Public Affairs Commons^™

The Starting Line: Examining Inequality In United States, Tristany Leikem

Senior Honors Projects

A quote from Irving Kristol states: “Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - only equality of opportunity.” If Kristol’s quote holds true, do all American citizens have an equal chance of succeeding? This is the question that my project attempts to answer. In studying political science and following current events, I found myself drawn toward the issue of equality in the United States. The idea for my project was sparked by my encounters with research regarding inequality in our nation. I first became aware of the issue after reading Jonathan Kozol’s, Savage Inequalities, in which the extreme differences …

Omaha Again Among Best Large Metros For Median Income Relative To The Cost Of Goods And Services, David Drozd

Past Publications

In 2007 the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) released an analysis of 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. These data were adjusted for the costs of goods as services (COGS) using indices released by the Council for Community and Economic Research. At that time the Omaha metro area ranked 2nd best among the 100 most populous metros for which data were available regarding this “purchasing power”. The Omaha metro’s median income in 2006 dollars was $51,627, but when accounting for Omaha’s relatively low cost of goods and services, this income had a purchasing …

Changing The World From Classrooms To Communities: Designing And Disseminating A Service-Learning Curriculum For Teaching In A Formal Education Setting, Amanda English

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

To change the world is a growing desire among many of today’s student populations, portrayed increasingly across the spectrum of media, social trends and career pursuits. While the demand grows among students for community-oriented and socially-responsible opportunities, the offerings in educational institutions must respond to these emerging requests with new and innovative academic programs. This text emphasizes the role of the developing discipline of service-learning in channeling these energies and providing students with deep and meaningful academic experiences. Its content seeks to combat misconceptions of service-learning as simply an extra-curricular activity and provide tangible methods for incorporating its concepts into …

The Costs And Impacts Of Rising Food Prices Among Low-Income Households, Elaine Waxman

Journal of Food Law & Policy

The pressure of rising food prices on low-income households is often assumed to be primarily an issue for developing economies, where fluctuations in food staple prices can have dramatic consequences for food security and social and political stability. Observers often note that Americans benefit from relatively low food prices and spend far less to feed their families than their counterparts in many other parts of the world. Indeed, the average American household spent 7.6% of their household expenditures on food purchases at home in 2009, while the comparable percentage exceeded 40% of household expenditures in diverse countries such as Mexico, …

Approaches To Capacity Building And Knowledge Sharing In The Hud Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program, Natalie Mcwilliams

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

This paper investigates the early response to the capacity building and knowledge sharing requirement as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant (SCRPG) program. Drawing from the work of a subset of ten grantees across the United States, this analysis investigates the innovative ways planning organizations are working to fulfill this unique requirement. An overview of the grant program is discussed followed by a discussion of how the knowledge sharing requirement reflects the new regionalism movement. The approach of each of the example grantees is examined in terms of what activities …

2012 May, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for May of 2012.

Value‐Added Analysis Of 2010 Census Urban/Rural Data For Various Nebraska Geographies, David Drozd

Past Publications

Note: an urbanized area can cross county or state lines but has a minimum of 50,000 people. An urban cluster has at least 2,500 people.

Cpaf Updates Vol. 13 Issue No. 2, Cristeta A. Foronda, Francisca O. Tan, Stella Concepcion R. Britanico, Stoix Nebin S. Pascua

CPAf Updates

In this issue:

• CPAf honors its graduates in 2012, 1
• CSPPS holds seminar on the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, 2
• CPAf researchers monitor CRDES Roll-Over Program scheme,2
• Dean Rola organizes inter-disciplinary research team to address food security and environment interactions, 4
• CPAf conducts needs and design assessment of ARBOs, 4
• APEAN holds 5th International Conference in Thailand, 5
• Prof./Atty. Cortes presents marketing plan for Indonesian NGO, 6
• CPAf selects new directors, 7
• Dr. Cardenas participates in international meetings and conferences, 7
• Dr. Baconguis strengthen ties with Indonesian university, 8
• Prof./Atty. Cortes probes privacy framework of TelCos, 8

Take Back Rondebosch Common: A Case Study On Discontent With The Da And Urban Land Reform In Rondebosch, Cape Town., Kyle Dallman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In late January of 2012, undercurrents of dissatisfaction with Cape Town’s ruling political party, the Democratic Alliance, and their pace of development and service delivery came to a head as aggrieved citizens marched through the southern suburbs of the city to a green known as Rondebosch Common. The citizens had planned on protesting the lack of opportunities for Cape Town’s non-white citizens while at the Common in a “Land, Housing and Jobs Summit,” but were met with police batons and armored vans that quelled the movement in an astonishing show of force. This paper will investigate the motivations of the …

