Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Jan. 9, 2024
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Postwar Ukraine: Planning for a Successful and Secure Recovery
In the first year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 66,618 private houses were destroyed; 8,746 kilometers of major roadway were torn up by tanks and explosives; and 434 schools were turned to rubble.
These grim numbers provide an idea of just how massive the reconstruction effort in Ukraine will have to be. And while it's unclear when the fighting will stop, now is the time to start thinking about what recovery will look like--and how to make it happen.
RAND researchers examined decades of past recovery efforts--from post-World War II Europe to post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans--to understand what it will take to rebuild Ukraine. They identified a few keys to success:
- The European Union should take the lead--with Ukraine setting the priorities--on managing the economic recovery.
- The United States should lead on questions of security.
- Ukraine should appoint an independent inspector general to ensure recovery funds are well spent and the process is transparent.
Ukraine's recovery could have far-reaching impacts. "Building a secure, economically prosperous Ukraine that is fully integrated into European institutions will be a capstone achievement," says RAND's Charles Ries, "beneficial on both sides of the Atlantic and a boon for global security and Western democracy."
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Why More States Should Reconsider 'Crime-Free Housing' Programs
For decades, cities across the United States have implemented policies that encourage landlords to evict tenants who are involved with the criminal justice system. As of last week, California became the first state to ban these "crime-free housing" policies. According to RAND's Max Griswold, more states should follow suit. Why? Because his research finds that "crime-free housing" policies do not reduce crime. What's more, they target low-income and minority renters, and they might even increase crime and homelessness.
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Can the Human Body Be a Warfighting Domain?
In a new report, RAND researchers explore how advances in engineered bioweapons, the Internet of Bodies, and genomics could be used in warfare. They outline several scenarios--some near-term and high-probability, some longer-term and more speculative. For example, a U.S. adversary could release a novel airborne pathogen that leads to a pandemic. Or, brain-computer interfaces could be used to create "supersoldiers" who have enhanced capabilities. The authors also highlight ways the United States can stay ahead in this rapidly changing landscape.
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** RAND Recommends
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- The Washington Post reported on the FDA's recent approval of a program that allows Florida to import prescription drugs from Canada. A 2021 RAND study found that Canadian drug prices were just 46 percent of those in the United States.
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- Balloons from China have been spotted above Taiwan ahead of the island's elections this coming Saturday. "Beijing is signaling that it can violate Taiwanese airspace at will and challenge its sovereignty," said RAND's Raymond Kuo in Barron's.
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- Saudi Arabia pays for influence by hiring the world's top sports stars at exorbitant prices. RAND's Sarah Gebauer and Gregory Smith say that same strategy could be used in a far more critical space: artificial intelligence.
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** Events
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Harnessing Quantum Technology for the Benefit of Society
Thursday, January 18, 2024 (Online and Santa Monica, CA)
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What Americans Think About Veterans--and Why It Matters
Thursday, January 18, 2024 (Online)
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Charting Your Course: A Guide to Analyzing State Policy Studies
Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (Online)
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Not the X-Files: Where Are Americans Reporting UFOs?
Thursday, January 25, 2024 (Online)
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