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Supporting Weight Management Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Phase 1 Insights
From the Executive Summary: "Societal changes required to manage the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have inadvertently promoted weight gain, due to the adverse impact on socio-economics, psychological health, and the resulting metabolic impact of elevated stress, emotional eating and physical inactivity. Evidence on the impact of COVID-19 has rapidly accumulated, to demonstrate that people living with obesity are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. It is therefore important to understand what is happening in terms of weight management practice to develop local and national thinking. This project will explore the impact of the COVID-19 upon the provision of tier 2 and 3 weight management services (WMS) in England during the lockdown period (phase I; March-June 2020); and determine what needs to happen in the future (phase II; September-November 2020). This report documents findings from phase I."
Public Health England
Ells, Louisa J.; Radley, Duncan; Matu, Jamie . . .
2020-09
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Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR) (Volume 27, Number 9)
This edition of MSMR [Medical Surveillance Monthly Report] contains the following articles: "Update: Routine Screening for Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Civilian Applicants for U.S. Military Service and U.S. Armed Forces, Active and Reserve Components, January 2015-June 2020"; "Incidence of Inguinal Hernia and Repair Procedures and Rate of Subsequent Pain Diagnoses, Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2010-2019"; and "Surveillance of Spotted Fever Rickettsioses at Army Installations in the U.S. Central and Atlantic Regions, 2012-2018."
Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (U.S.)
2020-09
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What's at Stake: Economic Justice
From the Document: "Courts are often the last resort for Americans who have been injured by a defective product, defrauded by a big bank, or wrongly fired by an employer. Access to the courts and a trial by jury are so fundamental to our democratic system that they were a leading cause of the American Revolution and are enshrined in the Constitution's Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial in civil cases. James Madison called the right to trial by jury in civil cases, 'as essential to secure the liberty of the people as any one of the pre-existent rights of nature.' Today, fair access to courts remains vital to achieving economic justice and equality in this country. Not surprisingly, big corporations and special interests hate the prospect of being held accountable in court and have waged a decades-long campaign in Congress and the courts for laws and procedural rules that limit the American people's ability to hold them liable for malfeasance."
United States. Congress. Senate. Democratic Policy Committee
Warren, Elizabeth; Stabenow, Debbie; Whitehouse, Sheldon, 1955- . . .
2020-09
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Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Strategic Outlook
From the Executive Summary: "Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a pervasive security threat to U.S. national interests. By undermining international agreements and fisheries conservation measures, IUU fishing jeopardizes global food security, with pronounced destabilizing effects on vulnerable coastal States. IUU fishing robs legal fishers of their livelihoods, endangering the economic security of all nations with a maritime boundary. Industrial scale fishing vessels deployed by irresponsible and aggressive flag States can increase geo‐political tensions, undermining the rights of nations to exercise their sovereignty and benefit from their economic resources. A lack of accountability by these flag States to enforce responsible maritime behavior on their fleets further enables illegal fishing actors to violate international rules-based order and opens the door to transnational criminal organizations to use profits from IUU fishing to monetize a suite of other illegal activities."
United States. Coast Guard
2020-09
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U.S.-China Relations in the Age of COVID-19: Politics, Polemics and Pandemic Response Measures: A Collection of Individual Analyses on the History and Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic
From the Foreword: "Given the expanding significance of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] around the world, ICAS [Institute for China-America Studies] has dedicated much of its recent research efforts to understanding and debating the impact of the coronavirus on U.S.-China relations. Beginning in late February, ICAS researchers began developing a living database in order to track developments in the coverage and response by global actors, both government and private, with a focus on perspectives in the West. Reams of data was pulled together through research of over 190 Western public and private sector responses, typically beginning with online media sources, starting with the coronavirus' outbreak from December 1, 2019 to the present. The team continued updating this database and developed a second database focusing on Chinese coverage and responses, looking at similar sectors as a comparative focus of study. ICAS has released a series of commentaries relevant to the COVID-19, each of which is accompanied by its own interactive map. [...] This ICAS Report is a compilation of the ICAS research team's effort over the past half-year to spotlight and provide multiple perspectives on U.S. and Chinese interactions and responses to the pandemic."
