The Bolivian government is using a portion of the rent generated from its fossil fuel reserves to fund unconditional cash transfers as a means of redistributing resources. Although some countries have enacted conditional cash transfers in the past, these unconditional transfers are unique since they only have been implemented in...
Most research on U.S. hunger and food insecurity is at the household level, where it occurs. Because policy to address food insecurity is created and implemented at the national and state level, hunger research at the state level provides important contextual information. By including weather data with state level economic...
This study uses the Health Impact Assessment approach to determine the health impacts of allowing accessory dwelling units in Benton County, Oregon. A literature review presents the health benefits of accessory dwelling units in urban areas and identifies the potential negative health effects in rural areas. Five accessory dwelling units...
Local Perceptions of Social-Ecological Change on the McKenzie: Implications for Resilience
This study sought to catalog local knowledge of long-term residents of the McKenzie River Valley as it pertains to landscape and community change and provide a general assessment of factors affecting the local social-ecological system’s resilience. Residents interviewed indicated...
During the 2011 Oregon Legislative session, seven bills were debated that addressed policy affecting small farms. This paper seeks to understand the environment surrounding these bills: what is the political structure for determining small farm policy? To answer this question seven policymakers were interviewed and two legislative hearings were observed....
This paper explores the history of housing policies in the United States and how they were implemented. It also examines the effects of discriminatory practices against minorities and low-income groups. There is evidence that this systemic form of discrimination creates conditions that cause poverty and unequal access to education, home...
This paper seeks to answer the question of the effectiveness of urban renewal through a decennial review and analysis of the costs and benefits of the Central Albany Revitalization Area (CARA) in Albany, Oregon. The topic is especially relevant at this time of constraining budgets, as a bright light is...
In the past decade, scholars have increasingly turned to quantitative analysis to understand the complex interplay of factors driving intrastate conflict. International agencies, nonprofits and governments have maintained that food insecurity is a significant driver of violent conflict. This paper tests this popular assumption with a model drawn from Azar’s...
Declining population is a major concern for rural communities. In many places, out-migration has led to a loss of key services. This essay investigates the role of services, as well as labor markets, natural amenities, distance to urban areas, and community size, in determining net migration rates for small Oregon...
Large-scale safety-net programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have been shown to alleviate the negative effects of low-wage jobs and unemployment on poor American households. However, less is known about the role of “emergency” safety net programs, such as rental...