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Commentary

Summit Gives Biden Chance to Nudge Post-Soviet States Toward Democracy

President Biden may invite Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to his “summit for democracy” in December. By both praising and nudging these imperfect democracies to do more to achieve their democratic potential, Biden could give his agenda more meaning.

Sep 20, 2021
Research Brief

First Responder Claims for PTSD in Workers' Compensation: Assessing the Effects of Senate Bill 542 in California

Under California's Senate Bill 542, which creates a legal presumption that posttraumatic stress disorder in firefighters and peace officers is a work-related injury, additional costs to state and local governments could be large but are uncertain.

Sep 20, 2021
Tool

Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Summer 2021

This climate summary aims to inform Mid-Atlantic policymakers and practitioners about summer 2021, regional climate trends, and the upcoming fall season. A tool shows an analysis of historic and future projected growing degree days across the Mid-Atlantic.

Sep 20, 2021
Report

Posttraumatic Stress in California's Workers' Compensation System: A Study of Mental Health Presumptions for Firefighters and Peace Officers Under Senate Bill 542

The authors evaluate the prevalence of mental health conditions among first responders in California and discuss policy implications, with a focus on how posttraumatic stress disorder is handled in the state's workers' compensation system.

Sep 20, 2021
Blog

Prescription Drug Prices, Unemployment Insurance, Anti-Asian Racism: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on lowering prescription drug prices, reforming unemployment insurance, addressing anti-Asian racism, and more.

Sep 17, 2021
Commentary

Will Unemployment Insurance Be Reformed? Ask Businesses, Not Workers

The expiration of pandemic benefits points to the flaw at the heart of unemployment insurance: The constituency that pays for benefits isn't the constituency who receives them. Lasting reform to the unemployment insurance system will mean finding a way to benefit employers directly.

Sep 15, 2021
Commentary

No Need to Read Between the Lines: How Clear Shifts in Nordic Strategies Create Opportunities for the United States to Enhance Arctic Security

Norway, Sweden, and Finland have dramatically shifted their plans and actions in response to Russian threats in the European Arctic. This change could provide an opportunity for the United States to further strengthen cooperation, enhancing security and better countering Russia in the region.

Sep 15, 2021
Commentary

Hurricane Ida Is Part of a Cycle of Disasters—Mitigating Their Impact Means Building Back Better

Building back better means focusing on recovery that not only restores damage from a disaster but also reduces future risk. To meet that goal today, we need to look at the ways our disaster preparedness and response systems actually create risk themselves, by reinforcing things like wealth inequality, systemic discrimination, or access to crucial services.

Sep 13, 2021
Commentary

The Guilt I Carry Over 9/11 Drives Me to Help Others

RAND policy researcher and U.S. military veteran Jonathan Wong reflects on how the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have influenced how he has lived his life since that day.

Sep 13, 2021
Q&A

The Compounding Effects of Racism: Q&A with James Anderson, Rachel Perera, and Heather Gomez-Bendaña

RAND's James Anderson, Rachel Perera, and Heather Gomez-Bendaña are working to create an interactive tool that illustrates how the effects of bias compound over time. Their aim is to improve understanding of how seemingly small disparities can add up to create significant inequality.

Sep 10, 2021
Blog

Boosting Vaccine Acceptance, Afghanistan's Refugee Crisis, Environmental Racism: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on addressing vaccine hesitancy, preventing an even-bigger humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and how to develop antiracist environmental policies.

Sep 10, 2021
Report

Stronger Leadership Action in L.A. Sheriff's Department Is Needed to Curb Problematic Subgroups

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has been subject to allegations about secret subgroups of deputies who have allegedly mistreated community members and coworkers. LASD leadership can best discourage such behavior with clearer policies to prohibit subgroups and consistent messages to its staff.

Sep 10, 2021
News Release

Linking U.S. Prescription Drug Prices to Those in Other Nations Could Cut Costs in Half

High prescription drug prices in the United States drive up overall health care costs and lead many patients to forgo their medications. Linking U.S. drug prices to those in other countries would have cut U.S. spending on insulins and 50 top brand-name drugs by 52 percent in 2020—a savings of $83.5 billion.

Sep 10, 2021
News Release

Stronger Leadership Action in L.A. Sheriff's Department Needed to Curb Influence of Problematic Subgroups, Address ...

Leadership of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department can best discourage involvement in deputy subgroups by clarifying current policy language to prohibit subgroups, and by delivering strong and consistent messages to its staff opposing membership in the groups and related banned conduct.

Sep 10, 2021
Multimedia

From 9/11 to COVID-19: What Have We Learned About U.S. Preparedness?

RAND senior physical scientist Brian Jackson discusses emergency preparedness in the United States and lessons still being learned as the nation faces a global health crisis.

Sep 10, 2021
Q&A

Mass Incarceration and Parenting from Prison: Q&A with Dionne Barnes-Proby, Celia Gomez, and Monica Williams

One in 10 Black children in the United States has an incarcerated parent. RAND experts are assessing what could be done to better support these parents and, in turn, improve the well-being of their children and families.

Sep 9, 2021
Commentary

Japan's Potential Acquisition of Ground-Launched Land-Attack Missiles: Implications for the U.S.-Japanese Alliance

If Japan acquired ground-based strike capabilities, it would have significant consequences for the U.S.-Japanese alliance. American and Japanese policymakers may need to have a new and expanded set of conversations about how such capabilities would be used and how the alliance could adjust to incorporate them.

Sep 9, 2021
Commentary

Tech Assets Might Help Make Public Health Data More Equity-Centered

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified broad societal inequities and trained a spotlight on the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. public health system. What would more equity-centered, tech-engaged public health data look like?

Sep 9, 2021
Commentary

Achieving Decarbonization and Energy Equity Through Reconciliation

The past two years have witnessed increasingly vocal calls for rapid decarbonization of the global economy through a clean energy transition. How can Congress ensure that new costs associated with a clean energy transition do not fall disproportionately on lower-income ratepayers?

Sep 9, 2021
Report

How to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the United States

Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Reaching herd immunity will require boosting confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, combatting complacency about the pandemic, and increasing the convenience of getting vaccinated.

Sep 9, 2021

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