Thesis advisor: Peter Gottschalk / Thesis advisor: Andrew Beauchamp / This dissertation examines whether the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program improves long-term labor force participation of its recipients. The first chapter studies the mechanisms which can generate prolonged effects of wage subsidies on employment, wages, job stability and poverty. I model three mechanisms: experience accumulation, heterogeneity in the job offer arrival rates, and the costs of switching in and out of employment. I estimate the dynamic discrete-choice model of employment and program participation using a sample of single women from Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The estimates suggest that the EITC program primarily stimulates part-time employment. EITC recipients do not become self-sufficient over the long-term because part-time experience accumulation does not translate into substantial wage growth. The interaction between EITC and other public assistance programs also makes part-time jobs desirable. Counterfactual experiments reveal that in order to promote human capital accumulation and wage growth, the number of hours worked should become one of the determinants in the EITC payment schedule. The second chapter estimates the life-long effects of the EITC program on employment decisions of single women. To identify those effects I choose a natural experiment framework and use the discontinuity in the eligibility criteria (and payments) associated with the age of the youngest child in the household. I estimate a model with a conditional (fixed-effect) logistic regression using a sample of single women from Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The estimates suggest that there is no significant life-long effect of the EITC program on female labor force participation. The result is robust to the definition of the control group and the length of the estimated long-term effects. This conclusion supports the concerns that low-skilled workers do not accumulate experience required for a better employment opportunities. That being said, EITC should be considered solely as a short-term subsidy rather than a long-term investment into experience accumulation. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics.

No description available.

Recent growth and co-optation of social reform programs into the structure of the State, and parallel development of public policymaking, have precipitated closer linkages between social research and the policy intervention process. Program evaluation refers to a variety of descriptive and analytical studies of program process and/or program impact. Two models of program evaluation research are relied upon in design and implementation of evaluation studies: (l) a conventional model derived from a positivist paradigm of social research and (2) an alternative model evolved from an interpretive paradigm. Critical review of these models suggests their complementarity for comprehensive evaluation studies, but emphasizes the extent to which they minimize the significance of larger political/ economic context of program development in shaping evaluation processes. The purpose of this dissertation has been to develop a wider selection of evaluation research models which specifically take into account construction of the research "product" and characteristics of the larger structural context in which such products are designed to be used. The theoretical strategy relies on aspects of Strauss' negotiated order paradigm and approaches to policy research taken by Rein and Wiseman, and involves an effort to relate more stable structural characteristics of the social, political, economic and organizational context of reform programs to a series of six basic areas of negotiation in the evaluation process. These include: (l) delineation of major actors; (2) organizational placement of program evaluation work; (3) choice of general research strategy; (k) selection of appropriate research model and methodology; (5) construction and content of research reports; and (6) planning for research utilization. This framework provided the theoretical perspective for description and analysis of four case studies: two in housing policy, one in private social service delivery and one in delivery of legal education services. Conclusions from case studies, and other research suggested four models of negotiated knowledge. New models include elements of positivist and interpretive models but are designed around the structural context of program planning and implementation and focus directly on the six basic areas of negotiation. This expanded repertoire of models of negotiated knowledge production and use have been labelled Experimental, Managerial, Collaborative, and Transformative. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

This study aims to evaluate Rural Development Policy (RDP) and its ability to meet environmental objectives at European, national and regional levels. Policy evaluation is necessary to assess the processes and impact of policies and programmes to meet desired outcomes, to further ensure accountability of public funds. There a number of evaluation approaches that have varying abilities to examine the variety of interacting policy determinants. This study explores both quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate the Scottish RDP Rural Priorities scheme performance for the programme period 2007-2013. The Rural Priorities scheme is an important mechanism for achieving environmental objectives through regionalisation. Spatial econometrics, in-depth interviews, and stakeholder power mapping were used to assess policy determinants, such as; farming characteristics, land capability, designated sites status, and accessibility and population as well as less tangible policy aspects such as; policy design, stakeholder power balances, and governance structures. Furthermore these methods were assessed singularly and in collaboration in their abilities to identify strengths and weakness in RDP participatory and environmental performance. This diversity of information contributes to the European Commission funded research project, SPARD (Spatial Analysis of Rural Development), which aims to help policy-makers understand the causal relationships between rural development measures and their consequences in a spatial dimension.

No description available.

