A two-level analysis of the determinants of direct democratic choices in European, immigration and foreign policy in Switzerland

This article employs a unique data set - covering 25 popular votes on foreign, European and immigration/asylum policy held between 1992 and 2006 in Switzerland - in order to examine the conditional impact of context upon utilitarian, cultural, political and cognitive determinants of individual attitudes toward international openness. Our results reveal clear patterns of cross-level interactions between individual determinants and the project-related context of the vote. Thus, although party cues and political competence have a strong impact on individuals' support for international openness, this impact is substantially mediated by the type of coalition that is operating within the party elite. Similarly, subjective utilitarian and cultural considerations influence the voters' decision in interaction with the content of the proposal submitted to the voters as well as with the framing of the voting campaign.

The Political Economy of Active Labor-Market Policy

Active labor-market policies (ALMPs) have developed significantly over the past two decades across Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, with substantial cross-national differences in terms of both extent and overall orientation. The objective of this article is to account for cross-national variation in this policy field. It starts by reviewing existing scholarship concerning political, institutional, and ideational determinants of ALMPs. It then argues that ALMP is too broad a category to be used without further specification, and it develops a typology of four different types of ALMPs: incentive reinforcement, employment assistance, occupation, and human capital investment. These are discussed and examined through ALMP expenditure profiles in selected countries. The article uses this typology to analyze ALMP trajectories in six Western European countries and shows that the role of this instrument changes dramatically over time. It concludes that there is little regularity in the political determinants of ALMPs. In contrast, it finds strong institutional and ideational effects, nested in the interaction between the changing economic context and existing labor-market policies.

An index to identify stroke-related vs incidental patent foramen ovale in cryptogenic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to create an index to stratify cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) by their likelihood that the stroke was related to their PFO. METHODS: Using data from 12 component studies, we used generalized linear mixed models to predict the presence of PFO among patients with CS, and derive a simple index to stratify patients with CS. We estimated the stratum-specific PFO-attributable fraction and stratum-specific stroke/TIA recurrence rates. RESULTS: Variables associated with a PFO in CS patients included younger age, the presence of a cortical stroke on neuroimaging, and the absence of these factors: diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and prior stroke or TIA. The 10-point Risk of Paradoxical Embolism score is calculated from these variables so that the youngest patients with superficial strokes and without vascular risk factors have the highest score. PFO prevalence increased from 23% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19%-26%) in those with 0 to 3 points to 73% (95% CI: 66%-79%) in those with 9 or 10 points, corresponding to attributable fraction estimates of approximately 0% to 90%. Kaplan-Meier estimated stroke/TIA 2-year recurrence rates decreased from 20% (95% CI: 12%-28%) in the lowest Risk of Paradoxical Embolism score stratum to 2% (95% CI: 0%-4%) in the highest. CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics identify CS patients who vary markedly in PFO prevalence, reflecting clinically important variation in the probability that a discovered PFO is likely to be stroke-related vs incidental. Patients in strata more likely to have stroke-related PFOs have lower recurrence risk.

Optimal fiscal policy in overlapping generations models

[eng] This paper provides, from a theoretical and quantitative point of view, an explanation of why taxes on capital returns are high (around 35%) by analyzing the optimal fiscal policy in an economy with intergenerational redistribution. For this purpose, the government is modeled explicitly and can choose (and commit to) an optimal tax policy in order to maximize society's welfare. In an infinitely lived economy with heterogeneous agents, the long run optimal capital tax is zero. If heterogeneity is due to the existence of overlapping generations, this result in general is no longer true. I provide sufficient conditions for zero capital and labor taxes, and show that a general class of preferences, commonly used on the macro and public finance literature, violate these conditions. For a version of the model, calibrated to the US economy, the main results are: first, if the government is restricted to a set of instruments, the observed fiscal policy cannot be disregarded as sub optimal and capital taxes are positive and quantitatively relevant. Second, if the government can use age specific taxes for each generation, then the age profile capital tax pattern implies subsidizing asset returns of the younger generations and taxing at higher rates the asset returns of the older ones.

Trade policy and regional inequalities

This paper aims to analyse the effects of trade policies in the pattern of regional inequalities within a country. Inspired firstly, by the debate concerning the role of protectionist policies in the settlement of a pattern of striking regional inequalities in the Spanish industrialisation process and secondly, by current evidence of an increase in these inequalities following the entry of Spain in the EU (1986), we set a model that shows that trade liberalisation increases regional inequalities.

Audit report of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy for the year ended June 30, 2012

Audit report of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy for the year ended June 30, 2012

Policy -Strategy Option Description, January 30, 2009

Like many states, Iowa faces significant challenges on the energy front.  Energy prices have  surged in recent years to record levels before declining precipitously following the financial  crisis that broke in September 2008.  Despite this pullback, the fundamentals that contributed to  higher energy prices are expected to return once economies rebound. Oil prices have gone up  on increased demand, driven in large part by developing countries such as China and India,  whose economies have been rapidly expanding.  Natural gas prices have also fluctuated  dramatically, trading in a range from $4.50 to $13.00/MMBtu over the past year, but are unlikely  to remain at low levels over the long term.  As shown in our analysis later on in this report, the  difference in levelized cost of electricity from a gas‐fired combined cycle plant can vary  significantly depending on the fuel cost.    Dependence on others for energy supply involves significant risks and uncertainties.  Thus, if  Iowa wishes to reduce its dependence on others – or even achieve energy independence – Iowa  needs to pursue actions on a numbers of fronts.  Following the status quo is not an option.    A carbon tax would change the energy landscape in Iowa.  Since Iowa is currently 75%  dependent on coal, a carbon tax could mean that generators, and in turn ratepayers, could be on  the hook for higher electricity prices, though it remains to be seen exactly what the tax scheme  will be.  In addition to existing plants, a carbon tax would also have a significant impact on the  cost of new generation plant.  We have modeled carbon taxes ranging from $0‐50/ton in our  analysis in the Appendix.  However, if a more aggressive carbon policy came into play resulting  in market values of for example, $100/ton or even $200/ton, then that could raise the cost of coal‐  and gas‐fired generation significantly, making alternatives such as wind more economical.

Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Performance Report, FY2004

Agency Performance Report

Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Performance Report, FY2005

Agency Performance Report

Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Performance Report, FY2006

Agency Performance Report

Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Performance Report, FY2007

Agency Performance Report