February 2021

blog

Teachers Quit Due to Stress, Peace in Yemen, America's Middle Class: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how stress leads teachers to quit their jobs, U.S. strategy in the Middle East, America's shrinking middle class, and more.

commentary

Five Reasons to Be Wary of a New Domestic Terrorism Law

Momentum is building in Congress for legislation to deal with domestic terrorism. Here are five purely pragmatic reasons to be wary of addressing domestic terrorism with a new law.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

A Strong Japan-UK Alliance Needed to Counter China

With Brexit behind it, Britain faces a question about what role it should play in the world. Assuming it wants to remain a power that can shape—but not dominate—international relations, it makes sense to partner with like-minded states, such as Japan.

Jeffrey W. Hornung

commentary

Shared Prosperity: The Crying Need for Inclusive Globalization

The disaffection of a wide swath of the American population has been linked to the political polarization of the country, as well as its divisive tendencies. While globalization is not the only reason for this disaffection, it is an apt lens through which to view the revolt against elitism, expertise, and changing demographics.

Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_

commentary

Giving Teachers the Tools They Need to Provide 21st-Century Civics Education

The Capitol attack has rightfully led to many calls for teachers to address civic education in a much more robust way in their classrooms. However, a national survey of social studies teachers suggests that teachers lack the critical training and incentives to do so.

Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman

commentary

Japanese Public Needs to Know SDF to Appreciate It

Although Japan does not call the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) a military, externally it is widely respected as a modern armed force fielding advanced defense capabilities. Given the threats facing Japan, it may benefit the Japanese public to better understand the value of the SDF as an armed force and the military cooperation that takes place with the United States.

Jeffrey W. Hornung

blog

Reducing Hospital Prices, Vaccinating the Most Active, Myanmar: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on regulating hospital prices to cut spending, a COVID-19 vaccine strategy that prioritizes "active" people, what the Capitol attack means for security clearances, and more.

commentary

California Needs a More Flexible Approach to Sea Level Rise Planning

Rising seas create significant risk to the health, safety, and economic vitality of California's coast communities, and we must prepare. A contingency-planning approach would provide flexible action over time and would build capacity that California and the nation need to respond to the many other serious and growing climate-related risks.

Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, David Behar

commentary

Myanmar's Coup and Its Recent Elections: Institutions Matter

What was the Myanmar military's calculus in deciding to stage a coup against the government? The history of coups and elections provides some insights.

Sean M. Zeigler

blog

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, COVID-19 Variants, Myanmar: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on alternatives in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, how couples can sleep better during the pandemic, and more.

commentary

Choosing Classroom Materials Is Complicated. Here's What Principals and District Leaders Can Do to Support Teachers

What do teachers want when it comes to instructional materials, particularly during the pandemic? Knowing the answer to this question can help district and school leaders select online materials that teachers are more likely to use and guide curriculum developers to create resources with these features in mind.

Elaine Lin Wang, Andrea Prado Tuma, et al.

commentary

The Essential Role of DHS in the Economic Recovery from COVID-19

The name Department of Homeland Security belies an important set of roles, missions, and functions of the department related to the economic security of the United States. Wielding these powers to their full extent during the COVID-19 pandemic could set the conditions for a more rapid recovery.

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

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Tech Alone Isn't Enough to Create a Successful Smart City

Smart-city initiatives are popping up in small communities and large metropolitan regions alike. But these initiatives have run into significant hurdles. Some cities have developed frameworks to overcome these challenges, but many continue to struggle.

Jared Mondschein @JSMondschein, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg, et al.

commentary

Lost Learning and the Costs of COVID-19

President Biden's plan calls for $130 billion to help schools safely reopen and identifies summer school or other supports to help students compensate for lost learning time as permissible uses of this funding. Recent RAND research can shed light on how Congress might consider divvying up these funds to support students over the next year.

Grace Evans, Heather L. Schwartz @schwartz_hl, et al.

commentary

Humility and Limits

When it spurns global institutions and norms and throws its considerable military weight around, the United States destroys its greatest competitive advantage—the prized role as the hub of a predominant network of global power.

Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr