Dissertations
PRGS dissertations tackle tomorrow's problems and institutional realities. Many of the topics cross the usual boundaries of public, private, non-profit. For example, David Trinkle's dissertation concerns government-industry partnerships to advance automobile technology. Ann Stone is working with art museums to analyze how their collections might be better utilized within and across museums--and how public policies might help. Jennifer Hicks' research on health-care programs is enabling a consortium of the United Auto Workers, the big three auto companies, and government agencies to work together more effectively.
Developing New Analytical Approaches
Many dissertations develop new analytical approaches. David
Persselin is pioneering the application of private-sector finance tools
to government
decisions about communications satellites and about aircraft replacement.
John Pinder created a new simulation methodology for analyzing the
Kosovo-style conflicts that may become more prevalent in the decades ahead.
Moira Inkelas' dissertation on children-at-risk in health was praised by
an outside reader as "the best example I've seen where detailed institutional
knowledge led to a new and better statistical specification."
Other dissertations look ahead to new kinds of problems that may emerge--and
what might be done about them. Lorne Teitelbaum is assessing the impact
of the information revolution on the intelligence community. Sean Edwards
combines both historical analysis and large-scale modeling in his research
on "swarming" as a battlefield phenomenon. Geoffrey Sommer is working on
policies to deal with the possible hazards of near-earth objects, and in
general on how to think about very low probability events.
Wide Range of Topics
There is more. How to think about class-sized reduction and its educational effects? Read the dissertation of Robert Reichardt. How does the involvement of fathers affect children's well-being, and what are the implications for welfare policies? Read Lee Mizell. What are the practical prospects for privatization in transition economies? Consult the dissertations of Robert Nordyke (on Macedonia) and Dao-chi Tong (on China). How can public policies take better account of two-income households? Read Casey Wardynski.
PRGS dissertations take place in a unique environment -- a graduate school embedded in the world's first and biggest independent think tank. At any time at RAND, there are over 500 research projects under way. Many fellows link their dissertations to these projects, carving out a area for their individual contribution to knowledge. This is an opportunity PRGS fellows value, an opportunity RAND values--and an opportunity that produces dissertations that probably couldn't be produced anywhere else.