Article 1: Yan, W., & Douglas, A. C. (2013). Federal environmental regulation impacts on local economic growth and stability. Economic Development Quarterly, 27, 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., & Himes, C. L. (2006). Declining eligibility for social security spouse and widow benefits in the United States? Research on Aging, 28, 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., & Rocha. R. R. (2012). Racial diversity and public policy in the states. Political Research Quarterly, 65, 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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Article 4: Hearn, J. C., Lacy, T. A., & Warshaw, J. B. (2014). State research and development tax credits: The historical emergence of a distinctive economic policy instrument.  Economic Development Quarterly, 28, 166–181.

This article discusses the research and development tax credits in multiple American states. The author’s event history analysis finds the adoption of these tax credits to be associated with higher state unemployment levels. However, higher patenting activity is also associated with adoption. Their finds suggestion that having a strong preexisting research and development (R&D) infrastructure facilitates adoption.

Questions to Consider:

1. What the do the authors mean by states are the “laboratories of democracy”
2. What are the benefits and consequences of implementing R & D tax credits?
3. What are the authors’ suggestions for future research?

Learning objective: Recognize the fundamental language and laws of economics

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Article 5: Machain, C. M., & Morgan, T. C. (2012). The effect of US troop deployment on host states’ foreign policy. Armed Forces & Society, 39, 102–123.

This article discusses the deployment of troops abroad and their effect on the host state. The authors argue that as the number of US troops deployed to a host state increases, we should expect the host state to reduce its own troop levels, be more likely to initiate militarized interstate disputes, and be less likely to be the target of interstate disputes.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are the intended and unintended consequences of troop deployment abroad?
2. Explain Palmer and Morgan’s two-good theory of foreign policy. How does it apply to troop deployment?
3. What were the authors’ findings in terms of the effects of troop deployment on the host state?

Learning objective: Explain how global and domestic pressures shape American foreign policy; Describe the strategies and instruments used to address foreign policy issues

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CQ Researcher

• Energy Policy

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