In many countries, migration is a high priority in both the public and political debate. Countries face continuous challenges to attract, retain and integrate migrants in their societies. In recent years, the economic crisis, the refugee crisis and the surge of populist movements and xenophobic violence have exposed countries to even bigger challenges. It is therefore crucial to understand what governments and societies can do to transform migration phenomena into opportunities for both destination and origin countries. In my dissertation I investigated empirically three topics in the economics of migration. First, the role of certificate recognition for the labor market integration of high-skilled migrants and the effects of a policy that facilitated certificate recognition for all immigrants. Second, the brain drain phenomenon and the effects of a policy that introduce tax incentives to return migration for high-skilled young Italian emigrants. Third, return intentions and labor market behaviors of immigrants, and the effects of home country socio-political conditions on these two outcomes. The dissertation aims at contributing to the growing literature on the economics of migration with novel findings on specific policies and channels, and to the policy debate on migration and integration policies.

published_or_final_version / Urban Studies / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This thesis studies the relative roles of monetary and fiscal policies to achieve the basic macroeconomic objectives of stable prices with sustainable growth in Pakistan. Using data from December 1981 till June 2008, the changes in the monetary policy stance are shown to be capable of affecting the domestic price level and output growth. This thesis also tests the fiscal theory of price determination using quarterly data for the sample period 1977q1-2009q4, by investigating the relationship between the fiscal deficit, debt accumulation and inflation dynamics. The estimates reveal that there exists a fiscal dominant regime for most of the sample period since the fiscal authority is insensitive to monetary policy in the sense that neither taxes nor expenditure react (now or in the future) to the changes in the stock of outstanding government debt. It is also found that changes in the primary deficit exert an effect on aggregate demand which is also evidence of an active fiscal policy regime. This study also explores the indirect channels of fiscal regime by including a monetary, real sector, exchange rate and the consolidated budget deficit variables in three different specifications of vector error correction models and finds the monetary and fiscal variables as the key determinants of inflation in Pakistan. It also suggests a positive and significant relationship between the budget deficit and seigniorage revenues, confirming the monetisation of the fiscal deficit and indirect evidence of the fiscal dominance in the economy. In addition, this thesis employs a SVAR specification of exogenous fiscal policy shocks to observe the relative effectiveness of fiscal multipliers and finds their significant role to affect inflation and output in the economy. Finally this study develops and estimates a small macro-econometric model and then it is used to assess the relative performance of the monetary and fiscal policies in Pakistan. Policy simulations suggest that if Pakistan follows a rule based regime then macroeconomic stability can be improved in terms of the stability of output and inflation.

In this paper, a structural vector auto regression (SVAR) approach is used to empirically investigate the effects of monetary policy shocks on output (measured by real GDP) and prices (measured by consumer price index) in Ethiopia. We isolated the SVAR structural shocks by imposing restrictions on the long- run behavior of the variables in the model, which places a recursive restriction on the disturbances of the SVAR. We considered three alternative policy instruments i.e. broad money supply (M2), lending rate and the real effective exchange rate (REER). We find evidence that price-based nominal anchors (Interest rate and REER) have an effect on real output, a modest effect of the lending rate while a significant effect of REER is documented, with a slightly faster speed of adjustment. Similarly, innovation in the quantity based nominal anchor (M2) affects economic activities significantly. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

