In examining the childhood obesity epidemic from the perspective of economics, John Cawley looks at both possible causes and possible policy solutions that work through markets. The operation of markets, says Cawley, has contributed to the recent increase in childhood overweight in three main ways. First, the real price of food fell. In…

Examines definitions of child abuse and neglect and discusses the controversies surrounding these definitions, which provide the legal justification of government interventions. The article also presents statistics about the extent of child maltreatment, reviews research on families prone to abuse or neglect, and summarizes information about the…

Reviews recent actions by state legislatures and courts in response to the problems of drug-exposed newborns. Also discusses civil and criminal court decisions regarding women who use drugs during pregnancy. State policy responses cannot be developed without a detailed assessment of the state's resources. (SLD)