Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Sept. 28, 2023
How Will Climate Change Affect the Federal Budget?

From heatwaves and wildfires to droughts and floods, climate change will induce more severe and more frequent hazards. These events will lead to increased federal spending in disaster relief, health care, and insurance programs. Further, climate change is likely to lead to a net reduction in federal revenue by affecting productivity, labor hours, and total labor force.

In a new report, RAND researchers examine these issues, taking a close look at how climate change and related mitigation policy may affect the federal budget.

The authors' goal is to inform the creation of a model that captures the important relationships between climate, federal policy, and the economy. This will help shape future policy decisions that affect the quality of life for people in the United States and around the world.

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Why It's Time for a New Cybersecurity Standard

Cybersecurity detection tools can be just as vulnerable as the critical infrastructure they're designed to protect. In fact, these tools are increasingly under attack by U.S. adversaries. RAND's Chad Heitzenrater says this is just one part of a broader problem: America's current approach to cybersecurity may not meet security needs during a conflict. He argues for a higher standard for cybersecurity--one that "focuses on developing systems that are fit for purpose and designed to operate in hostile environments."

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How the U.S. Can 'Defend Without Dominance'

After years of focusing on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency missions, U.S. defense policy must now grapple with the very different challenge of deterring--and, if necessary, fighting wars against--peer or near-peer competitors. In a new paper, RAND's Michael Mazarr breaks down what it might take to meet this difficult moment. "The United States cannot muscle its way past these problems with bigger budgets or expanded capabilities," he writes. "Bigger decisions must be made."

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** RAND Recommends
- In Foreign Policy, RAND's Derek Grossman explains how a government shutdown could undermine U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.
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- RAND's Heather Schwartz was quoted in Education Week. She highlighted the lack of data surrounding the effectiveness of a controversial policy aimed at stopping school shootings: arming teachers.
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- About 30 percent of couples sleep separately at least some of the time. RAND's Wendy Troxel discussed the "sleep divorce" trend on the Something Offbeat podcast this week.
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** Events
Balancing the Needs of Requesting and Producing Parties: Getting E-Discovery Right
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 3-4, 2023 (Arlington, VA)
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Pardee RAND Admissions Webinar: M.Phil. Overview
October 18, 2023 (Online)
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** About RAND
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