March 2012

boys at a fast food window reaching for a hamburger and fries

Does Food Environment Predict Youth Diets?

It's widely assumed that living near fast-food restaurants and convenience stores encourages overconsumption, while supermarkets encourage healthier diets. However, an analysis found no robust link between food environment and consumption in youths, indicating a more complicated relationship than some theories suppose.

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More on Diet & Eating Habits

Characterizing and Exploring the Implications of Maritime Irregular Warfare

	Irregular warfare includes a range of activities in which naval forces have played an integral role but there has been little examination of the characteristics or potential of such operations in maritime environments. Current notions of irregular warfare would benefit from increased recognition of potential maritime contributions.
Full Document

Potential Impact of Alabama's Immigration Law

	Alabama HB 56 was signed into law in June 2011 and is regarded as the strictest anti-illegal immigration law in the United States. RAND research on immigration explores the costs, benefits, and challenges of enforcing federal and state immigration laws and may be of interest to Alabama and other state policymakers.
Policy Spotlight

New Findings on the "Unbanked" in America

	The fraction of American households that have no savings or checking accounts has long been a concern for policymakers. Results from the American Life Panel Survey suggest that in 2011, 15.5 percent of the population was "unbanked." Respondents cited financial barriers and personal preference as reasons.
Full Document

PODCAST

Creating Resilient Coastal Communities

	Jordan R. Fischbach discusses recent research that has helped the city of New Orleans address the challenge of reducing flood risk and is relevant to many other coastal communities that are concerned with water resources, infrastructure planning, rising sea levels, and flooding.
Listen to the Podcast \| Topic: Community Resilience