Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** April 22, 2025
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What the U.S. Can Learn from China's Industrial Playbook

China has experienced the largest industrial expansion in history, rising from poverty to become the top global manufacturer and exporter within a generation.

Despite the unique nature of China's political economy and the challenges it still faces, RAND experts say that China's successes and missteps over the past 30 years can offer valuable lessons for the United States as Washington seeks to increase domestic manufacturing.

Our researchers note that the United States isn't trying to replicate Beijing's strategy, nor are they arguing that Washington should take such an approach. However, flipping through the pages of China's industrial playbook could help inform U.S. policy moving forward.

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Limiting Nuclear Risks with Russia

The New START Treaty will expire in February 2026, ending limits on U.S. and Russian long-range nuclear forces. A new treaty is unlikely to be ready when New START lapses, so what might the United States do in the interim? According to RAND's William Courtney, pursuing mutual restraint with Russia--as Washington did in the 1980s--could reassure the public and U.S. allies. But if Russian President Vladimir Putin is "wary of cozying up to the United States on arms control," then Washington could take steps to mitigate risk, such as bolstering its ongoing nuclear modernization program.

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How Have State Gun Laws Evolved?

RAND first published a database of state firearm laws in 2018. In an updated version, users can now select from 20 law classes and many more subclasses to see how laws have evolved in their state over time. A new related tool also allows users to create and download their own data set on state gun policies. These are the latest updates to the RAND Gun Policy in America initiative, which aims to establish a shared set of facts to facilitate fair and effective gun laws.

Explore the findings:
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** RAND Recommends
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- Are school districts training teachers on how to use AI-powered tools in the classroom? A recent RAND study provides insights.
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- Fast prescription delivery options are growing, with Amazon and Walmart expanding their same-day prescription deliveries. But according to RAND's Andrew Mulcahy, the practical implications of such programs may be "very muted."
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** Events
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Policy Lab: Mapping the Use of High-Quality Instructional Materials
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 (Online)
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How Resilient Is China's Economy?
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 (Online)
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Policy Lab: Protecting Schools, Protecting Students
Thursday, May 22, 2025 (Online)
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Admissions Webinar: Master of National Security Faculty Panel
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 (Online)
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