This article argues that key aspects of drug policy, such as decisions about which substances to forbid and choices between incarceration and treatment of drug offenders, should devolve to state and local governments. It is contended that current policy is largely ineffective and may actually...

This paper explores the impact of increasing drug enforcement on the violent crime rate in the context of spatial competition in illicit drug markets. Violence is an important aspect of competition in illicit markets because disputes cannot be resolved in the courts. A model of spatial...

Although neighborhood quality is important for shaping public policy, it is also difficult to quantify. This study measured subjective neighborhood quality using data from two sources: (1) the 2002 American Housing Survey (AHS) and (2) the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's...

This report presents analysis conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) to determine the effectiveness of the risk analysis process used by HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD). Risk analysis...

The Pennsylvania state government taking over the Philadelphia school system raises important questions about how poorly Philadelphia schools were actually doing. The city had enacted a number of reforms during the mid-1990s, from instituting full day schooling for Kindergarten to increased...

This paper explores how economic development facilitates the creation of interest groups that seek to improve their “capabilities” that, as Amartya Sen has explained, can enhance human freedom. Mancur Olson's work shows that long periods of political stability can foster “distributive...

This paper explores the sources of income inequality among households aged 65 and older and the extent to which individual actions, competitive markets, and public policy can improve the financial well-being of those with low income. Three different types of retirement wealth are identified on...

Objective: This article examines the role Social Security plays in alleviating poverty among retirees in the context of threats to its solvency. Method: Examining long-term employment trends, declining access to defined benefit pensions and saving behavior can determine if in the more future...

Income inequality is exacerbated by labor market trends that increase the demand for high skill occupations and those in low skill service occupations. This hollowing out of the middle of the income distribution means that an increasing portion of households will be less prepared for retirement...

Income households’ share of national income has grown dramatically since 1970 while the bottom 80 percent has seen their share decline. This paper examines economic, social, and demographic changes that almost assure that the income would be increasingly concentrated at the top. Occupations...