Institute for China-America Studies
Hong, Nong; Gupta, Sourabh; Geraci, Matt . . .
2020-09
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COVID and Free Speech: The Impact of COVID-19 and Ensuing Measures on Freedom of Expression in Council of Europe Member States
From the Document: "The coronavirus pandemic constitutes an unprecedented and global crisis, which has forced Council of Europe member states to take extraordinary measures on the basis of constantly evolving and sometimes conflicting insights and information. The news media have played an important role in providing information about COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and associated measures, and news consumption has increased drastically. At the same time, the crisis has amplified important pre-existing challenges to free expression. The steady deterioration of freedom of expression across Europe in the recent years has weakened member states' resilience in the face of the crisis and must be addressed. The success of efforts to contain the spread of the virus is largely dependent on access to accurate, reliable, diverse and timely information by all - public authorities, media, medical and other technical staff and, equally important, the population. A free and pluralistic public debate is crucial for the public's understanding of the situation and for their ability to make informed decisions, limit rumours, recognise disinformation and foster solidarity and trust in measures taken to address the crisis."
Council of Europe
Noorlander, Peter
2020-09?
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Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: OPTOLANE Technologies, Inc., Kaira 2019-nCoV Detection Kit
From the Document: "This Fact Sheet informs you of the significant known and potential risks and benefits of the emergency use of the Kaira 2019-nCoV [novel coronavirus] Detection Kit. The Kaira 2019-nCoV Detection Kit is authorized for use with respiratory specimens collected from individuals suspected of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] by their healthcare provider."
United States. Food and Drug Administration
2020-09-01
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Catch-22: Relations Between Labor Unions and Management in Public Safety
From the Thesis Abstract: "In the United States, a small portion of firefighters are responsible for fire and emergency responses for a large segment of the population. Many of those firefighters are members of a labor union; in states that allow collective bargaining, the unions hold significant legal protections in regard to contract negotiations, job protection, and working conditions. The relationship between the firefighters' unions and the government entities that employ their members can bring about positive collaboration or costly, ongoing battles that negatively impact services. Those who oppose unions point to the associated costs and the considerable sway unions hold over elected officials. Union activists, however, point to the job protections and benefits that unions negotiate and the continued need for employees to have a collective voice. In places where public sector unions are allowed, labor and management must find a way to relate to each other in a manner that is fair and equitable to the union membership but that also ensures services provided to citizens are effective and efficient. This thesis concludes that collaboration and pursuit of shared interests benefit both labor and management, and acting outside of the legal frameworks of a unionized workforce is counterproductive and exacerbates the problem. Labor unrest drives costs through legal action and can reduce the level of service provided to taxpayers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dudek, Matthew
2020-09
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Gods Versus Titans: Ideological Indicators of Identitarian Violence
From the Thesis Abstract: "The identitarian movement is a complex socio-political worldview based on the notion that the European identity must be defended against the onslaught of globalism, replacement, and liberalism. In order to arm current and future identitarians with the courage and resolve they must have to fight this war, identitarian leadership has built a culture of violence founded on ancient heroes, epic battles, and wars between gods and Titans. In some cases, the culture of violence moves from the realm of allusion to the real world, where scores of innocents are murdered in churches, stores, and summer camps. This thesis applies the theory of sensemaking to identitarianism in a series of lenses through which adherents perceive, construct, and then react to the world. The identitarian culture of violence is found in the positioning of each lens, with violence ultimately becoming a lens unto itself. By studying and understanding the various lenses used by identitarians, U.S. law enforcement will be equipped to seek out and identify markers of identitarian violence and intercede before more lives are lost."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Adamczyk, Christopher J.
2020-09
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How Can Architecture Make Communities and Urban Environments More Resilient to Disease?
