Public sector pension funding varies significantly across the states, a phenomenon often linked with budget conditions, but do political factors also play role? Utilizing data collected between 2000 and 2008, this article investigates role of political, fiscal, workforce characteristics as determinants long-term funding, measure implications for fiscal sustainability ongoing reform deliberations. Results suggest significant relationship legislative partisanship, citizen ideology, public...

Despite mixed results, state government use of targeted economic development programs has escalated. This study evaluates the impact motion picture incentive programs, an array tax incentives employed by over 40 states to entice film and television productions out California New York, on labor conditions from 1998 through 2013. Results suggest that sales lodging waivers had no effect any four different indicators. Transferable credits a small, sustained employment levels but wages....

This study analyzes the diffusion of public sector pension reforms across American states between 1999 and 2012, a policy area notable for its fiscal implications as much recent political polarization. Previous enactment in other, non-contiguous was largest most consistent driver reform. Otherwise, empirical findings suggest that reform antecedents varied by type. Existing funding levels reduced likelihood would cut benefits, change governance, or reduce cost living allowances, but had no...

This study analyses volunteerism in public safety as a case of 'participative coproduction' that has the potential to improve administrative efficiency through substitution labour but at cost complexity. Coordination costs relate interdependent character service relationship and non-excludability benefits. The analysis considers influence fiscal institutional factors on two-stage empirical model where first stage involves presence volunteer programme, second relative reliance versus paid...

Policy termination has received less scholarly attention than policy diffusion, and empirical state-level studies that examine the rise fall of same are mostly absent from literature. This study assesses factors led more 45 states to enact some later repeal Motion Picture Incentive programs, a collection tax incentives aimed at facilitating job creation economic diversification. We find program enactments were driven by rising unemployment national but not bordering state imitation. Falling...

This article presents an integrated approach to teaching a graduate-level public financial management course. It stresses the importance of fundamental budgeting proficiencies (e.g., cost allocation; forecasting; operating within constraints; and using Microsoft Excel) additional skills that tend receive less attention in courses cost–benefit analysis analyzing audited reports). also links with broader issues administration accountability civic engagement). The course design makes use both...

Recent conflicts over public sector defined benefit pension funding have inspired polarized debates about the need for reform, including utility of replacing pensions with contribution accounts, which are popular throughout private sector. Between 1996 and 2011, 15 American states enacted legislation to implement either mandatory or optional accounts certain employees. What drove this process? This article investigates role political, budgetary, contagion influences on diffusion general...

Inadequate contributions are one factor behind the gap between pension assets and benefit liabilities. Each year, many states fail to meet their required contribution while others consistently or exceed amount. This study seeks identify factors that shape actual across states. Results suggest with smaller long-term funding gaps more likely fund contributions. Legislative professionalism constitutional collective bargaining privileges reduce annual funding. The effect of partisan...

Growing competition over human capital has reiterated the importance of strategic practices to maintaining a high-quality public sector workforce. But how often does study pay and benefits among competitive peers? This presents findings national survey resource professionals regarding compensation benchmarking practices. Just half respondents indicated they conducted within last decade. A majority said their jurisdiction only compares with other employers, smaller number including both...

Policy makers allocate billions of dollars each year to tax incentives that increasingly favor creative industries. This study scrutinizes approach by examining motion picture incentive programs used in over thirty states encourage film and television production. It uses a quasi-experimental strategy determine whether those have contributed employment growth. Results mostly show no statistically significant effects. also indicate domestic is unaffected competing offered outside the United...

California is the only one of its peers with a state-wide tax earmarked for mental health programs. The voter-approved levy applies to personal income above $1 million and has generated over $20 billion since 2005. But whether additional funding improved population remains unknown. This study synthetic control method CDC's National Vital Statistics System data determine how affected suicide deaths in California. Findings show that state's mortality rate increased more gradually after tax's...

Enacted in 2009, California's Film and Production Tax Credit was a policy reaction to fears that the state had lost motion picture industry jobs other states countries. The incentive has since been allocated over $1 billion taxpayer funding. Advocates hail tax credit as success, but is there evidence support claim? This study examines employment California from 1991 through 2016 determine impact of competing incentives offered by governments. Results show no significant effect on changes...

The purpose of this study was to examine paid sick leave (PSL) practices among large municipal governments in the United States. Results a national survey suggest that over 90% these offer PSL. Few reported making any post-recession changes, and fact, most continue allow employees rollover unused from year year, cash out upon termination, and/or include pension calculations despite sometimes significant cost such policies. Documentation is required 70% governments, but formal auditing PSL...

Abstract Around the world, formation of financial conglomerates is gaining importance. In United States, provisional agreement between Congress and President Clinton’s administration to break down barriers banking, insurance, securities firms by repealing Glass-Steagall Act no less than revolutionary. Meanwhile, in European Union (EU), where establishment groups working all three sectors has long been permitted, Financial Services Action Plan (COM 1999),1 as endorsed Heads State at Köln...

Policy termination is an understudied phenomenon. The literature identifies some factors that affect its likelihood, but others’ importance, especially program evaluation, remain ambiguous. For insight, this study examines the impact of independent evaluation on tax incentives for film and television production adopted then terminated by multiple state governments. Empirical results indicate was significantly more likely after showed incentive’s costs exceeded benefits. Results also a...

The question “Why government?” is as central to political debate it public affairs education. This article outlines an approach teaching and a closely related question, “Which in introductory administration course. I offer five components that instructors can use whole or part. These be scaled according class level are not limited within the United States. Informal student feedback suggests high degree of satisfaction with exercise, long-term reflection on underlying questions, some...

State legislatures have received considerable attention as drivers of policy outcomes, but research designs typically paint this branch government with broad strokes. Studies that investigate the influence party control or strength on public often fail to conceptualize upper and lower legislative chambers unique bodies. But enactments at state level depend two are not carbon copies one another. Using pension funding, health care immigration reform illustrations, study demonstrates altering...