Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Sept. 11, 2025
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Breaking Down China's Economic Deterrence Playbook
In an era of increasing economic warfare, China has been particularly successful in deterring economic coercion. In a new paper, RAND Europe researchers break down Beijing's strategy, which is defined by
- denial (persuading an adversary that an attack will not succeed)
- entanglement (highlighting how China's connections with countries and companies could make an attack costly for the attacker)
- punishment (signaling that any attack will prompt a counterattack).
The authors emphasize that these approaches rely on credibility; China's adversaries must find Beijing credible for its strategy to be effective. This approach also requires that China's population is prepared for any attack and willing to endure the economic consequences.
The authors also explore whether and how Europe might borrow from China's playbook. "For the EU and the UK," the researchers write, "the path forward lies in being able and willing to leverage their unique strengths, foster collaboration and build resilience across critical sectors."
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Remembering Natalie Crawford
Natalie Crawford, a longtime RAND analyst who guided research on modernizing the U.S. Air Force, passed away this week at the age of 86. Crawford, who worked at RAND for more than 60 years, mentored generations of researchers and received numerous honors for major contributions to U.S. national defense. Crawford's legacy endures through her influential research, leadership, and philanthropy.
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Improving School Safety: What the Evidence Says
With a new school year underway, safety is a top priority for educators, families, and communities. Although high-profile incidents of violence dominate the headlines, schools face a wide range of challenges, including bullying, student fights, threats on social media, and physical security issues. RAND's Pauline Moore and Brian Jackson join the Policy Minded podcast this week to discuss their research on creating safer school environments.
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** More from Our Podcast
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Policy Minded picks the brains of the world's top policy experts. Other recent episodes have covered why it's so expensive to build housing in California, artificial general intelligence, and countering China in the Indo-Pacific. Subscribe today.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Could Taiwan resist a large-scale attack by China? And for how long? RAND's Timothy Heath explains in this short video.
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- RAND's Naoko Aoki discusses the deployment of advanced U.S. missile systems to Japan for use in joint training exercises.
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- What are the implications of the recent India-UK trade deal? RAND's Rafiq Dossani says the agreement "reveals as much about domestic political constraints as it does about economic vision."
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** Events
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Can Europe Deter Russia?
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 (Online)
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Institutional Reform and the Future of China’s Military
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 (Online)
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The State of Apprenticeship in West Virginia
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 (Online)
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China's Economic Future
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (London)
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The 'Big Shift' from Hospitals to Communities
Thursday, November 6, 2025 (Online)
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