From the Thesis Abstract: "The thesis outlines a series of risk factors that will increase the frequency and intensity of disease outbreaks in the years to come. As COVID-19 has shown, an outbreak can occur at any time. Architecture can be an agent to help reduce the risk. By creating spaces that prioritize health-giving attributes--through the circulation of airflow, spatial design, biophilic elements, natural light, and selection of the right building materials--architecture can be built for healing, and to support infection control. In the 19th century, cities like London and New York implemented housing reforms to improve the living conditions in tenements and other dwellings. Back then, the incorporation of light, nature, and airflow into a building's design was seen as a prescription for disease. In recent years, a growing body of research is confirming what the architects and planners from the past deduced from theory and intuition: that the built environment can promote health and well-being, and reduce the public's exposure to such respiratory infections as tuberculosis and COVID-19. Organizations like Mass Design Group and Archive Global have been applying lessons from the past to design spaces of the present with health-giving intent. This thesis examines their work, along with their core strategies. Ultimately, this thesis advances a prescriptive model to shape the built environment to make it healthier and more resilient, and to reimagine how spaces function and operate."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Garofalo, Jeffrey A.
2020-09
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Defending American Democracy in the Post-Truth Age: A Roadmap to a Whole-Of-Society Approach
From the Thesis Abstract: "False narratives increasingly threaten U.S. democratic society and evolving adversaries and technology are making it more difficult for authorities and the public to differentiate between fact, opinion, and falsehoods. Despite experts proposing a variety of recommendations to mitigate this threat, the United States does not have a national-level strategy in place to combat deceptive messaging in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The author analyzed over 170 recommendations for a U.S. strategy and found that many of them hinge on broad coordination between all U.S. stakeholders, which includes, but is not limited to, all levels of government, private sector, academia, media, and civil society. To identify how the United States can achieve the coordination needed to combat deceptive messaging, the author conducted a case study of the role of coordination in the European Union (EU) response to disinformation and an assessment of collective impact, a cross-sector coordination method used for complex social problems, for use in the United States. The conclusions of the case study and assessment endorse U.S. government practitioners to use collective impact and components of existing practices in the EU response to disinformation to build a coordinated national strategy to challenge those who wish to harm American democracy and U.S. interests via cyber-based deceptive messaging."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mason, Katelyn M.
2020-09
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Disasters, Finances, Nutrients, and Climate Change: A Case for Waterless Sanitation Systems
From the Thesis Abstract: "The practice of sewering (transporting with underground pipes) human excreta began in the mid-1800s and propelled the United States into the current wastewater paradigm. Water is the key element of wastewater conveyance, treatment, and disposal/reuse systems. Although this process has arguably improved quality of life, extending it to manage human excreta with water is becoming problematic due to water's increasing scarcity, mounting costs, contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and deleterious environmental effects. This thesis sought to answer the following central research question: To what extent would an alternative means of managing human excreta benefit homeland security? Through appreciative inquiry and structured interviews with human subjects, research revealed that a method known as container-based sanitation has applications in multiple contexts. Container-based sanitation is rapidly deployable, scalable, and can be used in any situation in which traditional wastewater systems are nonoperable or nonexistent, such as disaster recovery, homelessness, and temporary encampments such as refugee camps or military bases."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Smith, Ryan A.
2020-09
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Hidden Impact of COVID-19 on Child Rights
From the Executive Summary: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has spread rapidly within and between countries across the globe. Governments worldwide have implemented measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 including school closures, home isolation/quarantine and community lockdown, all of which have secondary impacts on children and their households. Save the Children launched a global research study to generate rigorous evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented to mitigate it are impacting children's health, nutrition, learning, well-being, protection, family finances and poverty, and to identify children's and their family needs during these times. [...] The results presented in this report focus on implications for Child Rights, drawing on data from our representative sample of 17,565 parents/caregivers and 8,069 children in our programme participants group."
Save the Children (U.S.)
Dulieu, Nicole; Burgess, Melissa; Orlassino, Chiara . . .
2020-09
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Hidden Impact of COVID-19 on Child Protection and Wellbeing
From the Executive Summary: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has spread rapidly within and between countries across the globe. Governments worldwide have implemented measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 including school closures, home isolation/quarantine and community lockdown, all of which have secondary impacts on children and their households. Save the Children launched a global research study to generate rigorous evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented to mitigate it are impacting children's health, nutrition, learning, well-being, protection, family finances and poverty, and identify children's and their family needs during these times. The research also captures children's views and messages for leaders and other children."
