An Art School in Old Town Edinburgh that has historically preserved facades along the Royal Mile, bridging old and new in a new city center. / Master of Architecture / For my thesis I wanted a site where I could combine old and new. A site that had a lot of history and some element of historical preservation, but not so old that there wasn't flexibility in what could be done with it. I began by focusing on sites in Britain, which has some truly wonderful ancient cities and structures, some of which have been continuously occupied for thousands of years. The site I chose has a unique development history for Edinburgh, a touch of historic preservation in the mandate to keep the exterior walls along the Royal Mile, but otherwise free to be developed as desired behind these walls. The nature of the site, along the North side of a slope downward away from the Royal Mile, and the height restrictions of Old Town, meant that the site itself receives even North lighting throughout the year, but not much else. This even lighting combined with translucent roofs and ceilings, was the original inspiration for an Art School here. The Art School is meant to explore how a place of learning can maximize its sources of natural lighting, how the school can serve the public by idsplaying student's artwork and hosting local events, how school support areas can be made both accessible and secure, and how the students who attend can be housed affordably.

The study analyzed variation among low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) allocation policies as outlined in state qualified action plans (QAP) and their impacts on the siting patterns of LIHTC properties in proximity to high performing schools. The study was performed nationwide across 37 states and controlled for factors relevant to the development location decision using census-based population characteristics and LIHTC property attributes. The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of LIHTC QAP allocation policies in motivating developers to site their developments near high-performing schools. QAPs typically use points when awarding tax credits competitively, and this study focused on points awarded for (1) access to high quality schools, (2) access to any schools, and (3) location in areas with attributes expected to correlate strongly with high quality schools. Multi-level linear modeling estimated that points for access to any schools had a significant and positive effect on location in a high performing school's catchment area, but other allocation policy variables had no significant effects. The findings inform readers about the ability of current allocation policy to influence developer actions, and discussion centers on policy recommendations and the need for further research. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning / Attendance at a high-performing school is critically important in determining short-term academic performance and long-term life outcomes in children. School choice remains limited, especially for lower-income households, and this suggests that housing policy can help children access neighborhoods and quality schools that promote their long-term success. Therefore, supporting the development of affordable housing near quality schools is an imperative social policy goal. This analysis focuses on housing policy to address the issue of a mismatch between low income students and high quality schools. The low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program is the largest federal program for the production and preservation of affordable housing and its centrality to the geography of affordable multi-family housing in the country cannot be overstated. As shown in this and other research, LIHTC units are consistently placed in areas with access to under performing schools and a need exists for changes in state LIHTC policy. The study analyzed variation among LIHTC allocation policies as outlined in state qualified action plans (QAP) and their impacts on the siting patterns of LIHTC properties in proximity to high performing schools. This study has highlighted deficiencies in state QAPs, and changes in their allocation systems are warranted to improve LIHTC residents local school quality. The findings inform readers about the ability of current allocation policy to influence developer actions, and discussion centers on policy recommendations and the need for further research.