University Downtown Campuses And Community Engagement In Small And Midsized Citites, Richard Albert Francis-Beltran

MPA Capstone Projects 2006 - 2015

In summer of 2011, as a graduate intern from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program I conducted a research project under the supervision of the Director of Special Programs for Economic Development. The purpose of the project was to learn about the perceptions of downtown area officials and community members regarding the impact of the Binghamton University Downtown Center (UDC). Findings showed that overall participants were satisfied regarding UDC partnering relationships with public and non-profits agencies. At the same time, the findings also indicated that participants had unmet expectations regarding the UDC participation in various downtown activities. In order …

Analysis Of Urban And Rural Data For Various Nebraska Geographies: 2010, David J. Drozd

Past Publications

Value‐added analysis of 2010 Census urban/rural data for various Nebraska geographies

Fitness Tax Credits: Costs, Benefits, And Viability, Daniel M. Reach

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

As the number of overweight and obese Americans rises, it becomes increasingly clear that Americans need further incentives to stimulate lasting lifestyle changes. Tax incentives focused on exercise, which have been largely unexplored to this point, are an effective response to the growing obesity problem in the United States that would largely avoid the political opposition that tax policies focused on diet have encountered. In addition, they would also provide a more palatable solution for the taxpayer beneficiaries with a relatively low impact on government revenues. Viable tax incentives to encourage greater fitness include tax credits and sales tax breaks, …

The Politics Of H-1b Visa Limits, Fang Fang

Political Science Theses and Capstones

In recent years, the number of H-1B Visa (Temporary Work Visa) issued has increased tremendously. Various lobbying groups are devoted to persuading Congress to revise immigration laws and to increase the work visa issuance cap. The purpose of my study is to find out the how the H-1B Visa policy is effected by analyzing the lobbying expenditures of different economic sectors. Although there are abundant studies on the factors that affect immigration policies, there are few studies that concentrate specifically on the H-1B Visa. I combined campaign finance data and annual work visa data to assess the relationship between lobbying …

Unemployed Veterans During A Recession: Factors Affecting The Completion Rate Of The Vocational Rehabilitation And Employment Program, Chris Witt

Political Science Theses and Capstones

The purpose of my research is to determine what factors affect the outcome of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. Previous literature examines individuals from each state in various stages of the program to determine which factors cause their individual outcome. Although previous research covered a broad spectrum of factors there still remains a lack of significant evidence to determine the observed outcome. I added state expenditures to the previous data to attempt to determine whether or not there is a correlation between funding and the completion of the program. I used the Department of Veteran Affairs 2007 Veterans Employability …

2012 April, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for April of 2012.

Where Are The Jobs? Employment Stagnation After The Great Recession, Gary Burtless

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

The Great Recession of 2008-2009 was the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Unlike most other recessions in the post-war era, however, the recovery has brought back only a small fraction of the almost 9 million jobs lost in the downturn. Gary Burtless will explain the puzzling absence of an employment rebound in his talk. Why has the rebound been so slow? What can we do to speed it up?

2012 March, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for March of 2012.

The Economic Impact Of The Pace University Athletic Department, Rebecca Tekula, Anna-Kay Sinclair Mpa

Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

What Lies Ahead For The Oecd?, Richard Woodward

Books/Book Chapters

The “rise of the rest” has prompted questions about the capacity and willingness of the United States to lead the liberal international order established under its post-war hegemony. Some prophesize that stronger connections amongst emerging powers are the basis for a parallel international order parading different rules, norms and institutions. In contrast, Ikenberry argues that the visionary use of US power has woven capitalist and democratic societies together into a uniquely entrenched “Western” order that is “hard to overturn and easy to join.” Prevailing arrangements will condition the environment within which rising powers make their decisions; nevertheless, by joining the …

Ua35/8 The Topper, Veterans Upward Bound Program, Western Kentucky University

Veterans Upward Bound Publications

THE TOPPER is published three times yearly by the Veterans Upward Bound Project at Western Kentucky University. VUB is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (Fiscal Year 09-10: $278,881). The opinions expressed within this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of either the U.S. Department of Education or WKU, and no official endorsement should be inferred. Printed with grant funds provided by the U.S. Department of Education.