Save the Children (U.S.)
Ritz, Daniela; O'Hare, Georgina; Burgess, Melissa . . .
2020-09
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Key to Lawful Access: An Analysis of the Alternatives Offered in the Encryption Debate
From the Thesis Abstract: "This thesis examines the lawful access challenge that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face when seeking to obtain communications and mobile electronic devices that cannot be penetrated and that include strong encryption protocols. This encrypted data is inaccessible despite government agencies holding court-approved search warrants and wiretap orders authorizing access. Technology companies, cryptographers, and privacy advocates have argued for years that allowing such lawful access for government agencies will leave Americans' personal information vulnerable to cyber criminals and nation-state adversaries. These groups have offered alternatives to lawful access, which they argue can stand in lieu of the lawful access government agencies argue should be mandated. This thesis uses a policy options analysis to evaluate the viability of these alternatives to mandated lawful access. This thesis explores law enforcement and intelligence agencies' need for access to encrypted data through a review of incidents in which access proved fruitful and incidents in which lack of access was detrimental to public safety, homeland and national security, criminal investigations, etc. This thesis finds that the alternatives offered in place of lawful access are not adequate in ensuring government agencies are able to fulfill their law enforcement and intelligence missions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mack, William R.
2020-09
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Trolls or Threats? Challenges of Alt-Right Extremism to Local Law Enforcement
From the Thesis Abstract: "The alt-right subculture is a relatively new component of online right-wing extremism. Because it is dissimilar from older white nationalist movements and has a perplexing style of communication, the media and public discourse incoherently and inconsistently frame the movement. Due to a lack of consistent background information on the movement, local law enforcement executives have found themselves underprepared for alt-right gatherings in their jurisdictions. This thesis provides agencies with guidance on the alt-right, including a discussion of existing theories of recruitment, self-recruitment, and the acerbic culture. The thesis also provides a comparative case study of mass casualty incidents perpetrated by individuals who openly espoused ideologies linked to the alt-right and movements with significant overlap, such as the manosphere. Finally, based on the theoretical and case study comparative analyses, this thesis concludes that although the movement's popularity is declining, the alt-right remains a threat to homeland security and the ideologies behind it are likely to subsist under another name."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bobin, Jonathan M.
2020-09
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Perfect Storm: Climate-Induced Migration to the United States
From the Thesis Abstract: "From the Mariel boatlift in the 1980s to the recent mass migration of familial units from the Northern Triangle in 2019, the United States has consistently been unprepared to handle mass migration events. With the world approximately 1.0°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, climatic-driven migration events will now challenge the U.S. borders. This thesis explores how the United States might prepare to handle cross-border climate change-induced migration from a homeland security perspective. Using the research methodology of scenario planning, this study assesses the many ways the future might unfold by focusing on intersecting global megatrends and an array of global warming projections in the year 2050. As a result, this thesis finds that regardless of how the world chooses to combat global warming in the coming decades, migration will continue. If the United States is to prepare for such a future, regional agreements and national legislation will be necessary. In turn, if leveraged correctly, climate migrants can help the United States compete with future emerging economies. This thesis ultimately concludes that a proactive approach to cross-border climate change-induced migration might not only benefit climate migrants but also the future resiliency of United States well into the mid-century."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Wright, Katelin M.
2020-09
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Modeling for Success: Strengthening Homeland Security Through Vocational-Based Offender Programming
From the Thesis Abstract: "Incarceration rates in the United States are among some of the highest in the world, and offenders' returning to confinement is an issue that needs reform. Correctional agencies need to identify programs to prepare offenders for a better chance at a successful reintegration into society. While many methods attempt to reduce recidivism, research shows that unemployed offenders are overwhelmingly more likely to return to prison than offenders who obtain stable, living-wage jobs with advancement opportunities. This thesis investigated vocational-based programs for offenders to identify best practices and potential gaps, as well as program components that support offender success through job skill training. The research methodology consisted of a literature review, qualitative analysis, and a local case study of the Michigan Department of Corrections' Vocational Village program. Because the research uncovered very little information and data for vocational-based training for offenders, this thesis attempted to fill that gap by constructing a conceptual model for vocational program development that starts with a mission statement and ends with continuous program improvement. Using the information contained within this thesis, agencies might construct a tailored model or framework for instituting a vocational-based program."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Travelbee, Brently C.