Policy conflict plays an important role in shaping public policy—both as a process and as a product. The policy conflict framework—a theoretical framework, developed by Christopher Weible and Tanya Heikkila in 2017—considers position divergence among policymakers a key characteristic of policy conflict, which can be affected several factors including organizational and network affiliation of policymakers. This dissertation analyzes position divergence among local and regional officials over community sustainability policy, with a focus on affordable housing, which is a major concern of community sustainability. This research examines if, and how, local government officials' engagement with regional governance can play a role in shaping their policy positions. Understanding what influences officials' policy positions is essential in managing conflicts that arise in the making of sustainability policies in general and affordable housing policies, in particular. This study argues that local government officials' engagement with regional governance can lower policy position divergence among them by influencing their policy core beliefs and policy relevant knowledge. This analysis includes testing several hypotheses using data from a state-wide survey of local and regional policymakers. Employing cross-tabulation, multivariate regression, and ordered logit analysis, this study finds that (a) policymakers share a wide range of policy positions on community sustainability policies and (b) for local government officials engaged with regional governance, position divergence on community sustainability is lower than that among those who are not engaged with regional governance. Although position divergence on affordable housing among those engaged with regional governance is generally lower than those who are not engaged with regional governance, this finding is not robust. In some regions and localities, the relationship between position divergence and engagement with regional governance does not hold. Furthermore, this study finds that local government officials' engagement with regional governance is associated with higher levels of policy relevant knowledge, which can influence the policymakers' policy positions. The relationship, if any, between policymakers' core beliefs and their engagement with regional governance is weak and statistically insignificant. This cross-sectional analysis based on limited data suggests that local government officials' policy core beliefs are not related to their engagement with regional governance. However, future studies with better data may yield different results. / Doctor of Philosophy / Policy conflicts can impede the policymaking process; they usually influence and shape policy goals. Metropolitan governance is rife with policy conflicts. Especially in substantive policy areas such as community sustainability and affordable housing, policy conflicts are quite common. Policy conflicts emerge because of policy actors' divergent views, beliefs, priorities, preferences, and aspirations. To ensure a smoother policymaking process, mechanisms to handle conflicts are imperative. Regional governance can offer one such mechanism to handle policy conflicts that arise due to divergent policy positions of local government officials. This dissertation examines policy conflicts focusing on community sustainability policies. Analyzing survey data from Maryland, this study finds that (a) local government officials share a wide range of policy positions on community sustainability policies, (b) local government officials engaged with regional governance take policy positions that are more homogeneous compared to those who are not engaged with regional governance, and (c) officials engaged regional governance tend to have better policy relevant knowledge than others.

Jana Leichterová Conservative Criticism of Obamacare and its Transformation in the Context of Donald Trump Running for President Abstract The thesis deals with the debate over the health care reforms in the United States. It focuses specifically on the debate over the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, a health care reform initiated by President Barack Obama that was signed into law in March 2010. The goal of the thesis is to identify the main arguments of the conservative criticism of the Affordable Care Act, and to determine whether the debate transformed with the emergence of Donald Trump onto the political scene. The thesis provides historical context of the three main approaches to the health care policies in the United States throughout the 20th century: the Social Security path of strong government in the 1930s, the mixed "American way" with government providing social benefits to citizens through private institutions in the 1970s, and the approach of unregulated free market since the 1980s. Obama's health care originates in the urge for a national solution of the high number of uninsured citizens (more than 50 million in 2009) and rising cost of health care. The reform has three essential pillars: 1. the reform of the health insurance market that unifies the diverse state approaches and...

Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Human Settlements in partnership with the National Department of Human Settlements has launched a new integrated system known as the Housing Needs Register (HNR) to manage potential housing beneficiaries. This study was aimed at refining the integrated system in terms of providing guidelines and processes in the allocation of affordable houses. A total of 88 878 records captured on the HNR were profiled, and the results show that in approximately 86% of the records, family factors and better economic circumstances were given as the main motivation towards a desire to own a house in a particular area of residence. These findings emphasized the importance of understanding beneficiaries’ needs with regard to housing. Providing guidelines in the application of this knowledge in a fair and consistent manner could assist in curtailing the spread of informal selling or demolishing of state subsidized houses and other forms of corruption. