Blog Posts by Pardee RAND Faculty

Zero Interest, Greater Inequality?
Nov 2, 2015
Charles Wolf, Jr.

Low interest rates mandated by the Federal Reserve may have had and possibly continue to have adverse effects on income inequality. Those who argue for continuing near-zero short-term interest rate policy should be cognizant of this, writes Prof. Charles Wolf.
How Will China Respond to Future U.S. Freedom of Navigation Ops?
Oct 29, 2015
Timothy R. Heath

On October 27, the USS Lassen carried out the first freedom of navigation patrol to challenge China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. In assessing China's potential response to follow-on operations, the extremes of either complete inaction or a military attack can be ruled out, writes Prof. Timothy Heath.
Sniping: Homeless Youths' High-Risk Smoking Practice
Oct 29, 2015
Joan S. Tucker, William G. Shadel @william_shadel

Any intervention to help homeless youth quit smoking must also address “sniping,” writes Prof. Joan Tucker. This high-risk activity involves scavenging cigarette butts and filters to make a “new” cigarette.
When Public Trust in Corporations Is Shaken
Oct 28, 2015
Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

The Volkswagen scandal comes at a time when the public's trust in both the automotive industry and tech companies is at risk. The level of public trust in an individual organization could end up burnishing — or infecting — an entire industry or new technology.
How to Overcome the Risks of Artificial Intelligence
Oct 22, 2015
Andrew J. Lohn @andrewjlohn, Andrew Parasiliti, et al.

The warnings and promises of artificial intelligence aren't new, but advances in technology make them more pressing.
The Shared Savings Model: An Innovative Way to Attack Rapidly Rising College Costs
Oct 22, 2015
Trey Miller, Van L. Davis

The challenge facing policymakers is how to lessen the college cost pressure felt by families while incentivizing institutions to innovate to reduce cost and improve quality. What if cost savings from increased productivity were quantified and a portion returned to institutions?
Social Engineering Explained: The Human Element in Cyberattacks
Oct 20, 2015

The human element is the most unpredictable factor in cybersecurity. A social engineer aims to make people do what they want or give the social engineer information, often without the person considering the negative consequences.
If We Keep Cutting Defense Spending, We Must Do Less
Oct 19, 2015
David Ochmanek

The United States is underinvesting in defense and other instruments of national influence just when they are most needed. Improving defenses needn't require Cold War levels of expenditure but Americans should look realistically at the demands being placed on their forces and generate the revenues to meet those demands.
Rethinking Student Discipline and Zero Tolerance
Oct 14, 2015
Joie D. Acosta, Matthew Chinman, et al.

Restorative practices are an alternative to zero-tolerance school discipline policies. Rather than mandating prescribed punishments for specific misbehaviors, this more tailored approach aims to empower students.
Do Young 'Elites' Favor Income Redistribution?
Oct 8, 2015
Michael S. Pollard @MichaelSPollard, Katherine Grace Carman @KGCarman

Young “elites” — employed Americans who are 40 or younger, with high household incomes and graduate degrees — and especially Democratic elites have a strong preference for income redistribution.
Bridging the Global Age Gap
Oct 8, 2015
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_

The Trans-Pacific Partnership offers hope for balancing the world's rapidly aging with its jobless youth. As long-term care for the elderly becomes a pressing need in many developed countries, services such as monitoring and reminding people to take their medications could be provided remotely from countries with an abundance of younger workers.
Tools for Coping with a Military Spouse's Drinking
Oct 5, 2015
Karen Chan Osilla

Partners Connect, a research study and web program, aims to help military spouses concerned about a loved one's drinking. Spouses can access free online communication tools and tips for taking care of themselves and their spouses.
Exploring New Approaches to Higher Education: The Expansion of Competency-Based Programs
Sep 29, 2015
Lindsay Daugherty, Trey Miller, et al.

Policymakers and educators must determine if the risks of maintaining the status quo outweigh the potential benefits of competency-based programs, especially for those students who are ill-served by the traditional higher education model, write Alum Lindsay Daugherty (cohort '05) and Prof. Trey Miller.
China's Currency
Sep 28, 2015
Charles Wolf, Jr.

