Sign up for a free online subscription to receive email announcements of each new issue, complete with links to articles.

On the Cover There are now about 100 million Internet hosts around the world, a number that has nearly doubled almost every year since 1982, according to the Internet Software Consortium, a nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, Calif. RAND researchers estimate that about half of all Internet users today reside in either the United States or Canada. High-speed Internet connections exist almost exclusively between the United States and Europe and between the United States and Asia. There are very few high-speed links to or among developing countries. ILLUSTRATION BY PETER SORIANO

Fall 2000 Contents Message from the Editor Letters to the Editor News Information up against the Great Wall Portrait of a brain on drugs Popular culture as a terrorist threat? Tranquilizing Effect To prevent youth violence, try a dose of stability, a shot of self-esteem, or some good pediatric advice Cover Story Transcendental Destination Where will the information revolution lead? Competitive Jolt For electricity deregulation to work, surge capacity is just the beginning

Editor-in-Chief John Godges Assistant Editor Christina Pitcher News Editor Brett Grodeck Proofreader Miriam Polon Art Director Ronald Miller Designer Peter Soriano Circulation Christine Troncoso Web Producer Amy Clark

Editorial Board Dominic Brewer David Chu Paul Davis Jerrold Green James Hosek Iao Katagiri Kevin McCarthy Elizabeth McGlynn C. Richard Neu Mary Vaiana

Recent reports identified in this issue may be purchased from RAND's Distribution Services, 1700 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138. To place credit card orders, telephone toll free (877) 584-8642; send a fax to (310) 451-6915; or send e-mail to order@rand.org. National Book Network (NBN) carries selected RAND titles. Contact NBN at (800) 462-6420 to determine availability. Selected bibliographies of current research are available at no charge. Abstracts of RAND documents are available for review on the World Wide Web at /Abstracts/abstracts.html

The RAND Policy Circle Discretionary support for RAND research is provided by membership contributions to the RAND Policy Circle. Members of the RAND Policy Circle are invited to participate in seminars featuring top analysts and special guests who discuss their latest research on current public policy and social issues. To learn how to participate in the RAND Policy Circle, contact James W. Osterholt, executive director of development, at (310) 393-0411, ext. 7098. CP-22 (Rev. 12/00)