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Social scientists offer competing theories on what explains the policymaking process. These typically include economic rationalism, political competition or power struggles, and policy imitation of the kind that diffuses across spatially proximate neighbors. In this paper, we examine the factors that have influenced a recent local policy trend in California: inclusionary zoning (IZ). IZ programs require developers to make a certain percentage of the units within their market‐rate residential developments affordable to low‐ or moderate‐income households. By 2007, 68 percent of jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area had adopted some type of IZ policy. We test the relative importance of economic, political, and spatial factors in explaining the rapid diffusion of IZ, across 100 cities and towns in the Bay Area. Consistent with an economic efficiency argument, results of hazard models provide some evidence that IZ is adopted in places with less affordable housing. However, political factors, such as partisan affiliation and the strength of affordable housing nonprofits, are even more robust predictors of whether or not a local government adopts IZ. There is no evidence of spatial diffusion in the case of IZ adoption; jurisdictions are not, on average, responding to the behavior of their neighbors. © 2010 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auto insurance rates can vary dramatically, with much higher premiums in poor and minority areas than elsewhere, even after accounting for individual characteristics, driving history, and coverage. This paper uses a unique data set to examine the relative influence of place-based socioeconomic characteristics (or redlining) and place-based risk factors on the place-based component of automobile insurance premiums. We use a novel approach of combining tract-level census data and car insurance rate quotes from multiple companies for sub-areas within the city of Los Angeles. The quotes are for a hypothetical individual with identical demographic and auto characteristics, driving records, and insurance coverage. This method allows the individual demographic and driving record to be fixed. Multivariate models are then used to estimate the independent contributions of these risk and redlining factors to the place-based component of the car insurance premium. We find that both risk and redlining factors are associated with variations in insurance costs in the place-based component, with black and poor neighborhoods being adversely affected, although risk factors are stronger predictors. However, even after risk factors are taken into account in the model specification, SES factors remain statistically significant. Moreover, simulations show that redlining factors explain more of the gap in auto insurance premiums between black (and Latino) and white neighborhoods and between poor and nonpoor neighborhoods. The findings do not appear sensitive to the individual characteristics of the hypothetical driver. © 2007 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the economic and social impact of growth controls in Davis, California. Interrelationship between land values and growth control communities; Determinants of housing values; Difference between policy implications of artificially inflated housing costs and policy implications of amenity preservation.

Policymakers and academics often identify institutional boundaries as one of the factors that shape the capacity of jurisdictions to manage natural resources such as water tàrests, and scenic lands. This article examines two key bodies of literature-common-pool resource management theory and local public economy theory-to explain how the boundaries of political jurisdictions affect natural resource management. Two empirical methods were used to test hypotheses from the literature, using a study of water management programs in California. The results demonstrate that institutional boundaries that coincide with natural resources are likely to be associated with the implementation of more effective resource management programs. At the same time, where jurisdictions can control through coordination, they can also facilitate more effective resource management where jurisdictions do not match resource boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the lessons to be learned for the Medi-Cal health care program of California. Selective contracting by hospitals without consumer choice; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on policy analysis and management.

Focuses on the interrelationship between lottery wagering and parimutuel horse racing wagering in California. Parimutuel wagering before and after introduction of the state lottery; Effect of lottery in parimutuel wagering; Implications for state revenues.

Focuses on the proposed Demand-Based Reductions in Vehicle Emissions PLUS Improvements in Fuel Economy (DRIVE+), which would create self-financing tax incentives in California. Encouragement of consumers to use cleaner and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks; Determination of the proposal's political feasibility; Imposition of no new net taxes; Requirement of no new appropriations from the state general fund.

Illustrates how a comparison and analysis of the structure of dominant stories in the 1980-82 California Medfly Crisis reduces some of its underlying uncertainty. Effectiveness of narrative policy analysis in analyzing highly uncertain and complex policy issues; Analysts' focus on the differential risk perceptions reflected in the stories; Distinctions between narrative and conventional policy analysis.

Examines the characteristics of several quasiexperimental and statistical methods of measuring the effect of urban growth-control programs using data from the community of Davis, California. Strengths and weaknesses of the methods when applied to housing market operations; Effect of adding statistical controls to quasiexperimental controls.