U.S. Prescription Drug Prices Are 2.5 Times Those in Other Countries
U.S. prices for prescription drugs were 250 percent of those in 32 comparison countries combined. Brand-name drugs drive the disparity: U.S. prices for this category were 344 percent higher. However, U.S. prices for unbranded generics were lower than those in other countries.
Apr 14, 2021
Commentary
Abraham Accords Offer Historic Opportunity to Spur Mideast Growth
The Abraham Accords have heralded a dramatic shift in the relationship between Israel and the Muslim nations of the world. While these accords represent a major political breakthrough, they also represent a possible new chapter in the region's development: away from conflict and toward a shared economic vision of prosperity.
Mar 25, 2021
Journal Article
Improving Preferential Market Access Through Rules of Origin: Firm-Level Evidence from Bangladesh
This paper studies how rules of origin in potential export markets influence the export behavior of firms in least-developed countries.
Mar 23, 2021
Journal Article
Rules of Origin and Trade Preference Utilization Among Least Developed Countries
This article assesses how the utilization of trade agreements responds to rules of origin revisions that allow for more foreign content in exported products.
Mar 23, 2021
Blog
Game Theory to Help the Vaccine Rollout, Abraham Accords, Telehealth: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how game theory can help the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, potential economic benefits of the Abraham Accords, telemedicine use during the pandemic, and more.
Mar 19, 2021
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
Book Review: 'Liberalism, the Blob, and American Foreign Policy: Evidence and Methodology' by Robert Jervis
Robert Jervis' “Liberalism, the Blob, and American Foreign Policy: Evidence and Methodology” is a thoughtful review of two books written by prominent international relations theorists John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt. Jervis focuses his critique primarily on methodology and argues that the actual historical record is more complicated than either Mearsheimer or Walt suggests.
Mar 12, 2021
Report
The Army's Local Economic Effects: Appendix B, Volume 1: Alabama Through Minnesota; 2nd Edition
This appendix to the second edition of The Army's Local Economic Effects describes overall economic effects by state, details by fiscal year from 2014 to 2017, and a parsing of data by congressional district for Alabama through Minnesota.
Mar 8, 2021
Report
The Army's Local Economic Effects: Appendix B, Volume 2: Mississippi Through Wyoming; 2nd Edition
This appendix to the second edition of The Army's Local Economic Effects describes overall economic effects by state, details by fiscal year from 2014 to 2017, and a parsing of data by congressional district for Mississippi through Wyoming.
Mar 8, 2021
Report
The Army's Local Economic Effects: 2nd Edition
This report updates a previous report with findings on the economic activity supported by national-level Army spending in each of the 435 congressional districts for fiscal years 2014 through 2017.
Mar 8, 2021
Research Brief
10Plan, How Would It Affect Health Care Spending by Consumers and the Federal Government
The 10Plan is a self-pay plan for individuals currently uninsured or covered by a private nongroup health insurance plan. The authors built a microsimulation model to estimate health care spending under both the status quo and the 10Plan.
Feb 25, 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
Testimony
Factors Shaping China's Use of Force Calculations Against Taiwan
Taiwan remains the People's Liberation Army's main strategic direction despite a growing recognition that the PLA must also support China's international interests and presence. Does China see itself as capable of confronting the United States and its allies in a conflict over Taiwan? And what are some U.S. policy considerations?
Feb 18, 2021
Testimony
U.S. Allied and Partner Support for Taiwan
As the Biden administration assesses its Taiwan policy, it is important to examine how U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific might respond to a potential conflict over Taiwan. What factors might influence their willingness to help the United States defend Taiwan? And how might they respond if the United States did not come to Taiwan's defense?
Feb 18, 2021
Report
Increasing Price Transparency in Health Care: Key Themes and Policy Options from a Technical Expert Panel
RAND researchers examine current price transparency efforts and their features, describe barriers to more widespread availability and use of price information, and discuss possible ways to overcome those barriers.
Feb 16, 2021
Commentary
The Essential Role of DHS in the Economic Recovery from COVID-19
The name Department of Homeland Security belies an important set of roles, missions, and functions of the department related to the economic security of the United States. Wielding these powers to their full extent during the COVID-19 pandemic could set the conditions for a more rapid recovery.
Feb 11, 2021
Commentary
The Pandemic Is Completely Changing the Way We Treat Unemployment
Unemployment insurance is the most important fiscal response the United States has during a recession, because it sends timely, targeted, and temporary financial assistance to those directly affected by the downturn. What the CARES Act created—remarkably high benefits for more workers—was a short-term experiment born of necessity, but it could have a lasting influence on public policy.
Feb 1, 2021
News Release
Prescription Drug Prices in the United States Are 2.56 Times Those in Other Countries
Prescription drug prices in the United States are significantly higher than in other nations, with prices in the United States averaging 2.56 times those seen in 32 other nations.
Jan 28, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Economics

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

C. Richard Neu

Adjunct Staff

Richard Neu is an adjunct staff member at the RAND Corporation and formerly a senior economist at RAND. He is also a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Most recently, Neu served as director of the RAND-Initiated Research program. He served for three years as the founding director of…
Andrew W. Dick

Senior Economist

Andrew Dick is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation. He studies the development of methods and empirical applications of risk-adjustment models for quality assessment, comparative effectiveness research, and cost estimation, all with a focus on applied econometric methods for drawing…

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