Commentary

The USPS Is a Public Service, Not a Business

As Congress and the White House debate how to assist the Postal Service, it will be important to understand the effects of proposed cost-cutting measures on mail delivery of vital services, smaller and rural communities, low-income communities, and the USPS's broader public safety and security functions.

Apr 6, 2021
News Release

Public Trust of the Centers for Disease Control Falls During Coronavirus Pandemic

Public trust in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has fallen during the coronavirus pandemic, with the decline bringing overall population-level trust in the agency to the same lower level of trust long held by Black Americans about the agency.

Apr 5, 2021
Report

Trust in the CDC Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic

From May to October 2020, some Americans lost trust in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drop in trust was particularly significant among people who intended to vote for a candidate other than Joe Biden in the 2020 election or did not intend to vote at all. This suggests that views of the CDC are now strongly politicized.

Apr 5, 2021
Multimedia

Is the United States Postal Service Essential?

RAND sociologist Michael Pollard describes the essential services the U.S. Postal Service provides and the pandemic's effect on USPS operations.

Oct 7, 2020
Periodical

RAND Review: September-October 2020

Feature stories explore how Pardee RAND is helping to shape the future of public policy through its Faculty Leaders Program; the safety and sustainability of the U.S. blood supply; and how telemedicine is changing the delivery of health care.

Sep 8, 2020
Blog

Voting in a Pandemic, the U.S. Postal Service, Defunding the Police: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on Americans' views about voting in the age of COVID-19, what makes the U.S. Postal Service so essential, why some in law enforcement may be open to “defunding the police,” and more.

Aug 28, 2020
Commentary

The Postal Service Is More 'Essential' Than You Thought

The U.S. Postal Service is an essential service that delivers mail to every address in the country, connects rural communities, and contributes to public safety. But it is still mistakenly thought of as a private business that should be able to turn a profit.

Aug 25, 2020
Blog

The Postal Service, Election Security, Reducing Child Deaths: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the role of the U.S. Postal Service, preparing for the presidential election, reducing child deaths in Nigeria, and more.

Jun 26, 2020
Report

The Postal Service and the Pandemic

How do Americans feel about the Postal Service during the COVID-19 crisis? How do they think USPS compares with private courier companies? Are they concerned about handling mail and packages? New survey data sheds light on these questions and more.

Jun 22, 2020
Report

Characterization of the Synthetic Opioid Threat Profile to Inform Inspection and Detection Solutions

The opioid overdose crisis has accelerated in recent years because of the arrival of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and related substances. Analysis of regional trends can help inform decisions about how and where to deploy law enforcement interventions.

Sep 9, 2019
Commentary

Austin Bombings Highlight a Potential Vulnerability in the Mail Delivery System

USPS is better than private couriers at identifying and detecting suspicious packages. Given that they are increasingly handling "last mile" delivery, how can private mail delivery offices better detect and safely handle suspicious mail?

Apr 17, 2018
Periodical

RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 3, Fall 2008

The cover story offers 12 suggestions for the new U.S. president; other pieces discuss education and health in China and India, health policy models, the U.S. Postal Service mailbox monopoly, a green U.S. Army, and political reform in the Arab world.

Dec 14, 2008
Research Brief

How Would Relaxing the Mailbox Rule Affect Public Safety and Security?

This research brief assesses the potential public safety and security implications of relaxing the U.S. Postal Service's Mailbox Rule, finding that doing so could have a moderate negative impact.

Nov 5, 2008
News Release

Easing Restrictions on Deliveries to Postal Mailboxes Could Hurt Efforts to Keep Mail Safe

Allowing private courier services to deliver items into mailboxes could hamper efforts by the U.S. Postal Service to safeguard the nation's mail.

Oct 23, 2008
Report

The Role of the United States Postal Service in Public Safety and Security: Implications of Relaxing the Mailbox Monopoly

The United States Postal Service has a statutory monopoly to deliver mail to mailboxes, but there are arguments to relax that monopoly. This study assesses the public safety concerns of doing so and makes recommendations to address these concerns.

Oct 7, 2008
News Release

RAND Study Says Communities Can Learn Lessons from Worker Exposure to Anthrax in Washington

RAND Study Says Communities Can Learn Lessons from Worker Exposure to Anthrax in Washington

Feb 22, 2005
Journal Article

In Their Own Words: Lessons Learned from Those Exposed to Anthrax

The authors evaluated perceptions of workers at the US Postal Service Brentwood Processing and Distribution Center and US Senate employees regarding public health responses to the anthrax mailings of October 2001.

Dec 31, 2004
Report

New technologies, competition and the postal service

The Postal Service confronts market structure issues faced by regulated monopolies in other industries, but changing technology raises other problems: nearly all the new technology is developing outside the Postal Service's monopoly market. A key q...

Dec 31, 1977