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...

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 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...

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...

It seems that America names a Tsar whenever we decide to focus on a policy problem, as though that title is associated with effective policies which are well administered. The appointment of a drug Tsar, the implicit policies that are associated with the War on Drugs, and the political...

Saving Social Security usually means maintaining current benefits that will be cut by about 20 percent in 2035 if taxes dedicated to the program are not increased. Almost one-third of households 65 and older get more than 75 percent of their income from Social Security. This essay argues that...

About 70 percent of mutual fund assets are in managed funds. These funds seek to earn an above average return for investors but, because of the up-front loads, fees and other costs, they generally earn less than the low cost index funds that only seek to get a return equal to that of the stock...

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...

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...