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Based on socio-cultural theories of risk and through individual conversational interviews with socially integrated drug users in Stockholm, Sweden, this article examines the informants' perception of drug-related risk and risk management. The analysis further examines these perceptions in relation to core Swedish cultural ideals of conscientiousness. The research shows that the informants have a sophisticated system of controlling their drug use and that this is based on a modified form of core Swedish cultural ideals. The article proposes that this has bearing for prevention policies which often neglect the cultural and social context connected to drug related risks perception and management.

This cumulative dissertation contains four self-contained articles which are related to EU regional policy and its structural funds as the overall research topic. In particular, the thesis addresses the question if EU regional policy interventions can at all be scientifically justified and legitimated on theoretical and empirical grounds from an economics point of view. The first two articles of the thesis ("The EU structural funds as a means to hamper migration" and "Internal migration and EU regional policy transfer payments: a panel data analysis for 28 EU member countries") enter into one particular aspect of the debate regarding the justification and legitimisation of EU regional policy. They theoretically and empirically analyse as to whether regional policy or the market force of the free flow of labour (migration) in the internal European market is the better instrument to improve and harmonise the living and working conditions of EU citizens. Based on neoclassical market failure theory, the first paper argues that the structu…

This cumulative dissertation contains four self-contained articles which are related to EU regional policy and its structural funds as the overall research topic. In particular, the thesis addresses the question if EU regional policy interventions can at all be scientifically justified and legitimated on theoretical and empirical grounds from an economics point of view. The first two articles of the thesis ("The EU structural funds as a means to hamper migration" and "Internal migration and EU regional policy transfer payments: a panel data analysis for 28 EU member countries") enter into one particular aspect of the debate regarding the justification and legitimisation of EU regional policy. They theoretically and empirically analyse as to whether regional policy or the market force of the free flow of labour (migration) in the internal European market is the better instrument to improve and harmonise the living and working conditions of EU citizens. Based on neoclassical market failure theory, the first paper argues that the structu…

AbstractAs part of the Department of Justice's comprehensive review of the Asset Forfeiture Program, then Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo on January 16th, 2015 restricting the adoption of state-level asset forfeitures by federal agencies. This paper seeks to predict what impact, if any, this change in policy will have on the use and abuse of civil asset forfeiture by examining the history of and literature surrounding civil asset forfeiture. Given this policy's narrow scope and lax definitions that exempt most cases where it would be applicable, it is unlikely that this policy will have a substantial impact. Alternative methods of limiting the abuse of both federal adoption and civil asset forfeiture as a whole are proposed.

A report on a part of a pure computer simulation model on the interdependence & mutual influence of the dyad US-South African within the international system is presented. The feedback model used is based on nonlinear, causal models that focus on an analytical separation of the present state of a system & its variation over time. Initial values & parameters are based on empirical data calculated by statistical procedures. Components of the analysis include questions on international relations & the domestic situation, the present state of the theoretical discussion, & an empirical analysis of data for the period 1964-1968. To find out how computer simulation can contribute to the analysis of process behavior in the international system, the effect of changes in US policy on influencing the SE & political development of South Africa toward liberalizing the government's racial policy is examined. Five experimental situations were run: (1) investment trends remain unchanged; (2) investment activity is stopped but existing investments remain in the country; (3) investments are withdrawn; (4) investment activity is increased by 5%, 10%, & 20%; & (5) the strategy of the antiapartheid coalition for influencing racial policy of South African changes from a policy of decreased descent to one of increased cooperation. Results of the different experiments show hardly any impact on the SE situation, especially on the apartheid policy of South Africa. Economic crises simulated in the model are shifted to the black population. The consequences are reflected more strongly in the relational aspect itself. A US economic boycott strategy spills over into the political field of the dyadic relation, whereas an incentive strategy strengthens cooperation with South Africa & thereby benefits the white power elite. 8 Figures, 1 Table. Modified HA.

EU law incentivises drug marketing authorisation holders (MAHs) to find new uses for their compounds (research known as "repositioning") by offering them an extra year of market protection if the new use is authorised. This extra year, known as the "+1", was enacted on limited evidence, and no study has examined its effect since it began. Yet, several leading commentators suggest lengthening the +1. This study assesses the effectiveness of the +1 by analysing all the relevant instances of MAHs repositioning their drugs before and after the +1 came into effect. The results show that: (i) 42.2% of MAHs repositioned their drugs before the +1 came into effect, and (ii) once the +1 did come into effect, it did not increase the percentage of MAHs that repositioned their drugs. This study finds that the +1 failed to increase repositioning and then proceeds to consider reform options, including repealing the law. In doing so, this study takes the first steps towards an evidence-based policy for the topic.

AbstractWhen the implementation of regulations requires judgement, there is bound to be noise in the application of the rules, but is there bias in the noise such that policy innovation, in effect, occurs in implementation? We use a recently available large postcode data set on the MOT road safety testing in the UK to answer this question. There is significant bias: the probability of failing varies systematically across postcodes, day of the week and vehicle colour. A national policy is undermined by this variability and we suggest how policy might be adjusted to reduce this unintended policy innovation.