Much of the worry in the United States and elsewhere about China's currency “manipulation” is overblown because a less restricted yuan would more likely be overvalued than undervalued, thereby adversely affecting Chinese trade and exports, writes Prof. Charles Wolf.
The U.S.-China Summit Is More Significant for Xi Jinping Than Obama
Sep 24, 2015
Andrew Scobell, Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz

The Xi-Obama summit will provide the opportunity to discuss contentious issues like cybersecurity and the South China Sea, as well as other issues, such as climate change and economic cooperation. For Xi, writes Prof. Howard Shatz, the visit underscores the tremendous importance of messaging to a Chinese audience the narrative of a continued stable and robust partnership with the country that matters most to China politically and economically.
Xi's Visit Exposes Mismatch in U.S and Chinese Expectations
Sep 23, 2015
Timothy R. Heath

Chinese President Xi Jinping's U.S. visit this week appears to face serious headwinds. Contrasting U.S. and Chinese priorities will likely lead to disappointment on both sides, writes Prof. Timothy Heath
Lessons from the Past for the Future of the KC-46A
Sep 16, 2015
Laura H. Baldwin @LauraHBaldwin, Mark A. Lorell, et al.

Analysis suggests that fixed-price contracts have not successfully reduced costs to the DoD associated with developing complex weapon systems. This has implications for the Air Force, given the importance of the ongoing KC-46A program, writes Prof. Mark Lorell and colleagues.
Charging Older Adults Higher Premiums Could Cost Taxpayers
Sep 15, 2015
Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner, Evan Saltzman

Under the Affordable Care Act, older adults cannot be charged more than three times as much as 21- to 24-year-olds for the same plan. Changing this rule to 5-to-1 may not be a cost-effective way to encourage enrollment among the young and healthy, writes Prof. Christine Eibner.
Xi in Command: Downsizing and Reorganizing the People's Liberation Army
Sep 14, 2015
Michael S. Chase

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced that China would reduce the number of troops in its army by 300,000. But that is only a first step in a more ambitious reform and reorganization plan, writes Prof. Michael Chase.
China's Military Modernization: Eric Heginbotham and Michael Chase in Conversation
Sep 14, 2015
Eric Heginbotham, Michael S. Chase

Professors Heginbotham and Chase discuss their recent assessments of Chinese military modernization and its implications for U.S. interests in Asia.
Creating a Smart Market for California Water
Sep 13, 2015
John F. Raffensperger, Craig A. Bond

A smart market approach could reduce the transaction costs of trading water in California, allow the price of water to better match its value, and bring that value to the state, write Professors John Raffensperger and Craig Bond.
ISIS Plus Chemical Weapons Does Not Equal Apocalypse
Sep 11, 2015
Scott Savitz

The renewed use of chemical weapons on the battlefields of Iraq and Syria is a dangerous regional phenomenon, not an imminent global threat, writes Professor Scott Savitz.
What Hurricane Katrina Taught Us About Community Resilience
Sep 8, 2015
Alonzo L. Plough, Anita Chandra

Hurricane Katrina left a path of destruction, death, and suffering in its wake. Its recovery, halting and incomplete as it has been, has taught us valuable lessons about resiliency, writes Prof. Anita Chandra.
One in Five Hourly Employees Working Overtime Not Properly Compensated
Sep 4, 2015
Susann Rohwedder, Jeffrey B. Wenger

Most laws as old as the Fair Labor Standards Act regularly need tuning up. But its overtime provisions are complicated because some workers are exempt from being covered, writes Prof. Susann Rohwedder. A survey of more than 1,500 employed adults finds that employers are violating the rules.
China's Military Parade Highlights Its New Strategic Capabilities
Sep 3, 2015
Michael S. Chase

China's elaborate military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II showcased some of the People's Liberation Army's newest high-tech weapons, writes Prof. Michael Chase.