2020-09
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Lone Actor Terrorists: The Performance of Hegemonic Masculinity Through Acts of Violence
From the Thesis Abstract: "As the United States faces the threat of lone actor terrorism, researchers have struggled to reach a consensus on how to profile these actors and fully understand causation and motivation. The media frequently report attackers' histories of gender-based violence; however, there is a lack of gendered analysis of lone actor terrorism. This thesis explores the role of gender-based violence and hegemonic masculinity in the radicalization and attacks carried out in the United States by post-9/11 lone actor terrorists. It finds that a majority of the attackers experienced stressors related to the performance of hegemonic masculinity, a culturally constructed set of norms that values dominance and accomplishment in terms of wealth, heterosexual romantic partners, and control. This thesis explores these stressors as identity threats in the context of social identity theory. In the absence of group dynamics, it connects referent informational influence to social identity theory concepts and radicalization models for lone actor terrorists. This thesis presents a thematic diagram that coalesces social identity theory with lone actor terrorism, radicalization, and studies of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, this thesis finds that collecting data on gender-based violence will be critical to understanding lone actor terrorism and violence prevention strategies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Windisch, Beth
2020-09
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Prepare to Fight: Is the National Active-Shooter Response Model Due for an Upgrade?
From the Thesis Abstract: "Documenting and analyzing the lessons learned from emergencies are essential to improve the training designed to save lives. The goal of this thesis was to examine actual active-shooter events, training models for the response to active shooters, and emergency drills to determine whether the current training model of Run, Hide, Fight is sufficient or needs revision. This study of historical emergency training examined human responses to frightening situations, analyzed past active-shooter events, evaluated the tactics and strategies of shooters, and measured the effectiveness of the current training. The study found that active-shooter training may be more effective if instructions highlight the importance of constant situational assessment with an emphasis on the fluidity of the incident. Response decisions should change as the event evolves and dictates an appropriate response. Moreover, the evolution of decisions made during the event may increase the survivability rate. The Run, Hide, Fight model is effective, but increasing the importance of constant situational awareness and adaptive decision-making within the training program is recommended. The delivery of active-shooter training should focus less on linear progression--first run, next hide, and then fight--and more on what the situation dictates to be the best response."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tannenbaum, Suzanne E.
2020-09
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Video Gaming and Behavioral Disorders Associated with Mass Shootings
From the Thesis Abstract: "The recent aftermath of mass shootings in the United States has caused some experts, as well as President Donald Trump, to speculate that a link may exist between violent acts and video gaming. Mass shootings have become a severe problem in America. The National Institute of Justice research has shown that 20 percent of all public mass shootings in the U.S. have occurred between 2014 and 2019. This thesis examines the effects of video gaming on mental health and the link between violent video games and mass shootings, and offers skeptical views by other experts who argue no link exists between mass shootings and video games. Factors associated with violence involving video games and the gamers' behavior may explain what inspires the mass shooters. Although not all video gamers become violent, this thesis contends it is likely individuals with underlying conditions may be vulnerable to committing violent acts by developing internet gaming disorder (IGD)."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Ye, Daniel Y.
2020-09
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Deadly Consequences: Obstruction of Aid in Yemen During Covid-19
From the Summary: "Civilians in Yemen are facing one hardship after another. A decade of economic and political crisis and more than five years of war have ravaged the country. Thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, and at least 3.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to a conflict that involves at least six regional and international powers. With about 24 million of Yemen's 30 million people in need of some form of assistance, the United Nations calls Yemen the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Cholera and other disease outbreaks are common, malnutrition is widespread, water is scarce, and the healthcare system is crumbling, with only half of the country's 5,000 or so health facilities fully operational and with massive medical supply and staff shortages. In August 2020, the UN warned the country was again on the brink of full-scale famine. Now Yemenis, many already in a weakened state of health, face the deadly Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. [...] This report, based on interviews with 35 humanitarian workers, 10 donor officials, and 10 Yemeni health workers, uncovers the complex web of restrictions on aid and the devastating impact they are having on Yemenis' access to health care, water, food, sanitation, and other basic needs."
