Blog Posts by Pardee RAND Faculty

Ingredients for Health Care Reform
Jul 10, 2017
Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

Despite their differences, the Affordable Care Act and the current proposals to replace it take a similar approach to providing health insurance. Prof. Christine Eibner asks, What might some alternatives look like? And how could they provide coverage to more Americans?
Lessons for First Responders on the Front Lines of Terrorism
Jul 10, 2017
Mahshid Abir, Christopher Nelson

Given the persistent risk of terrorist attacks, it is critical to learn from past incidents to prepare for future ones, writes Prof. Chris Nelson. Medical and nonmedical first responders need more training in basic lifesaving skills. Open communication lines such as a dedicated radio frequency could help responders better coordinate. Disaster drills are also essential.
Getting the Lead Out of Pittsburgh's Water
Jul 3, 2017
Jordan R. Fischbach @fischinwater, Linnea Warren May @LinneaKWMay

Without an aggressive long-term strategy for replacing service lines, and collaboration among the water authority, public officials, and residents, lead in Pittsburgh's water will persist, writes Prof. Jordan Fischbach (alum, cohort '04).
How to Navigate Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Ed
May 26, 2017
Rita Karam, Charles A. Goldman

Universities are partnering with private companies that have the resources to help them compete in the online learning market and maximize student enrollment. Professors Rita Karam and Charles Goldman consider, do their different missions — providing high-quality education and making a profit — dilute the quality of the courses?
Is College Worth the Expense? Yes, It Is
May 22, 2017
Rafiq Dossani

Many American students struggle with the soaring cost of higher education, and for many college-going students, student debt can have severe negative implications. On balance, though, the benefits of a college degree appear to outweigh the costs, writes professor Rafiq Dossani.
Effects of Removing Maternity Care and Mental Health Treatment from Coverage Requirements
May 18, 2017
Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner, Christopher Whaley @cm_whaley

The American Health Care Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act allows states to waive benefits that the ACA deemed “essential.” Dropping maternity care coverage, for example, would reduce premiums by 5 percent but increase out-of-pocket spending for new mothers, writes professor Christine Eibner.
What Street Food Vendors in Uganda Need to Succeed
May 16, 2017
Michele Abbott, Deborah A. Cohen @DrDebCohen

Street vendors in Kampala, Uganda, would benefit from infrastructure development, food safety standards, rules of hygiene, and greater focus on healthy products, write student Michele Abbott (cohort '14) and professor Deborah Cohen. The city's growing population also would benefit from increased access to nutritious and affordable foods.
A New Ugandan Cuisine: Showcasing Superfood Qualities of Millet and Sorghum
May 9, 2017
Michele Abbott, Deborah A. Cohen @DrDebCohen

The results of a series of cooking contests in Uganda to promote the use of drought-tolerant, nutritious traditional grains—millet and sorghum—signal that a new food trend may be on the horizon. Student Michele Abbott (cohort '14) and professor Deborah Cohen describe their Pardee Initiative "Superfoods" project in this first of three blog posts.
Impact on the Environment from President Trump's First 100 Days
May 4, 2017
Debra Knopman

President Trump's actions have not yet resulted in demonstrable change in environmental conditions or funding, but the groundwork is being laid for unwinding major regulations and diminishing staff within the EPA and other federal agencies with climate-related research in their portfolios, says professor Debra Knopman.
U.S.-China Tensions Are Unlikely to Lead to War
May 1, 2017
Timothy R. Heath, William R. Thompson

The U.S.-China relationship today may be trending towards greater tension, but the relative stability and overall low level of hostility make the prospect of an accidental escalation to war extremely unlikely, writes professor Timothy Heath.
Mixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?
Apr 28, 2017
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Gregory Midgette

Data lags and the elimination of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program complicate estimates of U.S. cocaine consumption. New users who haven't yet developed cocaine dependence are also a factor. Professor Beau Kilmer and alum Gregory Midgette (cohort '09) suggest it may be prudent to start planning for an increase in heavy use even before all of the evidence is in.
Rocky Road Ahead Likely for U.S.-China Relations
Apr 11, 2017
Timothy R. Heath

The first summit with President Trump and China's President Xi Jinping downplayed contentious issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea. But the differences run deep, writes professor Timothy Heath, and frustration is palpable on both sides. Moreover, the competition for international leadership continues.
How California Is Trying to Keep Autonomous Vehicle Development on Track
Apr 10, 2017
Nidhi Kalra

