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Economics

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Economics is a discipline concerned with the consumption, production, and transfer of wealth by and among individuals (microeconomics) and communities or nations (macroeconomics); subspecialties range from economic development and planning to health economics and international economic relations. RAND's many economists contribute to multidisciplinary research projects by exploring the intersections where economics informs social, military, and governmental policy decisions.

Essay
What Would It Take to Close America's Black-White Wealth Gap?
White Americans hold ten times more total wealth than Black Americans, a disparity that has worsened in recent decades. RAND researchers modeled wealth across millions of households and tested several funding scenarios to see which could most effectively close the gap.
May 9, 2023
Commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: The Economic Fallout
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, projections estimated global economic growth in 2022 would be around 5 percent. But the war in Ukraine contributed to slowed economic growth in 2022 and a slowed recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the broader consequences for the global economy?
Mar 7, 2023

Explore Economics

Commentary
The Global Movement Against China's Economic Coercion Is Accelerating
There is much the West can do to push back against Chinese economic pressure, and many reasons to do so. Doing so is a core interest of the United States, which now places itself in competition with China over the shape of the international order.
Jun 9, 2023
Journal Article
What's Behind Losses At Large Nonprofit Health Systems?
The authors aim to understand the financial performance of large nonprofit hospitals systems in the post-COVID-19 era by examining several of these systems' overall profit margin by using their most recent annual financial reports.
Jun 7, 2023
Commentary
America Is Winning Against China in Oceania
The United States retains enormous advantages in Oceania and should not be alarmed by China's security activities in the region. Washington should nevertheless keep a close eye on Beijing's moves, particularly against small and weak nations that will struggle to counter Chinese coercive activities on their own.
Jun 4, 2023
Journal Article
Cultural Evolution and the Economic Wealth of Nations
This chapter reviews research on the cultural evolution of economic development around the globe, including the relationship between development outcomes and linguistic and religious ancestry.
May 25, 2023
Blog
Violence in Sudan, Alcohol Use, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the violence in Sudan, preventing alcohol-related deaths, the North Korean nuclear threat, and more.
Apr 28, 2023
Journal Article
Vaccinations Against COVID-19 May Have Averted Up To 140,000 Deaths In The United States
As of May 9, 2021, reductions in COVID-19 deaths associated with vaccines had translated to value of statistical life benefit ranging between $625 billion and $1.4 trillion.
Apr 27, 2023
Report
The societal and indirect economic burden of seasonal influenza in the United Kingdom
Societal burden of seasonal influenza, impact on workforce productivity and provision of UK NHS services, indirect economic costs (non-medical) due to labour-productivity losses.
Apr 27, 2023
Report
Comparing Taliban Social Media Usage by Language: Who's Speaking and What's Being Said
Focusing on the economy, relationships with other militant groups and neighboring countries, and women's status in Afghan society, the authors examined whether Taliban social media messaging across various regional languages was similar or different.
Apr 25, 2023
Commentary
A Civilian U.S. 'Joint Chiefs' for Economic Competition with China?
China's aggressive activities are presenting a serious, sustained challenge to the international order. To position itself for this new era, the United States could create a civilian equivalent to the Joint Chiefs of Staff with a mandate to manage the expanding role of U.S. civilian departments in geopolitical and economic competition.
Apr 24, 2023
Report
Economic Security and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Addressing a Changed World and Evolved Threat Landscape
This Perspective describes the evolving strategic environment for and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's critical role in economic security.
Apr 13, 2023
Dissertation
The Development of In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing Technology: Drivers, Challenges, and Policy Implications
Examines the challenges and enablers associated with developing infrastructure to support an in-space economy.
Apr 7, 2023
Journal Article
Reflecting on One Year of War: The Role of Non-Military Levers
One year after Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this article examines the role of non-military levers (e.g., diplomatic, information, economic) in the conflict so far.
Mar 28, 2023
News Release
On World Sleep Day, New Research Reveals the Socioeconomic Impact of Insomnia on Global Populations
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and exacts a significant toll on an individual's mental and physical health, quality of life, and productivity. But the consequences of insomnia go well beyond the individual, with cascading effects on families, employers, and global economies.
Mar 17, 2023
Report
The societal and economic burden of insomnia in adults: An international study
This study sought to examine the societal and economic burden of insomnia through a literature review, secondary database analyses and economic modelling. Findings indicate a substantial burden.
Mar 16, 2023
Journal Article
Evaluation Framework for the Strength in Places Fund: A Report for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
This report sets out the evaluation framework for the Strength in Places Fund. It includes a process evaluation to understand what has worked in the design and delivery of the fund and an impact evaluation to understand what SIPF has achieved.
Mar 7, 2023
Report
Strategic advantage in a competitive age: Definitions, dynamics and implications
SONAC commissioned RAND Europe to refine their working definition of strategic advantage. The team developed case studies and conducted expert workshops to explore the types of advantage and how actors seek to maintain and exploit their advantages.
Mar 6, 2023
Commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: Two Areas of Contention—Turkey and the Balkans
Turkey is navigating a narrow path between its NATO commitments and its relationship with Russia. The Western Balkans remain an arena of competition between pro-Russian and pro-Western elements. It's not clear how events might play out, but there are indications and track records.
Mar 6, 2023
Report
Quantifying the link between COVID-19, conflict risk, and the global economy
Our research suggests that COVID-19 will significantly increase the risk of civil conflict in African countries. We estimate this effect will, in turn, have negative global repercussions via international trade losses.
Mar 3, 2023
Commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: A Bleak Outlook for Russia
Whatever may happen in Ukraine or in Russia, things will never be the same. A Russian failure in Ukraine could lead to escalation and a world-changing wider war, or it could lead to dramatic changes within Russia. Either outcome would make for a very different world.
Feb 28, 2023

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RAND Topic:
Economics

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Aleksandr Esparza Hartunian

Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Aleksandr Esparza Hartunian is a Ph.D. student in the Research, Analysis, and Design stream at Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. He has a master of quantitative finance from Rutgers Business School and a B.S. in mathematics and finance from Rutgers…
Diana Gehlhaus

Adjunct Policy Researcher

Diana Gehlhaus is an adjunct policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on the intersection of tech and talent, including the U.S. artificial intelligence workforce; education and workforce development policy; youth career and educational decisionmaking; youth workforce…

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