Yes / As the EU and UK negotiate a new relationship, this paper explores the welfare implications of this policy change and its interaction with major trade policy initiatives. We evaluate five Brexit scenarios, based on different assumptions regarding Brexit, TTIP and various free trade deals the UK may attempt to broker with the US or Commonwealth countries. We also consider the dynamics of welfare changes over a period of two decades. Our estimates suggest that the impact of Brexit is negative in all policy scenarios, with lower welfare losses under a soft Brexit scenario. The losses are exacerbated if TTIP comes into force, demonstrating the benefits of being a member of a large trade bloc. However, they occur gradually and can be partially compensated by signing new free trade agreements. To further minimise losses, the UK should avoid a hard Brexit.

Yes

Yes / The effective disposal of medication and more specifically accidental exposure to fentanyl via transdermal patches has recently been highlighted in two key documents [1, 2]. Whilst the volume of unused medicines cost the NHS over £300 million every year [1], the volume of transdermal patch waste is unknown. There is a need for greater pharmacy intervention in the effective disposal of medicines to resolve issues such as hospital (re)-admissions, stockpiling leading to patient self–prescribing/dosing, and land and water pollution. The aim of this study was to examine transdermal patch disposal systems and practice amongst private sector care providers in the UK. This was part of a larger study focusing on transdermal patch application. / The full text will be available on permission from the publisher.

Yes / The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and The Scottish Accountancy Trust for Education and Research (SATER)

No

Yes / ICAS and The Scottish Accountancy Trust for Education and Research (SATER)

No / There is a large literature on the economics of crime and punishment, yet surprisingly little attention is paid to the receipt of money for crime. “Contract killing” is surprisingly neglected not only by economists but also by social scientists in general. In this paper, I look at the case not of professional gangster “hitmen” but of individuals who have found themselves in a position where they wish to have a killing carried out. This discussion does not condone the practice any more than an economic analysis of suicide is an inducement to individuals to kill themselves. To the lay reader, the cases where an individual feels the need to pay for killing may seem to be such that rationality is not a likely form of behaviour. However, the economics of crime has adopted the use of the rationality postulate as a heuristic for all types of crime.

Yes / This commentary considers changes to education in UK mental health nursing.

Yes / This study aims to provide a better understanding of the role of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in restoring public trust in audit profession in the UK. It analyses the views of partners in the Big 4 audit firms on this role. This study identifies three main strategies to promote trust and enhance the choice of auditors in the UK audit market. These strategies are improving audit quality, increasing the transparency of the big audit firms and reducing the barriers to competition in the audit market. The findings suggest that partners of the Big 4 believe that the FRC's projects effectively participate in improving audit quality as well as providing wider information about the audit firms to the public. However, different actions need to be taken to enhance the choice in the market.

Yes / Citizens’ satisfaction is acknowledged as one of the most significant influences for e-government adoption and diffusion. This study examines the impact of information quality, system quality, trust, and cost on user satisfaction of e-government services. Using a survey, this study collected 1518 valid responses from e-government service adopters across the United Kingdom. Our empirical outcomes show the five factors identified in this study have a significant impact on U.K. citizens’ satisfaction with e-government services.