>International Economic Relations
Increased international trade, and the lowering of barriers to such trade, frequently results in improved international relations, but it can also lead to trade wars and tariff disputes. RAND research explores bilateral and multilateral economic relations; describes how they affect global alliances, globalization, and the economic health of nations; and recommends methods to develop, encourage, and maintain these relations among diverse nations and cultures.
Why We 'Send Them Money'
Why does the United States send foreign countries American taxpayer money? The answer, in short, is because it serves U.S. self-interest to do so. Aid is not some act of charity at the American taxpayers' expense; it can help keep Americans safer, more prosperous, and secure.
How American Influence Has Declined, and What Can Be Done About It
The United States has been declining in foreign policy achievements for two decades. Skeptics need to be persuaded that working for a more peaceful and prosperous world is in America's national and their personal interest. And sustained public support for international engagement requires cooperation across party lines.
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All Subtopics All Subtopics International Exchange Agreements International Trade International Trade Law Trade Barriers
All Authors All Authors Aguila, Emma Akhmedjonov, Alisher Arciniegas Rueda, Ismael Awan, Jalal Baffa, Richard C. Balmat, Barry Bartis, James T. Baruch, Ben Basurto-Davila, Ricardo Becker, Abraham S. Bellamy, Mark Bellasio, Jacopo Bennett, Bruce W. Bensahel, Nora Berkowitz, Samuel K. Bildt, Carl Binnendijk, Hans Black, James Blackwill, Robert D. Blank, Jonah Bogdan, Olena Bouey, Jennifer Brewer, Eric Brown, Harold Burwell, Frances G. Camm, Frank Cevallos, Astrid Stuth Chalk, Peter Chan, Arthur Chandler, Nathan Chandra, Anita Chase, Michael S. Chivvis, Christopher S. Chow, Brian G. Clarke, Colin P. Cliff, Roger Cohen, Raphael S. Constant, Louay Cooper, Cortez A. III Corboy, Denis Cornish, Paul Courtney, William Cozad, Mark Crane, Keith Culbertson, Shelly DaVanzo, Julie Davis, Lynn E. Dobbins, James Dogo, Harun Dossani, Rafiq Eaton, Derek Efron, Shira Efron, Sonni Egel, Daniel Erich, Niels Fischbach, Jordan R. Floyd, Lee Franks, Edward Carr Fravel, Taylor Garafola, Cristina L. Gayton, S. Jamie Gerstein, Daniel M. Godges, John P. Gompert, David C. Graf, Marlon Graham, John D. Grant, Jonathan Grissom, Adam R. Grossman, Derek Groves, David G. Hachigian, Nina Hafner, Marco Han, Eugeniu Hanauer, Larry Harold, Scott W. Havrylyshyn, Oleh Heath, Timothy R. Heginbotham, Eric Heymann, Hans Hoehn, Andrew R. Hoobler, James Hoorens, Stijn Hornung, Jeffrey W. Howarth, David Hunter, Robert E. Iyengar Plumb, Radha Jensen, Donald Jones, Gregory S. Jones, Seth G. Kahl, Colin H. Kauzlarich, Richard Kavanagh, Jennifer Kaye, Dalia Dassa Kim, Soo Knack, Anna Knopman, Debra Kobzar, Svitlana Kumar, Krishna B. Kuzio, Taras Laird, Burgess Lal, Rollie Larrabee, F. Stephen Larson, Eric V. Lempert, Robert J. Libicki, Martin C. Lilly, Bilyana Lin, Bonny Loredo, Elvira N. Lowell, Julia F. Lu, Hui Ma, Logan Martini, Jeffrey Mazarr, Michael J. Medeiros, Evan S. Miller, Paul D. Morris, Lyle J. Mulvenon, James C. Nader, Alireza Nasir, John L. Nataraj, Shanthi Nathan, Andrew J. Nemeth, Erik Neu, C. Richard Noyes, Alexander H. Ohlandt, Chad J. R. Oliker, Olga Overholt, William H. Parasiliti, Andrew Parker, Michelle Parks, Michael Pezard, Stephanie Pollitt, Alexandra Pollpeter, Kevin L. Radin, Andrew Reyna, Sandra Ries, Charles P. Rohr, Charlene Saltskog, Mollie Schwartz, Lowell H. Scobell, Andrew Shatz, Howard J. Shlapak, David A. Silberglitt, Richard Smith, Troy D. Sollinger, Jerry M. Solomon, Richard H. Stanley, Karlyn D. Stearns Lawson, Brooke Stepanek, Martin Swanger, Rachel M. Tabatabai, Ariane M. Thompson, Julia A. Thrall, Lloyd Tingstad, Abbie Treverton, Gregory F. Wolf, Charles, Jr. Wyne, Ali Yalowitz, Kenneth
Managing International Borders: Balancing Security with the Licit Flow of People and Goods
This Perspective builds on global best practices and lessons learned from other established border management solutions and proposes opportunities to strengthen security while improving the flow of travelers and goods.
The Greater Danger of U.S.-China Trade Tensions
Trade tensions between the United States and China could escalate into a full-blown trade war, with ramifications for economic ties and the global economy. The long-term danger, however, is that tensions could begin to undercut the interdependence that has been so essential to keeping strategic competition between the two giants in check.