Human Rights Watch (Organization)
Simpson, Gerry
2020-09
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Power, Profits and the Pandemic: From Corporate Extraction for the Few to an Economy That Works for All
From the Summary: "There are three main ways in which companies have exacerbated the economic impacts of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]: 1. Excessive shareholder payouts before the crisis have left companies, workers and governments vulnerable to the pandemic shock. The world's largest corporations could have had a lot of cash on-hand when COVID-19 hit to shield workers, adjust business models and prevent costly public bail-outs. [...] Yet, the profits they made prior to the current crisis almost went exclusively to a small group of predominantly wealthy shareholders rather than being reinvested in better jobs or climate-friendly technologies. [...] 2. Corporations make money but do little to support government resources to respond to the pandemic[.] [...] As many of the world's billionaires are also some of the largest shareholders in these companies, the 25 wealthiest billionaires increased their wealth by a staggering $255bn between mid-March and late-May alone. Some would argue that corporates have made up for this with their tax payments and the generosity of their philanthropy, but the evidence does not support this. [...] 3. Companies putting profits before people has worsened the COVID-19 crisis [...] Unless we change course, economic inequality will increase [...] This is the time for governments to create incentives and limitations to radically rein in corporate power, restructure business models with purpose, and reward all those who create value. This could create a post-COVID economy for everyone that will be better placed to withstand future shocks[.] [...] This paper proposes such a blueprint."
Oxfam International
Gneiting, Uwe; Lusiani, Nicholas; Tamir, Irit
2020-09
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Worth the Sacrifice? Illiberal and Authoritarian Practices During Covid-19
From the Abstract: "Excessive use of emergency powers and limitations of media freedoms have raised concerns that Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is infecting democracy itself. How do government responses to Covid-19 violate democratic standards? How do such violations relate to the countries' success in limiting the Covid-19 death tolls? We propose a novel conceptualization of which government responses to Covid-19 qualify as a violation of democratic standards and measure such violations using a regularly updated dataset covering 143 countries from March 2020 onward. Our data track seven types of violations of democratic standards for emergency measures during the Covid-19 pandemic: discriminatory measures, derogation of non-derogable rights, abusive enforcement, no time limit on emergency measures, disproportionate limitations on the role of the legislature, official disinformation campaigns, and restrictions on media freedoms. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the extent to which governments have violated democratic standards in their response to Covid-19. Using a regression analysis, we find no relationship between violations of democratic standards for emergency measures and Covid-19 death rates. Thus, violations of democratic standards during the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be justified by the achievement of better public health outcomes. Rather, such crisisdriven violations need to be carefully observed as they could signal autocratization."
University of Gothenburg. Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute
Maerz, Seraphine F.; Lührmann, Anna; Lachapelle, Jean . . .
2020-09
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Great Lockdown and the Big Stimulus: Tracing the Pandemic Possibility Frontier for the U.S.
From the Abstract: "We provide a quantitative analysis of the trade-offs between health outcomes and the distribution of economic outcomes associated with alternative policy responses to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. We integrate an expanded SIR model of virus spread into a macroeconomic model with realistic income and wealth inequality, as well as occupational and sectoral heterogeneity. In the model, as in the data, economic exposure to the pandemic is strongly correlated with financial vulnerability, leading to very uneven economic losses across the population. We summarize our findings through a distributional pandemic possibility frontier, which shows the distribution of economic welfare costs associated with the different aggregate mortality rates arising under alternative containment and fiscal strategies. For all combinations of health and economic policies we consider, the economic welfare costs of the pandemic are large and heterogeneous. Thus, the choice governments face when designing policy is not just between lives and livelihoods, as is often emphasized, but also over who should bear the burden of the economic costs. We offer a quantitative framework to evaluate both trade-offs."