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Section 26 of the Constitution of South Africa states that all South Africans should have the basic right of access to adequate housing. The task of housing the people of South Africa is the responsibility of the state, who is empowered to utilize all legislative and economic resources at its disposal, in order to achieve this right to housing in all forms. Though the state has mobilised resources and manpower to achieve these objectives, many challenges remain in the facilitation and provision of adequate affordable housing. These challenges relate to the understanding of the complex legislative systems and mechanisms governing the delivery of housing in this country. The functions of various tiers of government and the interventions designed to alleviate the housing backlog are increasingly becoming less effective. The involvement of the private sector in the delivery of sustainable integrated affordable housing is therefore crucial as this enormous challenge cannot be achieved by the government alone. These challenges are numerous and diverse and this study highlights the main structural issues to which both the public and private sectors are exposed to. This relates to availability of land, affordability, subsidy constraints, access to funding and the limitations of development planning. The aim of this study is to determine how this range of challenges is affecting the delivery of sustainable integrated affordable housing. A survey of leading developers in the Western Cape has been conducted to determine the main factors which are retarding and hampering progress. The findings of the study reveals that government interventions in the housing sector though marginally progressive, are not conducive to alleviating the structural problems in this environment. As a result the ability of private sector developers to perform in this market is eroded due to the unsustainable and complex problems associated with this environment. As the need for housing grows, a greater awareness and understanding of the problems and challenges associated with the delivery of sustainable integrated affordable housing is needed to provide a platform for the creation of adequate housing in this country. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Artikel 26 van die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika stel dat alle Suid-Afrikaners die reg op toegang tot geskikte behuising het. Die taak van die behuising van die mense van Suid-Afrika is die verantwoordelikheid van die staat, wat toegerus is om alle wetgewende en ekonomiese hulpbronne tot sy beskikking te gebruik om hierdie reg tot behuising in al sy vorme te verwesenlik. Alhoewel die staat hulpbronne en mannekrag gemobiliseer het om hierdie doelwitte te bereik, bestaan daar steeds vele uitdagings in die fasilitering en verskaffing van geskikte en bekostigbare behuising. Hierdie uitdagings het betrekking op die begrip van die komplekse wetgewende stelsels en meganismes wat die lewering van behuising in hierdie land beheer. Die funksies van verskeie vlakke van regering en die intervensies wat ontwerp is om die behuisingsagterstand te verlig, raak al hoe minder effektief. Die betrokkenheid van die privaatsektor in die lewering van volhoubare, geïntegreerde en bekostigbare behuising is kritiek omdat die regering nie hierdie enorme uitdaging alleen kan verrig nie. Die uitdagings is talryk en divers, en hierdie studie werp lig op die vernaamste strukturele kwessies waaraan beide die openbare en privaatsektore blootgestel word. Dit het betrekking op die beskikbaarheid van grond, bekostigbaarheid, subsidiebeperkings, toegang tot befondsing en die tekortkominge van ontwikkelingsbeplanning. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel hoe hierdie reeks uitdagings die lewering van volhoubare, geïntegreerde en bekostigbare behuising affekteer. ’n Opname van toonaangewende ontwikkelaars in die Wes-Kaap is gemaak om vas te stel wat die hooffaktore is wat vordering vertraag en belemmer. Die bevindinge van die studie onthul dat regeringsintervensies in die behuisingsektor, hoewel marginaal progressief, nie bevorderlik is vir die verligting van strukturele probleme in hierdie omgewing nie. Gevolglik word die vermoë van die privaatsektor-ontwikkelaars om in hierdie mark te slaag, verweer weens die onvolhoubaarheid en komplekse probleme wat met hierdie omgewing gepaard gaan. Soos die behoefte aan behuising groei, word ’n groter bewustheid en beter begrip van die probleme en uitdagings, wat gepaard gaan met die lewering van volhoubare, geïntegreerde behuising, benodig om ’n platform daar te stel vir die skepping van geskikte behuising in hierdie land.

This is a quantitative study of archival data that examines Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity using currently established healthcare quality and financial performance metrics. The research seeks to explicate the relationship between M&A activity and M&A experience in the healthcare industry as it relates to initiatives aimed at improving the quality and decreasing the cost of healthcare. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) legislation appears to be contributing to a trend toward M&A consolidation; by illuminating how this trend potentially impacts healthcare quality and cost reduction initiatives, this study’s contribution is both useful and practical. The units of analysis are Medicare reporting hospitals, hospital systems, and related healthcare providers that have or have not experienced an M&A or multiple M&As. The study shows a statistically significant improvement in quality each year from 2006–2014, which is reflected in higher scores for the four quality metrics measured. M&A activity, as measured by acquisition status and acquirer experience, did not appear to influence these quality metrics, with the exception of the heart failure measure, which showed a statistically significant positive influence of acquirer experience across all specifications. M&A activity’s possible effects on hospital financial performance was assessed through operating-cost-to-charge and capital-cost-to-charge ratios (CCRs). The operating CCR appears to be positively influenced by both acquisition status and acquirer experience, while the capital CCR was positively influenced only by acquirer experience. A positive