Suicide rate is above EU average in Czechia. At the same time, no initiative trying to solve this problem exist. Aim of this thesis is suggest content of suicide prevention policy suitable for Czech environment. Author adopts optics of evidence-based policy approach and in line with this, meta- review (systematic review of systematic reviews; MR) and group discussion were conducted. MR identified 73 potentially effective interventions, 47 (64%) of these were recommended for assessment for Czech context. These interventions were critically reviewed by seven experts and discussion resulted in set of comments and other relevant outputs. Results of MR and group discussion were then put together in relation to broader context and in this sense they represent optimal basis for complex suicide prevention policy in Czechia.

The aim of this paper is to explain the policy process of regional social service development strategies in the area of services for drug users. The process is explained on examination of two cases of very diverse regional strategies representing good and bad practice. Social construction of target populations is used as a theoretical framework and the research aims to verify and develop its theoretical assumptions. Subjective perceptions of key actors are deconstructed through public document analysis and in- depth interviews. Service providers are perceived as a trustworthy and competent policy actor and as such they play an important role in the development of medium-term strategy. The prevailing positive construction of drug users by providers and the strong position of service providers contribute to broad distribution of services for drug users in both examined regions. The main difference between the cases is explained by different perception of drug users by the public, different continuity of planning processes, and variance in the dynamic relationship between public opinion and key public policy makers.

The aim of this paper is to explain the policy process of regional social service development strategies in the area of services for drug users. The process is explained on examination of two cases of very diverse regional strategies representing good and bad practice. Social construction of target populations is used as a theoretical framework and the research aims to verify and develop its theoretical assumptions. Subjective perceptions of key actors are deconstructed through public document analysis and in- depth interviews. Service providers are perceived as a trustworthy and competent policy actor and as such they play an important role in the development of medium-term strategy. The prevailing positive construction of drug users by providers and the strong position of service providers contribute to broad distribution of services for drug users in both examined regions. The main difference between the cases is explained by different perception of drug users by the public, different continuity of planning processes, and variance in the dynamic relationship between public opinion and key public policy makers.

Targeted sanctions have become increasingly utilized as conflict management tool to safeguard global peace and security. In recent years, there have been a global push to utilize this tool to specifically address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Yet, there is a dearth in research on how the imposition of targeted sanctions effect the prevalence of CRSV. This thesis aims to contribute to this alarmingly understudied relationship between targeted sanctions and CRSV by investigating the following research question: what impact do targeted sanctions have on the perpetration of CRSV by rebel groups? Thus, I employ a structured, focused comparison of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda to test a theoretical theory which argues that targeted sanctions may increase the prevalence of CRSV perpetrated by the targeted rebel group. The empirical findings give partial support to both the proposed hypothesis and the theorized ‘selective incentive’ casual mechanism. However, the findings also suggest less effective sanctions may result in the hypothesized increase in wartime sexual violence perpetrated by the targeted actor, while more effective, debilitating sanctions may a decrease alongside other interventions.

The aim of the study was to illustrate how evidence-based praxis is implemented in the police agencies activities with crime prevention work. We asked two questions: a) What actions does the Swedish Police authority take when implementing evidence-based praxis in its operations? and b) What opportunities contra difficulties do the managers, community police officers and teachers at the police institute see with evidence-based praxis? This was investigated through qualitative interviews in order to capture the participants personal opinions and experiences about the subject. Evidence-based policies are practiced through the crime-prevention work that takes place through local cooperations. The role of community police officers constitutes an important strategic role as being cosmopolitan, which ensures that communication between the police and society works, which in turn forms the basis for the crime-prevention work. The result also shows that the police cannot take care of law enforcement on their own initiative; responsibility also rests on individuals, groups and other organizations. We see patterns of a majorly positive attitude within the police, which contradicts previous research. There are not enough evidence-based methods within all working fields of the police, which has emerged as an important factor in order to implement evidence-based praxis. Whilst the police may be positive towards evidence-based methods, they can not solely rely on them. The resources are too lacking in order for the evidence-based praxis to also permeate the police authority's work. In order for the police authority's work to be carried out by evidence-based methods, community police officers need to have a higher status internally. They also need a mandate in the form of being able to make decisions about operative resources. The main contribution of the study´s is that evidence-based praxis needs to be strategically implemented, and the key people who work primarily with evidence-based praxis needs a higher status within the organization.