National Bureau of Economic Research
Kaplan, Greg, 1978-; Violante, Giovanni L.; Moll, Benjamin
2020-09
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Lost Generation in American Foreign Policy: How American Influence Has Declined, and What Can Be Done About it
From the Webpage Description: "The authors trace the decline of U.S. international influence over the past two decades, explore reasons for this decline, and suggest ways in which it might be reversed. They conclude that post-Cold War unipolarity bred hubris that, when provoked by the attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in overreach and consequent setbacks. These, in turn, led to geopolitical retrenchment. The 2008 Great Recession fed U.S. disenchantment with international economic policies that produced national and global growth but failed to raise living standards for many Americans. To regain the willing collaboration of international partners, U.S. leaders will need to once again align American interests with those of the rest of the world, practice competent statecraft, adopt prudent policies, pursue realistically achievable objectives, and demonstrate continuity of policy across successive administrations."
RAND Corporation
Dobbins, James, 1942-; Tarini, Gabrielle; Wyne, Ali, 1987-
2020-09
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COVID-19 Vaccinations: Liability and Compensation Considerations Critical for a Successful Campaign
From the Webpage Description: "The authors of this Perspective examine liability and compensation issues as they relate to the future distribution and administration of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine. They provide a brief history of how the U.S. government has addressed liability and compensation concerns in previous public health threats -- specifically by providing liability immunity to manufacturers and distributors of vaccines should lawsuits arise as the result of serious side effects, as well as by setting up compensation systems that provide some, but not all, benefits of traditional tort litigation. That the COVID-19 pandemic is global complicates issues of liability outside the United States because an act of Congress cannot determine legal procedure in other countries. The authors also consider the possibility that volunteers for vaccination campaigns might be hesitant and suggest consideration of appropriate compensation for any adverse effects."
RAND Corporation
Pace, Nicholas M.; Dixon, Lloyd S.
2020-09
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Searching for COVID-19 Ceasefires: Conflict Zone Impacts, Needs, and Opportunities
From About the Report: "Drawing on the actions of the international community, domestic peacebuilders, and conflict parties in response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis, this report explores the relationship between extreme humanitarian demand and the interests that drive conflict parties. Research for this report was coordinated by the Inclusive Peace Processes program in the Center for Applied Conflict Transformation at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP)."
United States Institute of Peace
Thompson, Tyler Jess
2020-09
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National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans
From the Introduction and Scope: "Our nation's ability to defend against the present and future threat of vector-borne diseases relies on a comprehensive national system that is able to detect, prevent, and respond to these threats. A concerted and sustained effort is needed to address significant challenges and reverse the upward trends in illness, suffering, and death from vector-borne diseases. This effort must enhance collaboration, coordination, and communication across human, animal, and environmental health sectors, as well as other relevant sectors, to address vector-borne threats at the human-animal-environment interface (a One Health approach). To reverse the current upward trends in vector-borne diseases and to increase the nation's ability to protect the U.S. population from these diseases, five federal departments and the Environmental Protection Agency contributed to developing a national framework for vector-borne disease prevention and control. These federal partners represent the primary federal departments and agencies engaged in vector-borne disease prevention and control. 'A National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans' is consistent with the National Biodefense Strategy's objective 2.1, to promote measures to prevent or reduce the spread of naturally occurring infectious diseases (Sub-objective 2.1.3: strengthen multidisciplinary efforts to control vector-borne disease domestically and internationally)."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-09
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Data Security: Recent K-12 Data Breaches Show That Students Are Vulnerable to Harm, Report to the Republican Leader, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "When a student's personal information is disclosed, it can lead to physical, emotional, and financial harm. Organizations are vulnerable to data security risks, including over 17,000 public school districts and approximately 98,000 public schools. As schools and districts increasingly rely on complex information technology systems for teaching, learning, and operating, they are collecting more student data electronically that can put a student's information, including PII [personally identifiable information], at risk of disclosure. The closure of schools and the sudden transition to distance learning across the country due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic also heightened attention on K-12 [kindergarten through twelfth grade] cybersecurity. GAO was asked to review the security of K-12 students' data. This report examines (1) what is known about recently reported K-12 cybersecurity incidents that compromised student data, and (2) the characteristics of school districts that experienced these incidents."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
