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Policy Research
Near and Dear? Evaluating the Impact of Neighbor Diversity on Inter-Religious Attitudes
Sharon Barnhardt
November 2009
In a large Indian City, Hindus and Muslims were randomly assigned to live next door to each other in public housing. Barnhardt conducted a survey of the households to determine “explicit and implicit” attitudes about their neighbors of a different faith. She found the by being in close proximity to each other, the two groups interacted more often. More common interaction led, in turn, to a significant improvement in attitudes toward the other group, both implicit and explicit. Hindus, as the majority group, expressed especially improved attitudes toward Muslims (the minority group).
The Impact of Housing Assistance on Child Outcomes: Evidence from a Randomized Housing Lottery
Brian Jacob, Max Kapustin, Jens Ludwig
November 2014
The authors track a randomized sample of children ofChicago residents below the poverty line who received housing subsidies. Over the long term, they compare the sample that received housing subsidies with the population at large, measuring outcomes for the children of these households in three areas: education, involvement in crime, and health. They find that the receipt of a housing voucher had “little if any impact” on these children’s life chances as measured by those three criteria. While this may be surprising, considering that the voucher program was quite generous, it is in line with previous research.
How Are Moms Faring under the Affordable Care Act? Evidence through 2014
Michael Karpman, Jason Gates, Genevieve M. Kenny, Stacey McMorrow
May 2016
This article provides data from the National Health Interview Survey from 1997-2014 to examine trends in uninsurance among mothers. It compares changes in uninsurance rates among mothers living in states where Medicaid expanded coverage, to mothers in states that did not expand coverage. It also examines the changes in the rate of uninsured mothers between 2013 and 2014 – the years before and after key coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act were implemented. Last, the composition of uninsured mothers was analyzed, including the rates of uninsurance among mothers in subgroups divided by education level, income level, race/ethnicity, citizenship, and self-reported general health status.
The Rural Side of the Urban Rural Gap
James G. Gimpel, Kimberly A. Karns
July 2006
In an article that is largely a critique of Thomas Franks “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” Gimpel and Karns seek to understand the growing loyalty or rural voters to the Republican Party. They contend that the urban rural divide is not rooted in morality politics, but in economic interests, particularly the culture of rugged individualism and economic independence of rural voters, as well as a higher rate of self-employment and home ownership. They argue that working class rural whites distrust the Democrat’s not only because of their social and moral positions, but because the Democrats economic positions don’t reflect their worldview.
Missing the Mark: Welfare Reform and Rural Poverty
Lisa R. Pruitt
February 2007
Pruitt argues that the Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, more commonly known as welfare reform, displayed a clear urban bias in policymaking an as a result has made significant negative impact to quality of life for the rural poor. Welfare reform’s goals were to decrease poverty and dependence on government assistance, as well as the number of children born into poverty. However, even though poverty rates are higher in rural areas than urban areas, the PRWORA was based entirely on the economic structures, demographics, social norms, and institutions of cities. Therefore, the act application in poor rural areas is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. As a result, the PRWORA has done more harm than good in rural areas with entrenched poverty, particularly for single mothers and female led households.
The Impact of Prevailing Wage Laws on Military Veterans: An Economic and Labor Market Analysis
Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, Kevin Duncan
May 2016
The authors assess the labor market impact of prevailing wage laws on military veterans. Veterans hold a disproportionately larger share of construction industry jobs in comparison to the overall workforce, and are consequently some of the most closely impacted by changes in prevailing wage laws. The authors estimate that weakening or repealing prevailing wage laws would have a significantly detrimental effect on military veterans in the construction industry; economic impacts include decreases in income, health coverage, veteran-owned construction businesses and overall employment of veterans in construction-related jobs.
Unemployment and Public Budget Impacts of Auto Bailout
Robert Baumann, Andrea Thompson
August 2015
Serving as a case study for fiscal policy stimulus programs, this article examines the employment and budgetary effects of the auto bailout in Michigan. By measuring the dollar value of public funds saved from unemployment insurance costs and unfunded pension liabilities, the authors estimate that $1.3 to $1.6 billion was saved through the retention of around 7,700 jobs per month over the duration of the bailout. Concurrently, the net cost of the auto bailout is determined to be around $9.3 billion.
Lights, Camera, but No Action. Tax and Economic Development Lessons from State Motion Picture Incentive Programs
Michael Thom
June 2016
The author utilizes economic and labor market variables to measure the impact Motion Picture Incentive (MPI) tax credit programs have on state economies across the country. The author's analysis evaluates structure and duration of the tax credit alongside post-implementation changes in employment, wages, gross state product, and location quotient for the state's motion picture industry. It was found that transferable tax credits produced slightly positive results for industry employment, while refundable credits temporarily improved industry wages. While results indicate some variation in benefits based on the structure of the tax credit, overall outcomes suggest that spending on these programs do not correspond to any long-term economic gains in the motion picture industry.
State Earned Income Tax Credits and the Production of Child Health: Insurance Coverage, Utilization, and Health Status
Reagan A. Baughman, Noelia Duchovny
March 2016
Linkages between state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and child health in recipient families are explored in this study. The authors measure the impact of state EITCs on child health through changes in family income, access and utilization of health insurance by type, and time invested by parents in their children. Controlling for differences in demographics and variations in state EITCs, results find that the tax credit does not significantly impact child health for those in younger age cohorts, though it does appear to contribute to better health outcomes and an increased likelihood of private health coverage for older children.
A systematic review of outcomes associated with participation in Housing First programs
Julia R. Woodhall-Melnik, James R. Dunn
October 2015
In evaluating the effectiveness of the Housing First (HF) model in combating chronic homelessness, the authors look to previous literature documenting evidence-based outcomes for program participants. Success is measured based on criteria related to housing and retention outcomes, service use and cost, substance use and psychiatric symptoms, and overall quality of life. Research found consistent improvements in residential stability and decreased contact with emergency services and the criminal justice system. The impact of the HF model on substance use disorders and psychiatric symptoms is less clear and can vary based on populations. Outcomes are contrasted against the more traditional Treatment First (TF) model.