influence is reflected in a decreasing ratio. Results on quality improvement over time, both before and after the ACA, suggest that the ACA itself may not be the driver for quality improvement. Similarly, decreases in OCCR occurred consistently and statistically significantly over time, both pre- and post-ACA, while CCCR showed statistically significant decreases in 2006–2008, 2013, and 2014. These results appear to support the notion that the trend was ongoing before the ACA was enacted and gave these measures high-profile exposure. This is a quantitative study of archival data that examines Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity using currently established healthcare quality and financial performance metrics. The research seeks to explicate the relationship between M&A activity and M&A experience in the healthcare industry as it relates to initiatives aimed at improving the quality and decreasing the cost of healthcare. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) legislation appears to be contributing to a trend toward M&A consolidation; by illuminating how this trend potentially impacts healthcare quality and cost reduction initiatives, this study’s contribution is both useful and practical. The units of analysis are Medicare reporting hospitals, hospital systems, and related healthcare providers that have or have not experienced an M&A or multiple M&As. The study shows a statistically significant improvement in quality each year from 2006–2014, which is reflected in higher scores for the four quality metrics measured. M&A activity, as measured by acquisition status and acquirer experience, did not appear to influence these quality metrics, with the exception of the heart failure measure, which showed a statistically significant positive influence of acquirer experience across all specifications. M&A activity’s possible effects on hospital financial performance was assessed through operating-cost-to-charge and capital-cost-to-charge ratios (CCRs). The operating CCR appears to be positively influenced by both acquisition status and acquirer experience, while the capital CCR was positively influenced only by acquirer experience. A positive influence is reflected in a decreasing ratio. Results on quality improvement over time, both before and after the ACA, suggest that the ACA itself may not be the driver for quality improvement. Similarly, decreases in OCCR occurred consistently and statistically significantly over time, both pre- and post-ACA, while CCCR showed statistically significant decreases in 2006–2008, 2013, and 2014. These results appear to support the notion that the trend was ongoing before the ACA was enacted and gave these measures high-profile exposure.

Neste trabalho propomos a análise dos conjuntos habitacionais empreendidos pelos Institutos de Aposentadoria e Pensões entre os anos de 1930 e 1964 na então Grande São Paulo dentro da concepção de cidade moderna, ou seja, como projetos que, para além de moradias, sustentavam o caráter de projetos urbanísticos, inseridos no processo de urbanização paulistano. A partir da revisão e delimitação do marco teórico foi feita a caracterização de projetos de cidades modernas e projetos de habitações populares e, ainda, da urbanização da cidade de São Paulo. Foram realizadas visitas técnicas aos conjuntos habitacionais dos IAP, além de levantamentos em fontes primárias e secundárias a respeito destes empreendimentos. Consideramos, tomando nossos estudos, que é possível compreender que, no âmbito da produção dos IAP, a cidade que se construiu com a implantação destes conjuntos habitacionais foi (ou poderia ter sido) a cidade moderna. / In this work we propose the analysis of the housing undertaken by Institutos de Aposentadoria e Pensões between the years 1930 and 1964 in those days Greater São Paulo within the design of the modern city, in other words, as projects which beyond housing, sustained the nature of urban projects, embedded in the urbanization process of São Paulo. From the review and delimitation of the theory, modern cities projects and affordable housing projects were characterized, as well as the urbanization of the city of São Paulo. It was performed technical visits to the IAP housing, and also a survey on primary and secondary sources about these dwelling complexes. From this study we consider that under IAP\'s production, the city that was built from the implementation of such housing projects was (or could have been) the modern city.

Neste trabalho propomos a análise dos conjuntos habitacionais empreendidos pelos Institutos de Aposentadoria e Pensões entre os anos de 1930 e 1964 na então Grande São Paulo dentro da concepção de cidade moderna, ou seja, como projetos que, para além de moradias, sustentavam o caráter de projetos urbanísticos, inseridos no processo de urbanização paulistano. A partir da revisão e delimitação do marco teórico foi feita a caracterização de projetos de cidades modernas e projetos de habitações populares e, ainda, da urbanização da cidade de São Paulo. Foram realizadas visitas técnicas aos conjuntos habitacionais dos IAP, além de levantamentos em fontes primárias e secundárias a respeito destes empreendimentos. Consideramos, tomando nossos estudos, que é possível compreender que, no âmbito da produção dos IAP, a cidade que se construiu com a implantação destes conjuntos habitacionais foi (ou poderia ter sido) a cidade moderna. / In this work we propose the analysis of the housing undertaken by Institutos de Aposentadoria e Pensões between the years 1930 and 1964 in those days Greater São Paulo within the design of the modern city, in other words, as projects which beyond housing, sustained the nature of urban projects, embedded in the urbanization process of São Paulo. From the review and delimitation of the theory, modern cities projects and affordable housing projects were characterized, as well as the urbanization of the city of São Paulo. It was performed technical visits to the IAP housing, and also a survey on primary and secondary sources about these dwelling complexes. From this study we consider that under IAP\'s production, the city that was built from the implementation of such housing projects was (or could have been) the modern city.

