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Articles 1 - 8 of 8
Full-Text Articles in American Politics
Do State Policies Constrain Local Actors? The Impact Of English Only Laws On Language Instruction In Public Schools, Melissa Marschall, Elizabeth Rigby, Jasmine Jenkins
Do State Policies Constrain Local Actors? The Impact Of English Only Laws On Language Instruction In Public Schools, Melissa Marschall, Elizabeth Rigby, Jasmine Jenkins
Elizabeth Rigby
This study examines how instrumental and symbolic messages embedded in state law shape the practices of ‘street-level’ bureaucrats. Specifically, we investigate whether passage of state-level English Only laws influences the way English language learners are instructed in local public schools. Using data on state English Only laws from 1987-2004 and school-level data from the National Center for Educational Statistics, we find that instrumental aspects of English Only laws serve to constrain, but not eliminate, schools’ use of bilingual instruction, while those sending only symbolic messages are less constraining. Further, when state laws are vague in scope, adherence to the English …
Federal Food Assistance Programs: Part Of The Early Childhood Obesity Solution Or Part Of The Problem?, Elizabeth Rigby, Rachel Kimbro
Federal Food Assistance Programs: Part Of The Early Childhood Obesity Solution Or Part Of The Problem?, Elizabeth Rigby, Rachel Kimbro
Elizabeth Rigby
Amid growing concern about childhood obesity, the United States spends billions of dollars on food assistance: providing meals and subsidizing food purchases. We examine the relationship between food assistance and body mass index (BMI) for young, low-income children, who are a primary target population for federal food programs and for efforts to prevent childhood obesity. Our findings indicate that food assistance may unintentionally contribute tot he childhood obesity problem in cities with high food prices. We also find that subsidized meals at school or day care are beneficial for children's weight status, and we argue that expanding access to subsidized …
Whose Statehouse Democracy?: Policy Responsiveness To Poor Vs. Rich Constituents In Poor Vs. Rich States, Elizabeth Rigby, Gerald C. Wright
Whose Statehouse Democracy?: Policy Responsiveness To Poor Vs. Rich Constituents In Poor Vs. Rich States, Elizabeth Rigby, Gerald C. Wright
Elizabeth Rigby
No abstract provided.
Does Electoral Reform Increase (Or Decrease) Political Equality?, Elizabeth Rigby, Melanie J. Springer
Does Electoral Reform Increase (Or Decrease) Political Equality?, Elizabeth Rigby, Melanie J. Springer
Elizabeth Rigby
Over recent decades, the American states have implemented electoral reforms making it easier for citizens to register and vote. This paper examines the “equality effects” of these reforms: the degree to which reform serves to equalize or further skew participation rates between the rich and poor. Using the Voter Supplement to the Current Population Survey, we generate state-level estimates of income bias in registration and voting for elections from 1978-2008. Findings support our theory that some electoral reforms promote equality, while others further stratify the electorate—particularly when state registration rolls are already unrepresentative in terms of income groups.
Public Values, Health Inequality, And Alternative Notions Of A “Fair” Response, Elizabeth Rigby, Erika Blacksher, Claire Espey
Public Values, Health Inequality, And Alternative Notions Of A “Fair” Response, Elizabeth Rigby, Erika Blacksher, Claire Espey
Elizabeth Rigby
The fact that disadvantaged people generally die younger and suffer more disease than those with more resources is gaining ground as a major policy concern in the United States. Yet, we know little about how public values inform public opinion regarding policy interventions to address these disparities. This paper presents findings from an exploratory study of the public’s values and priorities as they relate to social inequalities in health. Forty-three subjects were presented with a scenario depicting health inequalities by social class and were given the opportunity to alter the distribution of health outcomes. Participants’ responses fell into one of …
Public Responses To Health Disparities: How Group Cues Structure Support For Government Intervention, Elizabeth Rigby, Joe Soss, Bridget Booske, Angela Rohan, Stephanie Roberts
Public Responses To Health Disparities: How Group Cues Structure Support For Government Intervention, Elizabeth Rigby, Joe Soss, Bridget Booske, Angela Rohan, Stephanie Roberts
Elizabeth Rigby
OBJECTIVE. To examine whether public support for government intervention to address health disparities varies when disparities are framed in terms of different social groups. METHOD. A survey experiment was embedded in a public opinion poll of Wisconsin adults. Respondents were randomly assigned to answer questions about either racial, economic, or education disparities in health. Ordered logit regression analyses examine differences across experimental conditions in support for government intervention to address health disparities. RESULTSs. Health disparities between economic groups received the broadest support for government intervention, while racial disparities in health received the least support for government intervention. These differences were …
Federalism, Partisan Politics, And Shifting Support For State Flexibility: The Case Of The U.S. State Children’S Health Insurance Program, Colleen Grogan, Elizabeth Rigby
Federalism, Partisan Politics, And Shifting Support For State Flexibility: The Case Of The U.S. State Children’S Health Insurance Program, Colleen Grogan, Elizabeth Rigby
Elizabeth Rigby
No abstract provided.
Same Policy Area, Different Politics: How The Characteristics Of Policy Tools Alter The Determinants Of Early Childhood Policymaking, Elizabeth Rigby
Same Policy Area, Different Politics: How The Characteristics Of Policy Tools Alter The Determinants Of Early Childhood Policymaking, Elizabeth Rigby
Elizabeth Rigby
This article tests a theory of how key characteristics of a policy tool under debate magnify the importance of particular elements of the policymaking context in U.S. states. In particular, it is expected that state use of more visible policy tools will depend on the economic context in the state, whereas state use of more coercive policy tools will vary with the ideological and partisan context in the state. These hypotheses are tested in a policy area for which states employ a range of distinct policy tools—early childhood education policy. Pooling data from all 50 states at four time points …