Continued documentation of the disproportionate burden of ill health faced by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada raises questions about the gap between what is known and what action is being taken to improve Aboriginal health in Canada. In order to explore this puzzle of knowledge translation (KT), a conceptual framework was developed by synthesizing the KT literature with the Aboriginal health research literature. Using this framework as a guide, this study explored the idea of KT within one Aboriginal health research context – the Network Environments for Aboriginal Research British Columbia (NEARBC). Concepts, ideas, and patterns drawn from the systematic thematic analysis of semi-structured qualitative interviews highlight the complexity of Aboriginal KT and the challenges that lie ahead. The lessons learned from these challenges are reviewed and opportunities for KT to help transform the discourse and practice of Aboriginal health research and policy in Canada discussed.

Continued documentation of the disproportionate burden of ill health faced by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada raises questions about the gap between what is known and what action is being taken to improve Aboriginal health in Canada. In order to explore this puzzle of knowledge translation (KT), a conceptual framework was developed by synthesizing the KT literature with the Aboriginal health research literature. Using this framework as a guide, this study explored the idea of KT within one Aboriginal health research context – the Network Environments for Aboriginal Research British Columbia (NEARBC). Concepts, ideas, and patterns drawn from the systematic thematic analysis of semi-structured qualitative interviews highlight the complexity of Aboriginal KT and the challenges that lie ahead. The lessons learned from these challenges are reviewed and opportunities for KT to help transform the discourse and practice of Aboriginal health research and policy in Canada discussed.

This dissertation thesis is focused on the microeconomic analysis of public policy in the Czech Republic. It consists of three parts, the first two parts deal with the analysis of tax policy; the third part of this thesis is focused on inflation differentials. The first chapter deals with the analysis of value added tax. The rates of value added tax (VAT) have recently changed in the Czech Republic, and I simulate the impact of these reforms. They are an example of changes in indirect taxes that change the prices of goods and services, to which households can respond by adjusting their expenditures. I first estimate the behavioural response of consumers to price changes in the Czech Republic by applying a consumer demand model of the quadratic almost ideal system (QUAIDS) on the basis of the Czech Statistical Office household expenditure and price data for the period from 2001 to 2011. I derive estimates of own- and cross-price and income elasticities for individual households. I then use these elasticities to estimate the impact of the changes in VAT rates that were proposed or implemented between 2011 and 2013, on households' quantity demanded and government revenues. One of the main findings is that the estimated increases in government revenues that take the consumer responses into account are...

Social Investments (SI) have become a significant policy tool during the 2010s for developing and implementing social policy. This study explores how the SI framework, based on social innovation, evidence-based policy and practice, and impact evaluation, affects professionals when it is implemented and evaluated.  The empirical material of the study was based on semi-structured interviews with professionals operating in the City of Stockholm. The author applied practical philosophy, relational sociology, and evaluation theory to answer four phronetic social science research questions focusing on phronesis (practical wisdom). SI comes with constitutive effects that affect the praxis of professionals. It is accompanied by different logics that can both enable or restrict common understanding between economists or social advocates, these differ between professional groups. It creates new content to strive for to create measurable outcomes, which can often lead to conflicts of power. Whether it is delivering outcomes within a certain set of time, or following evidence-based policy and practice, different chains of accountability put a lot of pressure to not do wrong, rather than do right.   The design and implementation of the SI fund in the City of Stockholm have had problems that need addressing. Thus, this study concludes with a warning that any attempts to fix these problems must refrain to create an evaluation machine that risks alienating professionals’ relationship with their work.