SAGE Journal Articles and Readings

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SAGE Journal Articles

SJ-userguide.pdf

Article 1: Yan, W. and Douglas, A. C. (August 2013). Federal Environmental Regulation Impacts on Local Economic Growth and Stability. Economic Development Quarterly 27(3). 179-192.

This article discusses the employment growth and employment stability effects of the Clear Air Act regulations and whether the implementation of the regulations weakens local economies.

Questions to Consider:
  1. What are the provisions of the Clean Air Act and when was this legislation passed?
  2. What did the authors find in terms of the effect of the Clear Air Act regulations on local economies?

Learning objective: Identify four government policy programs that attempt to improve citizen’s lives; Relate the history of environmental regulations in the United States

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Article 2: Meyer, M. H., Wolf, D. A., and Himes, C. L. (March 2006). Declining Eligibility for Social Security Spouse and Widow Benefits in the United States? Research on Aging 28(2). 240-260.

This article discusses the declining eligibility for social security and widow benefits in the U.S. by tracing trends in marriage for women in five cohorts and predicting marital patters for the last three cohorts. The authors find that eligibility of the women is disproportionate. Women of African American descent are more likely to be ineligible for the benefits.

Questions to Consider:
  1. How does social security work and how does it improve the American citizens lives at the age of retirement?
  2. What policy changes need to be made so that benefits are distributed equally among women?
  3. Are the benefits and policies responsive to women who get a divorce?

Learning objective: Identify four government policy programs that attempt to improve citizen’s lives

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Article 3: Matsubayashi, T. and Rocha. R. R. (September 2012). Racial Diversity and Public Policy in the States.Political Research Quarterly 65(3). 600-614.

This article discusses how racial diversity affects public policy outcomes in the united states by examining the policy backlash hypothesis.

Questions to Consider:
  1. What is the electoral constraint hypothesis and how does it apply to blacks?
  2. What are the authors arguing in their study? Do their findings support their argument?
  3. What are the limitations of the backlash hypothesis?

Learning objective: Identify four government policy programs that attempt to improve citizen’s lives; Explain what policy is, who makes it, and how its made

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CQ Researcher

Learning objective: Describe the degree to which policy making reflects public opinion