California's Department of Motor Vehicles recently proposed new regulations governing the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles. Professor Nidhi Kalra asks, will this help retain the state's status as a testing and deployment ground for the technology, and will it make California safer?
Strategic Consequences of U.S. Withdrawal from TPP
Mar 27, 2017
Timothy R. Heath

America's withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership has exacerbated doubts about U.S. international leadership and America's role in Asia. Professor Timothy Heath says future trade agreements could face similar fates until they do a better job outlining how domestic workers can prosper.
Why China Will Not Unify with Taiwan by 2020
Mar 21, 2017
Timothy R. Heath

The prospects for peaceful unification of China and Taiwan continue to dim. Nothing Beijing has tried to woo or coerce Taiwan has worked. For those determined to compel Taiwan's unification, military subjugation remains a last option. But it would only worsen China's security environment, writes professor Timothy Heath.
Five Myths About American Obesity
Mar 13, 2017
Ruopeng An, Roland Sturm

Two in three Americans are overweight or obese. There are popular theories about what's causing the obesity epidemic but research does not support them. What is clear, write alum Ruopeng An (cohort '08) and professor Roland Sturm, is that most U.S. adults eat too many calories.
On 'Hidden Figures' and Being the Only Woman in the Room
Mar 12, 2017
Susan L. Marquis @susanlmarquis

A new film tells the true story of talented women who experienced racial and gender discrimination at NASA in the early 1960s. Like many women, they gained acceptance over time by being great at what they do. Dean Susan Marquis writes that women at RAND have also been pioneers in their fields and are familiar with being the only woman in the room.
U.S.-Japan Defense Relations Under Trump
Mar 3, 2017
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold

U.S.–Japan relations appear to be stabilizing after a successful visit by Defense Secretary James Mattis to Tokyo that reaffirmed the alliance, followed by an equally successful visit by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the U.S. Next, asks prof. Scott Harold, will the Trump administration articulate goals for the region?
What Data Is the Government Keeping About You?
Mar 1, 2017
Dulani Woods, Brian A. Jackson

Governments are amassing a wealth of data on citizens, a trend that will continue as technology advances. But with no reliable way to ensure that the data is accurate, notes professor Brian Jackson, risks abound. In the criminal justice system, for example, poor quality data could affect individual freedoms and employability.
Uncertainty and Complexity: Biomass Can Help on the Path to Deep Decarbonization
Feb 24, 2017
Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Sara Turner

While biomass will almost certainly never become the dominant fuel for the electricity sector in the United States, it is still worth including as part of a menu of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, write student Sara Turner (cohort '15) and prof. Aimee Curtright.
Does the Court System Know as Much About ESI as Your Teenager? It Should.
Feb 21, 2017
Duren Banks, Brian A. Jackson

Electronically stored information (ESI) from smart appliances, fitness trackers, and other devices is making its way into the U.S. court system. Judges and lawyers need to better understand this evidence so they can challenge it or rule on its admissibility in court, writes Prof. Brian Jackson.
Should the Definition of Health Include a Measure of Tolerance?
Feb 15, 2017
Robert H. Brook

Involving the medical community in helping to measure and increase tolerance could help make individuals and communities healthier. Since hate is both deadly and contagious, now is the time to engage the medical profession in eradicating it, writes Prof. Robert Brook.
Trends in Inequality and the World's Eight Richest Men
Feb 10, 2017
Ernesto F. L. Amaral, Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice

While Oxfam reports have done a good job of bringing attention to the problem of inequality, they may give the false impression that global inequality has been rising instead of falling, writes Prof. Ernesto Amaral. Global inequality has actually been on the decline while inequality within the developed world is increasing.
Mattis' Mission in Asia
Feb 6, 2017
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis made his first overseas trip this week, visiting Japan and South Korea. Prof. Scott Harold says Mattis reassured them that U.S. alliances in East Asia will remain strong, while also clarifying Washington's expectations.
What 32 Million Tweets Tell Us About Health and the Twitterverse
Jan 26, 2017
Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung, Linnea Warren May @LinneaKWMay, et al.

Health-related posts and conversations on Twitter shed light on the public's views on obesity, exercise and fitness, safe sex, alcohol, and mental health. Prof. Douglas Yeung asks, will such discussion increase in communities where health and wellness programs are put in place?