The U.S. Is Out of the Iran Deal. What Now?
Abandoning the nuclear agreement with Iran isolates the United States, reneges on an American commitment, adds to the risk of a trade war with U.S. allies and a hot war with Iran, and diminishes the prospects of an agreement to eliminate the North Korean threat.
The Future of Arctic Cooperation in a Changing Strategic Environment: Insights from a Scenario-Based Exercise Organised by RAND and Hosted by NUPI
This Perspective summarises the results of a table-top exercise on factors that could upset Arctic cooperation in the 2020 decade. While this exercise confirmed the solidity of cooperation, it also identified "wild cards" that could create tensions.
Recalibrate, Rather Than Abandon, U.S. China Policy
China does not necessarily seek to succeed the U.S. as the world's superpower, especially if such a mantle would impose on it real and/or perceived obligations for steering global affairs. What is the verdict, then, on America's China policy, and where should the two countries go from here?
Russia Chooses Autarchy—and Isolation—Over Cooperation
Russia says it is ending a centuries-long quest to join the West and preparing for "100 years of geopolitical solitude." If Russia goes this way it will be because of its own unwise policies, not a Western cold shoulder.
Building a Sustainable World Order
The growing threat to the rules-based postwar order is a defining feature of current discussions about world politics. A two-year project explored the existing international order, assessed the challenges facing it, and recommended policies to advance U.S. interests.
What Role Will the United States Play in the World?
Under the leadership of President Trump, the United States is questioning the net strategic benefits of its participation in the postwar order as never before. Foreign policy priorities are increasingly disconnected from the day-to-day concerns of most Americans.
Strengthening U.S.-ROK Relations in the New Administrations of the United States and South Korea: Findings from an October 2016 RAND Corporation Conference
This summary outlines presentations and discussions from an October 2016 conference on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, with a focus on strengthening regional security and economic relations.
U.S. Policy in Asia Under the Trump Administration
A conference on U.S. policy in Asia explored the arenas of U.S.-Asia engagement, developed an understanding of the outcomes of past interaction, and made the case for the terms of future engagement. Topics included climate change, trade and investment, national security, human rights, and macroeconomic issues.
Why the U.S.-Japan Summit Matters
After a year and half of relative stability, the The United States and Japan now must talk about difficult issues in which they have vested interests. As allies, and close friends, they could both benefit from reconfirming common goals and establishing a set of strategies to deal with challenges.
To Protect Interests Abroad, China Will Feature a Diverse Array of Military, Non-Military Forces
As Beijing grapples with the realities of an economy increasingly susceptible to disruption from distant influences, experts debate how the Chinese military might protect overseas interests. Some have speculated that China may seek a military like that of the United States. Others have dismissed such a possibility.
The Iran Deal Will Survive, at Least for Now
A U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal does not necessarily mean the deal will collapse. But a broader collapse of the agreement along with the imposition of harsh sanctions in the coming months could sharply escalate tensions with Iran.
Moscow Is Going Too Far
Russia has become more daring with the West with its retaliatory expulsions and may face a high price. An angered West could turn from expulsions to economic countermeasures.
To Protect Overseas Interests, China Likely to Rely More on Contractors and Host Nation Forces Than Its Own Military
China is far less likely to involve its military in security activities abroad than has been the case for the United States or for imperial powers of previous centuries. To bolster security for the Belt and Road Initiative and other economic activities abroad, China will instead rely heavily on civilian contractors and host nation-provided forces, with Chinese military and paramilitary forces playing an important but limited role.
How China Is Pursuing Overseas Security
Thousands of China's commercial enterprises are located overseas. Millions of its citizens travel abroad each year. To protect its interests from maritime piracy, civil conflict, and other threats, China is likely to rely more on contractors and host nation forces than its own military. What will this mean for the United States?
Putin Can Learn from Gorbachev on How to Gain from Future U.S. Talks
Vladimir Putin has won a flawed election to a fourth term as Russia's president, and Donald Trump has suggested the two will likely meet soon. For the Kremlin leader, however, a summit may draw shortcomings into sharper relief. If the two presidents meet, several key issues will await them.
Getting Out from "In-Between": Perspectives on the Regional Order in Post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia
The perspectives collected in these conference proceedings explore alternatives to the current approaches to the regional order for the states "in between" the West and Russia -- Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Book Review: Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony
In Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony Kori Schake discusses the world's peaceful transition from British Empire to United States preeminence. She also considers the implications of her analysis for the present dynamics between a preeminent United States and a resurgent China.
A Brexit Do-Over?
European Union member states have a method for dealing with unsatisfactory referendums, called a do-over. A Brexit do-over would be complicated—all 27 other EU members would have to agree—but since Britain leaving is also disadvantageous for the rest of the EU, they have incentives to welcome back the prodigal.
Foreign Economic Relations;
Steven W. Popper
Senior Economist
Steven W. Popper is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. As associate director of the Science and Technology Policy Institute FFRDC (1996–2001), Popper provided analytic support to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy…
Jim Mignano
Jim Mignano is a Ph.D. student at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. His research interests include international political economy, economic statecraft, science and technology policy, clandestine networks, collective action, and trust in cyberspace.