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RAND Social and Economic Well-Being Commentary

Commentary from RAND researchers on topics related to social and economic well-being.

Social and Emotional Learning

The Impact of Restorative Practices

Jan 17, 2019

John Engberg, Catherine H. Augustine

A recent RAND report focuses on estimates of the impact of restorative practices on comprehensive outcome measures for all students. The report defines these measures in seven outcome domains and leads with the impact on suspensions. It estimates the impact on 50 secondary measures and on the seven primary measures for numerous student subgroups defined by race, income, special needs and English language learner status.
Community-Based Health Care

Faith-Based Organizations Promote Well-Being in Underserved Communities

Jan 4, 2019

Kathryn Derose, a senior policy researcher and an Episcopal deacon, works with Latino and African-American churches to address health issues in their communities. Her research has shown the power of the pulpit to fight health disparities, counter stigma, and encourage healthy living.
Information Privacy

Data Breaches Could Cause Users to Opt Out of Sharing Personal Data. Then What?

Dec 28, 2018

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

As tech-based systems have become all but indispensable, many institutions might assume user data will be reliable, meaningful and, most of all, plentiful. But what if this data became unreliable, meaningless or even scarce?
Energy Conservation

Can Innovative Financing by the Public and Private Sectors Build on Momentum in Energy Efficiency Improvements for Affordable Multifamily Housing?

Dec 12, 2018

Lisa Jonsson, Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright

Nearly one in three American households in 2015 reported difficulty paying their energy bills or sustaining adequate home heating and cooling. Emerging models of energy services and financing show promise, and could identify creative ways to increase access to funding that could preserve and improve home affordability for millions of Americans.
Mental Health and Illness

Is Los Angeles County Successfully Creating a Youth Movement Around Mental Health Issues?

Dec 6, 2018

Rebecca L. Collins

A new community engagement campaign called WhyWeRise seeks to increase awareness of mental health access as a civil rights issue and increase civic engagement. The campaign reached its target audience—people aged 14 to 24—and showed signs of changing attitudes toward mental illness.
Disaster Recovery Operations

Overlapping Environmental Disasters Put a Strain on Gulf Communities

Nov 29, 2018

Melissa L. Finucane @MelissaFinucane

For Gulf Coast residents, dealing with the impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster is challenging enough. With the Taylor Energy spill, they may face an even more daunting recovery, one that could take decades. Acknowledging the extent and complexity of recovery is the first step toward supporting coastal communities to build their resilience in the face of overlapping disasters.
Crime and Violence Prevention

Suppressing Motivation, Legitimacy Can Help Avoid Political Violence

Nov 28, 2018

John S. Hollywood

The threat of political violence is real and growing, but there are concrete things that can be done to reduce the risks. Solutions might include repeated statements from leaders that fear of people because of their ethnicity, religion, party, or social grouping is wrong and that violence against them is illegitimate and against American values.
Health and Wellness Promotion

Measuring Progress Toward a Culture of Health... at the Library

Nov 21, 2018

Carolyn Miller, Anita Chandra

Libraries can provide much more than books and internet access. Libraries across the United States are evolving to play a bigger role in community health. Many offer nutrition programs, mental health support, and even free bike-shares.
Gun Violence

How U.S. Gun Laws Allow Mass Shooters to Slip Through

Nov 15, 2018

Benjamin Bahney

The three most lethal domestic terrorist attacks since 9/11 were carried out with high-capacity semiautomatic weapons. None of the attackers were under 21 or were stoppable through criminal background checks. Restrictions on sales of semiautomatics would make it much harder for terrorists to obtain their most effective means of killing.
Transportation Safety

The New AV Challenge: Creating a Universal Safety Framework

Nov 2, 2018

Marjory S. Blumenthal @marjorysb

Autonomous vehicle developers are pursuing different safety strategies and technologies, making different claims, in different ways, about their systems. A universal framework could provide a more consistent and transparent view of progress in AV safety within and across the industry, better informing the public and policymakers.
Cybersecurity

Financial Frameworks for Cybersecurity Are Failing

Oct 25, 2018

Cortney Weinbaum @cortney_dc, Igor Mikolic-Torreira, et al.

Cybersecurity has become a team sport. But all participants on the field are playing without clear rules, without a team approach, and without knowing when to pass the ball or to whom.
Electronic Medical Records

How Smartphone Apps Could Help Keep Health Records Accurate

Oct 4, 2018

Ben Moscovitch, Robert S. Rudin @rsrudin

Electronic health records have helped streamline record keeping but providers aren't always able to reliably pull together records for the same patient from different hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices. The growing use of smartphones offers a promising opportunity to improve record matching.
Diet and Eating Habits

A New Way to Reduce Sugary Beverage Consumption

Oct 1, 2018

Deborah A. Cohen @DrDebCohen

Where items are placed and promoted in stores is the most important predictor of what people buy. If stores restricted sugary beverages to a single out-of-the-way area, people who really wanted to buy them could, but would have to intentionally seek them out. Others might be less likely to buy a sweetened drink on impulse.
The Elderly

How AVs Could Provide Independence for Older Drivers

Sep 21, 2018

Laura Fraade-Blanar

Giving up driving has been linked to depression and isolation in older adults, as well as early entry into nursing home facilities. Autonomous vehicles could help improve the well-being of older adults by allowing them to maintain independence while still giving up their car keys.
Emerging Technologies

A Better Way to Think About Scooters

Aug 28, 2018

Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, Tim McDonald, et al.

Unleashed in Santa Monica, California, last September, Bird and its competitors are now in 30 American cities and counting. Cities are responding to the scooter takeover with new regulations and increased law enforcement. But if officials rely only on 20th-century tools to integrate these 21st-century scooters into their cities, they will miss a big opportunity.
Underage Substance Use

How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico

Aug 21, 2018

RAND's Elizabeth D'Amico discusses her research on how medical marijuana advertising influences adolescents' use of—and positive attitudes toward—the drug. Los Angeles County used her findings to limit the placement of marijuana billboards and signage outside dispensaries.
Sexual Behavior

Public Health Reasons to Tune Into TV's 'Dear White People'

Aug 10, 2018

Sarah MacCarthy

The Netflix series Dear White People shows how sexual decisionmaking can be influenced by race, status, and the power dynamics within a relationship. Public health programs and policies could be better tailored to account for this complexity.

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RAND Social and Economic Well-Being Commentary

The Impact of Restorative Practices

Faith-Based Organizations Promote Well-Being in Underserved Communities

Data Breaches Could Cause Users to Opt Out of Sharing Personal Data. Then What?

Can Innovative Financing by the Public and Private Sectors Build on Momentum in Energy Efficiency Improvements for Affordable Multifamily Housing?

Is Los Angeles County Successfully Creating a Youth Movement Around Mental Health Issues?

Overlapping Environmental Disasters Put a Strain on Gulf Communities

Suppressing Motivation, Legitimacy Can Help Avoid Political Violence

Measuring Progress Toward a Culture of Health... at the Library

How U.S. Gun Laws Allow Mass Shooters to Slip Through

The New AV Challenge: Creating a Universal Safety Framework

Financial Frameworks for Cybersecurity Are Failing

How Smartphone Apps Could Help Keep Health Records Accurate

A New Way to Reduce Sugary Beverage Consumption

How AVs Could Provide Independence for Older Drivers

A Better Way to Think About Scooters

How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico

Public Health Reasons to Tune Into TV's 'Dear White People'

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