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Iceland has a population of 364,260. Changing the behavior of just one group of teens would lead to "radically" different numbers. Especially considering the fa

by coretx 7y ago

Iceland has a population of 364,260. Changing the behavior of just one group of teens would lead to "radically" different numbers. Especially considering the fact that the bulk is concentrated at the capital Reykjavík. Herefor numbers regarding Iceland should always be interpreted with great caution since they are likely not projectable onto other countries.

HarryHirsch 7y ago
the bulk is concentrated at the capital Reykjavík That's the point, isn't it? You'd think that Reykjavik as the capital has resources and money that are not available in Aberdeen, SD or Americus, GA. In the US, the countryside has been systematically hollowed out.
loufe 7y ago
It's a good point though I content that it depends on what you mean. I'd argue that there are measures which are enforcable and feasible on a small scale which may be far less so on a larger scale (ex: the USA) due as much to politics as anything else. I don't think there's any reason to same the same measures, were they applied likewise elsewhere, would not be as effective.
- ksdale 7y ago
  I interpreted the parent's comment to mean that it could just be an artifact of the small size of the country. After all, there are almost certainly cities in the US where hundreds of teenagers have recently decided not to do drugs, but it wouldn't impact national statistics at all. If hundreds of teenagers in Reykjavik decide not to do drugs, it looks like they have "solved" the problem.
  - AstralStorm 7y ago
    On the other hand, why not at least try out the approach? (Including the nasty curfew.) Is USA so poor they cannot get $250 in to send teens to do extracurriculars/sports? Iceland is not exactly super rich.
    - coretx 7y ago
      Iceland might very well be the richest country (Non city /oil state) in the world per capita. Measured both in monetary and non monetary terms. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iceland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iceland
    - lonelappde 7y ago
      Curfew does happen from time to time in pockets across the US. And it does work.

by coretx 7y ago

HarryHirsch 7y ago

the bulk is concentrated at the capital Reykjavík That's the point, isn't it? You'd think that Reykjavik as the capital has resources and money that are not available in Aberdeen, SD or Americus, GA. In the US, the countryside has been systematically hollowed out.

loufe 7y ago

It's a good point though I content that it depends on what you mean. I'd argue that there are measures which are enforcable and feasible on a small scale which may be far less so on a larger scale (ex: the USA) due as much to politics as anything else. I don't think there's any reason to same the same measures, were they applied likewise elsewhere, would not be as effective.

ksdale 7y ago
I interpreted the parent's comment to mean that it could just be an artifact of the small size of the country. After all, there are almost certainly cities in the US where hundreds of teenagers have recently decided not to do drugs, but it wouldn't impact national statistics at all. If hundreds of teenagers in Reykjavik decide not to do drugs, it looks like they have "solved" the problem.
- AstralStorm 7y ago
  On the other hand, why not at least try out the approach? (Including the nasty curfew.) Is USA so poor they cannot get $250 in to send teens to do extracurriculars/sports? Iceland is not exactly super rich.
  - coretx 7y ago
    Iceland might very well be the richest country (Non city /oil state) in the world per capita. Measured both in monetary and non monetary terms. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iceland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iceland
  - lonelappde 7y ago
    Curfew does happen from time to time in pockets across the US. And it does work.