Telecommunications Competition Survey for Retail Local Voice Services in Iowa, January 26, 2004

Survey of retail local voice services for Iowa Utilities Board

Combined Report on the Institutions Under the Control of the Iowa Department of Human Services : Schedules, Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2002

State Agency Audit Report

Combined Report on the Institutions Under the Control of the Iowa Department of Corrections - Schedules, Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2002

State Agency Audit Report - Combined Report

Combined Report on the Institutions Under the Control of the Iowa Department of Human Services: Schedules Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2003

State Agency Audit Report

Combined Report on the Institutions Under the Control of the Iowa Department of Corrections: Schedules Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2003

State Agency Audit Report

Combined Report on the Institutions Under the Control of the Iowa Department of Corrections, Schedules, Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2004

State Audit Reports

Combined Report on the Institutions Under the Control of the Iowa Department of Human Services, Schedules, Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2004

State Audit Reports

Quality and Competition: An Empirical Analysis across Industries, March 2006

This paper empirically explores the link between quality and concentration in a cross-section of manufactured goods. Using concentration data and product quality indicators, an ordered probit estimation explores the impact of concentration on quality that is defined as an index of quality characteristics. The results demonstrate that market concentration and quality are positively correlated across different industries. When industry concentration increases, the likelihood of the product being higher quality increases and the likelihood of observing a lower quality decreases.

Combined Report on the Institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Human Services, Schedules, Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2005

State Audit Reports

Combined Report on the Institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Corrections, Schedules, Findings and Recommendations, June 30, 2005

State Audit Reports

Report to Government Oversight Committee Regrading Soil and Water Conservation Districts Competition with Small Business, 2006

At the request of the Government Oversight Committee, the Ombudsman gathered information regarding competition by county Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) with small business through the sale of products and services. The goal of the Ombudsman’s review was to assist the Government Oversight Committee (Committee) in gaining an objective understanding of the issues so the Committee can ascertain whether there is a problem that requires legislation this legislative session. The Ombudsman focused on gathering specific information from four SWCD offices in central Iowa; Dallas, Greene, Guthrie and Jasper. These offices were specifically identified in documentation presented to the Government Oversight Committee by affected small business owners (contractors), Jon Judson of Diversity Farms and Dan Brouse of Iowa Restorations. However, with 100 SWCDs in Iowa,1 each with their own elected commissioners and each with different practices, priorities and fundraising activities, what the Ombudsman learned about these four counties may not be applicable to all the SWCDs in Iowa. The Ombudsman assigned the case to the Assistant Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman for Small Business, Kristie Hirschman. For reference purposes in this report, actions taken by Ms. Hirschman will be ascribed to the Ombudsman.

The Minimum Safety Standard, Consumers’ Information, and Competition, February 2007

This paper explores the effects of a standard influencing care choice. Firm(s) may increase the probability of offering safe products by incurring a cost. Under duopoly, they compete either in prices or in quantities. Under perfect information about safety for consumers, the selected standard that corrects a safety underinvestment is always compatible with competition. Safety over investment only emerges under competition in quantities and relatively low values of the cost. Under imperfect information about safety for consumers, the standard leads to a monopoly situation. However, for relatively large values of the cost, a standard cannot impede the market failure coming from the lack of information.

Combined audit report on the institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the five years ended June 30, 2006

Combined audit report on the institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the five years ended June 30, 2006

Combined audit report on the institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Human Services including findings and recommendations and average cost per resident/patient information for the five years ended June 30, 2006

Combined audit report on the institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Human Services including findings and recommendations and average cost per resident/patient information for the five years ended June 30, 2006

Combined report on the institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the five years ended June 30, 2007

Combined report on the institutions under the control of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the five years ended June 30, 2007