Existe a necessidade de modificar o processo de projeto diante da crescente complexidade envolvida em empreendimentos da construção. Há envolvimento de muitos profissionais, existência de distintas metas e interesses, além da ampliação do escopo dos projetos desenvolvidos. Além disso, o processo tradicional de projeto é geralmente desenvolvido de forma fragmentada, desconsiderando o conhecimento de vários estudos acadêmicos já desenvolvidos, sendo as decisões tomadas geralmente com base na experiência dos projetistas. Nesse sentido, uma das abordagens que vem sendo usada para melhorar os projetos de edificações é o projeto baseado em evidências (Evidence-Based Design - EBD). EBD é um processo que visa a melhorar as decisões de projeto tendo como base o uso das melhores evidências disponíveis de pesquisa, aliadas à prática profissional e a dados relacionados aos requisitos do cliente. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um modelo conceitual para guiar o uso do EBD no processo de projeto de edificações. A pesquisa foi dividida em três estágios. O primeiro estágio, de caráter exploratório, buscou a compreensão da pesquisadora quanto ao tópico investigado (EBD). No segundo estágio, buscou-se entender a aplicação do EBD no processo de projeto com enfoque na geração de valor Já o terceiro estágio buscou desenvolver formas de disseminação de resultados baseados em evidência. Ao longo dos três estágios, foram realizadas três revisões sistemáticas de literatura e também três estudos empíricos, sendo dois desenvolvidos no contexto de habitação de baixa renda no Brasil, enquanto que o terceiro foi realizado em um empreendimento da área da saúde no Reino Unido. O estudo apresenta tanto contribuições práticas como teóricas. Sob um enfoque prático, a principal contribuição é a possibilidade de integração de evidências existentes no processo de projeto a partir do desenvolvimento de algumas formas de coleta, processamento e análise dessas evidências. Em termos teóricos, este estudo propõe uma nova abordagem conceitual sobre nomenclatura e classificação de evidências para o processo de projeto usando EBD, com foco na geração de valor. É apresentada uma proposta de processo de projeto que busca uma melhor integração entre a prática profissional com conhecimentos produzidos pela academia, por meio de um processo de geração de conhecimento como uma forma de aprendizagem contínua. / There is a need for changing the design process due to the growing complexity of construction projects. There is a large number of stakeholders, which have a diversity of aims and goals, in addition to the broader scope of building projects. Moreover, the traditional design process is usually developed in a fragmented way, based mostly on the designers’ experience, often disregarding knowledge from other stakeholders involved. Evidence based design (EBD) is an emerging approach that aims to address this problem by supporting project decision-making with available evidence from research, in addition to professional experience and clients requirements’ data. This research work has proposed a conceptual model to guide the use of EBD in the building design process. The study was divided into three stages. The first stage had an exploratory character, in which the focus of the researcher was on understanding EBD. In the second stage, the aim was to study the application of EBD in the design process, focusing on value generation. The third stage consisted of devising forms of disseminating evidence-based results Three systematic literature reviews and three empirical studies were developed along those three stages. Two studies were concerned with affordable housing projects in Brazil, and one study involved a care home project in the U.K. This work provides both practical and theoretical contributions. From a practical viewpoint, the model proposed herein integrates evidences in building design process and proposes techniques to collect, process, and analyse such evidences. From a theoretical viewpoint, it introduces a new terminology and classification for evidences that can be incorporated in buildings design by using EBD, for increasing value generation. A proposal for a new design process that improves the integration between the professional practice and knowledge produced by academics, through a process for generating knowledge as a form of continuous learning.