Blog Posts by Pardee RAND Faculty

How to Prevent Drones Colliding in Crowded Skies
Sep 14, 2016
Kenneth Kuhn, William Welser IV, et al.
The federal government should work with private firms to develop drone traffic management systems and test drone designs, write professors Kenneth Kuhn, William Welser, and Jia Xu. This could help stimulate the development of drone aviation. It could also help modernize the air traffic control system.
Central Bank Perversity: The Downside to Aggressive Monetary Policy
Sep 13, 2016
Charles Wolf, Jr.
Aggressive monetary policy has negative effects on retirees, on income inequality, and on market stability—both domestically and globally—writes Prof. Charles Wolf.
Your Questions About Marijuana Legalization, Answered
Sep 13, 2016
At least five states will vote on legal recreational marijuana this November. Drug policy expert and Pardee RAND professor Beau Kilmer hosted an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit to shed light on this and other issues.
How 'Star Trek' Inspired a Boy to Become a Scientist
Aug 26, 2016
William Marcellino
Prof. William Marcellino discusses how “Star Trek” convinced him at an early age that science and the advancement of human knowledge could make the world a better place.
The U.S.-China Cyber Agreement: A Good First Step
Aug 1, 2016
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold
China's apparent compliance with the cyber agreement might represent little more than a temporary shift in tactics. Prof. Scott Harold says the U.S. should make clear that indictments may once again be sought if Chinese hackers resume cyber espionage against U.S. firms.
How to Counter Putin's Subversive War on the West
Aug 1, 2016
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Martin C. Libicki
Russian cybercrime, Olympics doping, and other active measures have one thing in common: Moscow admits no wrongdoing. These scandals exacerbate the frigid relations between Moscow and the West. Diplomacy sometimes works slowly, but it helps, writes prof. Martin Libicki.
The High Cost of Free College
Aug 1, 2016
Trey Miller
Subsidies may make institutions inclined to raise tuition since the government would foot the bill. One way to address this issue, writes prof. Trey Miller, is to develop and implement policies that encourage greater productivity from higher education institutions.
Fatal Crash Shouldn't Kill Self-Driving Cars
Jul 16, 2016
Nidhi Kalra
The first known fatality in an autonomous vehicle occurred on May 7 and raises important questions. It does not, however, mean that self-driving cars are less safe than human drivers or that development of the technology should be stopped, writes Prof. Nidhi Kalra.
Should Some Californians Lose Their 'License to Drink'?
Jul 6, 2016
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
In California, many efforts to reduce repeat drunken driving focus on the driving. Prof. Beau Kilmer asks, What if the state targeted the “drunk” aspect instead?
Revisiting Restrictions on Blood Donations from Gay and Bisexual Men
Jul 5, 2016
Sarah MacCarthy
The FDA does not accept blood from male donors who have had sex with a man in the previous 12 months. This has led to an ongoing debate about whether this restriction is supported by scientific evidence or, as some have argued, related to lingering stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS, writes Prof. Sarah MacCarthy.
Grasping the Brexit Moment for Free Trade
Jul 1, 2016
Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
The United Kingdom's surprising vote to exit the EU turned another tricky day into a possible social crisis. But where there is crisis, there is also opportunity, and the vote presents an opening for another step forward of global trade and investment liberalization, writes Prof. Howard Shatz.
South China Sea Spat a Symptom of U.S.-China Jockeying for Advantage
Jun 27, 2016
Timothy R. Heath
A spate of high-profile diplomatic feuds and military actions related to the South China Sea has raised concern about the direction of U.S.-China relations. Neither country is well-positioned politically or economically to engage in a long-term, antagonistic relationship, let alone a major conflict, writes Prof. Timothy Heath.
Countering Extremism: Early Childhood Education Forgotten
Jun 8, 2016
Rita Karam, Gail L. Zellman
Global attention has turned to education as a way to counter extremism, but what has been missing from these conversations is a focus on learning in children's first years, when much brain development occurs, writes Prof. Rita Karam. In the Middle East and North Africa, government underinvestment in formal programs for young children is the norm.
