Policy Currents | The latest RAND updates
View in Browser: [link removed]


** RAND RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST
------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 5, 2019

What Can the U.S. Do About Hong Kong?

After six months of escalating police violence and protester resistance, the situation in Hong Kong has come to a head. What could the Trump administration do to reduce the prospect of a resurgence in violence? According to RAND's Scott Harold, there are at least four policy approaches that Washington could consider.

First, continue to engage with the people of Hong Kong. Second, signal to Beijing that Washington cares about this issue on its own terms, independent of the U.S.-China trade war. Third, convey that there will be severe consequences if Beijing uses violence to crush the protests. And finally, work to build a common position with U.S. allies and partners.

Read more: [link removed]


Reducing Crime in Chicago

In 2017, the Chicago Police Department began using real-time crime centers at the district level. The centers support decisionmaking by using technology that provides valuable information, such as feeds from surveillance cameras or data from gunshot sensors. According to a new RAND report, this approach can help reduce crime. After the centers were opened, estimated crime reductions varied between 3 percent and 17 percent for 10 categories of crime, including shootings and sexual assault.

Read more: [link removed]


U.S. Options to Help the Iranian People

Anti-government protesters in Iran were recently met with a deadly government crackdown and a country-wide internet blackout. These Iranians deserve America's support, says RAND's Dalia Dassa Kaye. And there are concrete steps that Washington could take to help them, including lifting both economic sanctions and the travel ban. There may be an added benefit to pursuing policies aimed at creating a better future for the Iranian people, she says. This approach could lead to less-dangerous policies from Tehran.

Read more: [link removed]


Heavy Users Seek Medical Marijuana Cards

Young adults who seek medical marijuana cards are often those who already use the drug heavily - rather than those with health issues that marijuana could address. That's according to a new RAND study. As more states consider legalizing the drug for medical use, this finding may be useful to policymakers. It could help inform the design of programs that issue cards only to people with health problems for which medical marijuana is a proven treatment.

Read more: [link removed]


Is NATO Brain Dead?

Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern that the West was "experiencing the brain death of NATO." He went on to discuss the trend of America's declining support for the alliance. RAND's James Dobbins says that Macron is right to wonder about how the United States would respond to a threat to European security. But Macron is wrong to attribute this uncertainty, as he does, to diminishing support for NATO among the American public.

Read more: [link removed]


Giving Tuesday: How Donors Support RAND Research

Earlier this week, on Giving Tuesday, we highlighted 10 stories about how philanthropy supports RAND's mission - and helps make a difference in people's lives. From groundbreaking research on U.S. gun policy and the opioid crisis, to fighting Truth Decay and supporting America's military caregivers, support from donors and foundations helps RAND experts tackle the world's toughest policy questions.

Read more: [link removed]


** TRENDING REPORTS
------------------------------------------------------------

The Limits of Russian Strategy in the Middle East
[link removed]


Measuring the Effectiveness of Special Operations
[link removed]


** RAND IN THE NEWS
------------------------------------------------------------
China Cracks Down on Fentanyl. But Is It Enough to End the U.S. Epidemic?
New York Times
[link removed]


'This Is a Story of Hope.' New Documentary Series College Behind Bars Follows Men and Women Working to Gain College Degrees While in Prison
Time
[link removed]


Pushed Into the Shadows: How Punishing Pregnant Women for Opioid Use Leads to More Birth Complications
ABC News
[link removed]


** SUBSCRIBE TO THE POLICY CURRENTS PODCAST [link removed]
------------------------------------------------------------
You already get the latest insights from RAND in your inbox. Why not your earbuds?

Policy Currents is now available as a weekly podcast. Five minutes, every Friday.

Subscribe now: [link removed]


** FOLLOW RAND
------------------------------------------------------------
The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis.

[link removed]

Twitter
[link removed]

Facebook
[link removed]

LinkedIn
[link removed]

Instagram
[link removed]


Privacy statement
[link removed]

Unsubscribe
[link removed]

Manage your subscriptions
[link removed]


RAND Corporation
1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401-3208

RAND is a registered trademark.