Research on children, families, and communities covers child development, family well-being, poverty, housing, community resilience, and social services—generating evidence-based insights to help policymakers improve outcomes for vulnerable populations. Work in this area spans early childhood education, foster care and child welfare, family economic security, neighborhood conditions, and community health, equipping governments, nonprofits, and foundations with the rigorous analysis needed to design more effective programs and policies.

Research on cyber and data sciences examines cybersecurity threats, critical infrastructure protection, AI governance, data privacy, and the policy implications of emerging digital technologies—providing decision-makers with objective analysis to navigate a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Work spans cyber deterrence, resilience of government and defense networks, machine learning applications, disinformation, and the societal impacts of data-driven systems, helping both public and private sector clients understand and manage technological risk.

Research on education and literacy addresses student achievement, teacher effectiveness, curriculum quality, early childhood education, higher education access, and workforce readiness—generating the evidence base that helps educators, administrators, and policymakers improve learning outcomes. Studies span K–12 school reform, reading and literacy interventions, college completion, education equity, and the use of technology in learning, providing actionable findings for school districts, state agencies, foundations, and federal departments of education.

Research on energy and environment examines energy security, climate change, clean energy transition, environmental regulation, natural resource management, and sustainability policy—delivering rigorous analysis to support evidence-based decisionmaking by governments, utilities, and international organizations. Work covers renewable energy deployment, carbon markets, water resources, air quality, energy infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation strategies, helping clients understand the complex trade-offs involved in transitioning to a more sustainable energy system.

Research on health, health care, and aging addresses health system performance, access and equity, chronic disease, mental health, substance use, aging populations, long-term care, and pharmaceutical policy—producing evidence to help health systems, government agencies, and insurers improve care delivery and population health. Studies span health insurance markets, Medicare and Medicaid, military and veteran health, opioid and addiction policy, global health security, and the social determinants of health, offering policymakers and practitioners the rigorous data they need to make high-stakes decisions.

Research on homeland security and public safety covers terrorism, border security, emergency management, disaster resilience, law enforcement, drug policy, gun violence, and first responder capabilities—equipping federal, state, and local agencies with the analysis needed to protect communities and respond effectively to threats. Work spans counterterrorism strategy, critical infrastructure protection, immigration policy, criminal justice reform, and community policing, providing objective findings that help governments build safer, more resilient societies.

Research on infrastructure and transportation examines surface transportation, aviation, rail, ports, water systems, energy grids, broadband, and public works investment—helping federal and state governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and international bodies make smarter infrastructure decisions. Work covers transportation safety, funding mechanisms, congestion, freight logistics, climate resilience of infrastructure, and equity in mobility access, generating the rigorous analysis that underpins major capital investment and regulatory decisions.

Research on international affairs examines geopolitics, diplomacy, arms control, global governance, conflict resolution, foreign policy, economic development, and the role of multilateral institutions—providing governments, international organizations, and think tanks with objective analysis on the world's most pressing challenges. Studies span U.S. foreign policy, NATO and alliances, China and Russia strategy, Middle East stability, nuclear security, humanitarian assistance, and global economic integration, supporting evidence-based decisionmaking across diplomatic and security domains.

Research on law and business addresses regulatory policy, corporate governance, antitrust, intellectual property, liability, financial markets, and the economic impacts of legal and regulatory frameworks—providing objective analysis to courts, regulators, legislators, and businesses navigating complex legal landscapes. Work spans consumer protection, insurance regulation, labor law, environmental liability, financial regulation, and civil justice reform, equipping policymakers and legal practitioners with rigorous empirical evidence to inform legislation, rulemaking, and adjudication.

Research on national security covers defense strategy, military readiness, nuclear deterrence, intelligence, space, cyber warfare, counterterrorism, and great-power competition—delivering the objective, rigorous analysis that the U.S. Department of Defense, armed services, and allied governments rely on to make consequential decisions. Work spans force structure and modernization, weapons acquisition, NATO burden-sharing, deterrence and escalation, Indo-Pacific security, personnel policy, and the integration of emerging technologies into military operations, providing decisionmakers with the evidence base for sound national security strategy.

Research on science and technology examines artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space, nuclear technology, emerging technologies, research and development policy, and the societal implications of scientific innovation—helping governments, foundations, and international bodies design policies that harness technological progress responsibly. Work spans AI safety and governance, quantum computing, biodefense, technology competition between nations, science funding priorities, and the workforce implications of automation, equipping policymakers with the analysis needed to govern transformative technologies effectively.

Research on workers and the workplace addresses labor markets, wages, job quality, workforce development, occupational health and safety, remote work, automation's impact on employment, and economic mobility—generating evidence that helps governments, employers, and unions build more equitable and productive labor markets. Studies span minimum wage policy, gig economy regulation, worker training programs, retirement security, disability employment, and the future of work, providing policymakers and business leaders with the rigorous analysis needed to support workers through economic transitions.

RAND supports organizations in developing evidence-based strategic plans by conducting research into future scenarios, stakeholder needs, resource constraints, and competitive environments. Strategic planning engagements help public agencies, defense organizations, and nonprofits translate complex analytical findings into actionable long-term direction and implementation roadmaps.

RAND evaluates the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of government programs, policies, and philanthropic initiatives — providing clients with rigorous empirical evidence to determine what works, for whom, and under what conditions. Program evaluation engagements span design, implementation assessment, and outcome measurement across health, education, defense, and social policy domains.

RAND develops and validates performance measurement frameworks, metrics, and indicators that help organizations track progress toward goals and demonstrate accountability. Measurement development engagements combine psychometric rigor with practical policy relevance — producing credible, defensible metrics for use in government performance management, program oversight, and organizational evaluation.

RAND delivers rigorous economic analysis to help clients understand the costs, benefits, trade-offs, and distributional effects of policies, programs, and investments. Economic analysis engagements span cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, market analysis, and macroeconomic modeling — providing the evidence base for consequential decisions in defense, health, education, energy, and social policy.

RAND conducts in-depth case study analyses that examine how policies, programs, or organizations have performed in real-world contexts — generating transferable lessons and actionable insights. Case study engagements combine qualitative and quantitative methods to document implementation experiences, identify success factors and barriers, and inform future policy design and program improvement.

RAND conducts systematic risk assessments that identify, characterize, and quantify threats to national security, public health, critical infrastructure, and organizational operations. Risk analysis engagements combine probabilistic modeling, scenario analysis, and expert judgment to help governments and organizations understand their risk exposure, prioritize mitigation investments, and build resilience against a wide range of threats.

RAND delivers objective, evidence-based policy analysis that helps governments, international organizations, and foundations navigate complex policy challenges across nearly all public policy domains. Policy analysis engagements examine the design, implementation, and effects of existing and proposed policies — providing rigorous, nonpartisan findings that equip decision-makers with the information needed to make consequential choices.