China's Yuan as a Reserve Currency: Boon or Bane for the Dollar?
Jun 3, 2016
Charles Wolf, Jr.
Establishing a system in which two reserve currencies compete with each other to affect global decisions about reserve holdings may lead to greater financial stability than the present dollar-dominated system, writes Prof. Charles Wolf.
ISIS and Dirty Bombs
Jun 3, 2016
Gregory S. Jones
There has been growing concern that terrorists might use radiological sources to create a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD). Prof. Gregory Jones explains that calculations have shown that an attack would be unlikely to produce radioactive contamination sufficient to kill or even injure anyone, but there would be psychological and economic effects.
Good (Fast) Food as a Vehicle for Social Change
Jun 1, 2016
Susan L. Marquis @susanlmarquis
Neighborhood by neighborhood, a few dozen jobs at a time, two celebrity chefs are tackling complex and persistent public policy problems. They could succeed in their own way in communities where generations of government programs and charity have had limited impact, writes Dean Susan Marquis.
Why Has Obama Lifted the Arms Sales Ban on Vietnam?
May 25, 2016
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold
The lifting of the Vietnam arms embargo needs to be understood as part of the long process of normalizing relations with a former U.S. enemy and building toward a more cooperative, economically dynamic, and strategic future-oriented relationship, writes Prof. Scott Harold.
Did We Improve Veterans Health Care? It's Unclear
May 24, 2016
Carrie M. Farmer @carriefarmer, Susan D. Hosek
The Veterans Choice program was designed to expedite veterans' access to health care and relieve pressure on the VA system. Before making the program permanent, writes Prof. Susan Hosek, the VA should better understand its effectiveness.
5 Things That Should Happen When Obama Visits Hiroshima
May 23, 2016
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold
On May 27, President Barack Obama will be the first sitting U.S. president to visit the city of Hiroshima. As Prof. Scott Harold writes, the visit is a sign of respect and friendship between the American and Japanese people, and should make the two countries' ties even stronger.
Making the 'Gap Year' More Inclusive and Purposeful
May 19, 2016
Louay Constant
High schools and universities should work together, with the support of policymakers, to develop programs that would provide a wider spectrum of U.S. students with the opportunity to take a purposeful gap year—and enter college with some real-world adult experience behind them, writes Prof. Louay Constant.
Behind North Korea's Bid for a 'Peace Treaty'
May 18, 2016
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
By insisting on a peace treaty with America, North Korea is probably seeking war, writes professor and alum Bruce Bennett (cohort '75). Its leaders likely hope a treaty would lead to a withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea, setting the stage for an invasion by the North.
The Hidden Costs of Pension Plan Reform
May 18, 2016
Kristine Brown, James Hosek
While there are many policy options that may decrease pension liabilities for Chicago and cities and states in similar situations, writes Prof. Jim Hosek, some options being considered may also have serious consequences for the public sector workforce, now and in the future.
Partitioning Iraq: Make a Detailed Case, or Cease and Desist
May 16, 2016
Ben Connable
The mostly non-Iraqi voices who want to divide the country into three ethno-sectarian cantonments—Shi'a, Sunni, and Kurd—owe the Iraqi people extensive, detailed clarification. If neither the Iraqi Arab polity nor Iraq's most powerful political factions seek three-way partition, writes Prof. Ben Connable, then the case should be closed.
What Are the Public Health Consequences of Legalizing Marijuana?
May 16, 2016
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Legalizing and allowing profit-maximizing firms to produce, sell, and advertise recreational marijuana would likely increase marijuana consumption. Prof. Beau Kilmer considers how this increased consumption would influence the use of other substances.
Helping Pittsburgh Stay on the Cutting Edge of Education Innovation
May 8, 2016
John F. Pane @JohnFPane, Laura S. Hamilton @HamiltonLauraS
Local organizations, educators, and leaders are creating remarkable learning experiences for Pittsburgh's young people, and other cities around the country are striving to replicate their innovations, write professors John Pane and Laura Hamilton.

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