PURPOSE: To evaluate Canada’s most comprehensive outdoor smoke-free ordinance, in Woodstock, Ontario, using both quantitative (longitudinal cohort survey) and qualitative methods (key informant interviews with policy makers). Measures include levels of support for outdoor smoking restrictions, smoking behaviour in outdoor environments, measures of the social denormalization of smoking, measures of concern about litter or fires caused by discarded cigarette butts, and reported changes in use of services, facilities or businesses that were regulated by the by-law. This study also sought to understand aspects of the policy development process and determine to how relevant the findings may be to other communities across Canada, and the world. BACKGROUND: The City of Woodstock, Ontario created a comprehensive outdoor smoke-free ordinance (OSFO) that came into effect on September 1, 2008. This by-law restricted or banned smoking in 5 different outdoor environments owned or regulated by the city including patios on downtown sidewalk cafés, parks and recreational fields, areas around transit stops and shelters, and doorways of city run facilities such as city hall. The by-law also created two schedules to further regulate smoking in other outdoor environments if elected by citizens in the community; one for non-city-owned properties such as private business to regulate smoking in their doorway environments and a second schedule for outdoor events organized by groups in the community. The schedules allowed council to pass a by-law that could easily regulate and enforce additional smoke-free environments, as requested by citizens, without the need for council approval. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to address the research objectives. Quantitative measures were collected using a pre-post survey design, interviewing smokers and non-smokers, in the City of Woodstock, and a neighbouring community (Ingersoll) in the same county (Oxford County). Before the by-law was enacted, two surveys were conducted. The telephone survey (August 13-28, 2008) was a random digit dialled (RDD) general adult population survey of non-smokers (n=373) and smokers (n=234). A face-to-face survey (August 13-19, 2008) was conducted among a targeted sample of smokers who were observed smoking in one of the outdoor areas that was to become smoke-free in accordance with the by-law (n=176). Face-to-face interviewers used handheld Palm III devices to assist in the interviewing of these respondents. Surveying both samples ensured the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour of those smokers who, given circumstances of their recruitment, would be more likely to be affected by the by-law, would be measured in this evaluation study. Using a longitudinal cohort design, respondents from both Wave 1 surveys were re-contacted by telephone in approximately one year after the ban was implemented (August 18-September 15, 2009), to measure changes in the key outcome variables. The Wave 2 survey was conducted entirely by telephone with no replenishment. The Wave 2 survey included respondents that were successfully re-contacted from the general population sample (non-smokers n=299, smokers n=182), and respondents from the targeted sample (n=61). This qualitative study sought to identify any specific lessons or findings from the process undertaken that would be applicable or helpful to other communities. The qualitative study involved 6 key informant interviews with identified public health and city staff and an elected official who were involved in different aspects of the by-law, from development to enforcement. The data collected from the key informant interviews was analysed using an inductive qualitative method called the ‘framework approach’. RESULTS: After the Woodstock outdoor smoking restrictions had been in place for approximately 1 year, most respondents from the general population survey, smokers, (71%), and non-smokers (93%), supported or strongly supported the by-law. Most smokers (82%) and non-smokers (96%) agreed or strongly agreed that the by-law had been good for the health of the children of Woodstock. The by-law was also associated with increased quit intentions; 15% of the smokers from the general population sample reported that the smoke-free by-law made them more likely to quit, and approximately 26% of the smokers from the targeted sample reported the by-law made them more likely to quit. Smokers from both the general population (30%) and the targeted sample (42%) reported that the smoke-free outdoor by-law had helped them cut down on the number of cigarettes they smoke. There were 30 respondents in the Wave 1 survey that were smokers, who had successfully quit at the time of the Wave 2 survey. Of these ‘quitters’, 33% reported that they outdoor smoke-free by-law had helped them to quit smoking, and approximately half (48%) reported that they by-law had helped them to stay a non-smoker. The overwhelming majority of smokers reported that the by-law did not impact their use of facilities or businesses that had been regulated by the by-law. The key informant interviews revealed that the outdoor smoke-free ordinance was developed by following a standard public health policy development process that involved community (public) participation, exploration of policy options, and a political decision made by the city’s elected officials. It was identified that the implementation of two schedules in the by-law, which allows for expansion of the environments regulated and enforced by the city, was an effective strategy to gradually increase smoke-free spaces without burdening the City Council with regular needs to amend or update a by-law. Appropriate public relations were engaged including disseminating information about the by-law, and publicizing it through established networks in the community. Signage in the regulated environments, and enforcement were considered critical by the implementation team. City staff members recommended that other communities should consider passing similar by-laws and dedicate more effort to implementing and enforcing restrictions, rather than discussing or debating whether or not to enact a by-law. An analysis of the key informant interviews revealed that there were no unique features or circumstances specific to Woodstock that would suggest this by-law could not be developed or passed in another area municipality provided the community already has established smoke-free policies in indoor or enclosed public spaces. If Woodstock is unique in any way, it was in the presence of conditions such as high smoking prevalence and close proximity to tobacco growing regions that make it less likely to have successfully enacted an outdoor smoke-free ordinance. CONCLUSION: Support for the Woodstock comprehensive outdoor smoking by-law is high among smokers and non-smokers. The overwhelming majority of residents interviewed supported the by-law and felt that the by-law was good for the health of the children of Woodstock. The by-law has not had negative impacts on use of facilities including parks and recreational fields. Further, a third of smokers reported that the outdoor by-law has helped them to cut down how much they smoke and almost a fifth of smokers reported that the by-law has made them more likely to quit smoking. Approximately half of the quitters in the sample also reported the by-law helped them to stay quit. These findings suggest that expanding smoke-free ordinances to include a range of outdoor environments will be supported by citizens, and will help smokers to reduce how much they smoke, encourage quitting and help those that quit, remain abstinent. The findings from the key informant interviews suggest that other jurisdictions should explore expanding their smoke-free ordinances to include outdoor environments, particularly environments frequented by children.