Behavioral Economics in Military Personnel Research and Policy

Behavioral economics is a burgeoning field of research that is being used to increase the effectiveness of military policies, programs, and operations. This chapter provides an overview of the origins of behavioral economics, key concepts, how behavioral economics research translates into applied behavioral change, and the rise of behavioral economics teams in government around the world. The chapter outlines how behavioral economics is being used within the military, with specific examples from Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel research to illustrate how this field is being applied to military behavioral sciences.

De-Escalation Training Receptivity and First-Line Police Supervision: Findings from the Louisville Metro Police Study

Despite calls for police reform that include changes to use of force training and field supervision, evidence regarding their impact is sorely lacking. This study examines survey data collected from first-line supervisors in the Louisville (KY) Metro Police Department after department-wide de-escalation training. Presented as part of a larger randomized controlled trial study, descriptive results from this survey demonstrate that, despite high levels of reported confidence in supervisory ability, supervisors infrequently engage in the activities that support and reinforce subordinates’ use of de-escalation skills. Results from multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression models further show that only supervisors’ receptivity to de-escalation training is a significant predictor of engaging in activities that support the training tenets for subordinates. Combined with previous findings, the emerging research and policy implications suggest that training receptivity is critical, and further, that field supervision continues to be an under-utilized mechanism to reduce police use of force.

A Food-Circular Economy-Women Nexus: Lessons from Guelph-Wellington

Resource nexus approaches have been expanding to include additional sectors beyond standard water, energy, and food approaches. Opportunities exist by re-imagining the resource nexus approach with the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Emerging research and policy themes, such as the circular economy and gender, can provide additional context to traditional nexus arrangements. To illustrate this, we analyze SDG implementation and interaction from 40 unstructured interviews from SMEs participating in Guelph-Wellington’s Seeding Our Food Future (SOFF) program, part of the wider Our Food Future (OFF) initiative led by the City of Guelph and Wellington County in Ontario, Canada. Results show that 16/17 SDGs and associated targets were present on the program. Environmental SDGs were implemented the most, followed by social and economic ones. SDGs 2, 12, and 5 had the most general implementation and direct paired interactions and were associated with the broadest number of SDGs across the project. These findings support the existence of a Food-Circular Economy-Women nexus in Guelph-Wellington’s agri-food sector. Further analysis shows that this nexus is most active in agriculture, and that women are responsible for introducing a social aspect, which addresses food security. Results can inform food system and circular economy researchers and practitioners.

Proximity politics in changing oceans

How will ocean governance actors and institutions handle a future where the abundance and spatial distribution of marine life changes rapidly and variably? The answer, this paper argues, will be influenced by inherited and changing ocean proximity politics, whereby institutions and actors use spatial proximity or adjacency to legitimize particular forms of resource control, conservation and use. Focusing on United Nations and Canadian institutional contexts and recognizing state and non-state actors as agents of policy change, the paper documents and examines why and how spatial proximity has been invoked (i) as a principle for claiming, defining and implementing use rights, privileges and responsibilities for not just nation-states but also for other entities such as coastal communities and small-scale fisheries; (ii) to justify and legitimize rights, privileges and responsibilities for their interest and benefit; and (iii) to inform and challenge global and local discussions about principles such as conservation, sustainability and distributive equity. The future practical use of spatial closeness/distance for guiding policies of access and exclusion under conditions of change will likely be influenced by challenges associated with applying multiple and conflicting governance principles, accommodating diverse interests and interpretations of principle definition and application, and multiple forms of biophysical and social mobilities. The conclusion highlights four areas of further research and policy engagement for the study of ocean proximity politics.