The youth of the world are our most important assets. When youth develop positively, they have the power to benefit themselves, their families, communities, and societies. These tremendous benefits accrue for many generations, so investments in youth represent a highly cost-effective opportunity for positive change. This is the first volume to focus globally on the effects of social and economic change on youth, and on the opportunity to support youth through policy, programs, and interventions to develop positively despite challenges. The chapters in this volume highlight research demonstrating youth assets and resilience as well as programs and interventions that increase the likelihood that youth will thrive. Many chapters also draw attention to opportunities for youth leadership, helping youth to develop their strengths as they benefit their communities. Additional chapters focus on promoting optimal youth development in the presence of adversity, risk, or challenge, taking into consideration the potential and capacity of the young person. Finally, the ecological system theory is a strong influence in many chapters that examine the inter-relationship of different social contexts such as family, peers, school, and work. Positive Youth Development in Global Contexts of Social and Economic Change is both a vision for the future and an ideology supported by a new international vocabulary for engaging with youth development. Developed by researchers across interdisciplinary fields, the volume has enormous policy implications for lawmakers given the surge in youth population in many parts of the world.

The youth of the world are our most important assets. When youth develop positively, they have the power to benefit themselves, their families, communities, and societies. These tremendous benefits accrue for many generations, so investments in youth represent a highly cost-effective opportunity for positive change. This is the first volume to focus globally on the effects of social and economic change on youth, and on the opportunity to support youth through policy, programs, and interventions to develop positively despite challenges. The chapters in this volume highlight research demonstrating youth assets and resilience as well as programs and interventions that increase the likelihood that youth will thrive. Many chapters also draw attention to opportunities for youth leadership, helping youth to develop their strengths as they benefit their communities. Additional chapters focus on promoting optimal youth development in the presence of adversity, risk, or challenge, taking into consideration the potential and capacity of the young person. Finally, the ecological system theory is a strong influence in many chapters that examine the inter-relationship of different social contexts such as family, peers, school, and work. Positive Youth Development in Global Contexts of Social and Economic Change is both a vision for the future and an ideology supported by a new international vocabulary for engaging with youth development. Developed by researchers across interdisciplinary fields, the volume has enormous policy implications for lawmakers given the surge in youth population in many parts of the world.

1. G. Engelhardt, H. Koller, Stuttgart, FRG: 29Si NMR of Inorganic Solids 2. H. Pfeifer, Leizpig, FRG: NMR of Solid Surfaces 3. A. Sebald, Bayreuth, FRG: MAS and CP/MAS NMR of Less Common Spin-1/2 Nuclei 4. C. J{ger, Mainz, FRG: Satellite Transition Spectroscopy of Quadrupolar Nuclei 5. D. Brinkmann, M. Mali, Z}rich, CH: NMR-NQR Studies of High-Temperature Superconductors

The magnitude and complexity of the Public Health problem created by tobacco use and its accompanying diseases heightens the importance of tobacco-related research and tobacco control programs. Since communities are the final places where tobacco control interventions are tested to determine if and how they work in real-world settings, the need for community-focused research is of high importance. The aim of this book was to identify needs and preconditions in the Federal State of Styria in Austria. Research about state tobacco control interventions and about societal influences on tobacco use is the first step to successfully reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and the tobacco-related cancer burden. The present study advances tobacco control research and maximizes the potential for reducing tobacco use and its diseases among the Styrian population. In addition, the results are practical and supportive in implementing the recommendations of the European Strategy of Tobacco Control (ECTC) in Styria. The results may be applicable for other European countries.