Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Multinational Corporations (MNCs), especially those with headquarters in the U.S., have been usually singled out as the “flagship” of the globalization process. However, empirical research on the internationalization trends of these firms displays mixed findings and conclusions regarding the validity of the globalization statement and the presumed ubiquity on the foreign operation of the major U.S.-based MNCs. In effect, based on some evidence in the worldwide pattern of the sales of the largest 500 MNCs, some have argued that the whole concept of globalization has only marginal value. Others have contested the regionalization findings and suggest need to look beyond economic variables. This paper joins this debate, by analyzing the evolution of the internationalization pattern of the largest U.S.-based MNCs over a relatively long period, between 1980 and 2001. In addition, we went a step further and try to explain why U.S. firms operate in some countries or change destinations over time by looking at the characteristics of those countries.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Are minorities fairly represented in U.S. municipal
governments as demography changes? This paper attempts to explore
minority representation in the municipal governments of New York, Los
Angeles, Chicago, and Houston for the years 1990-2000 through an
examination of the distribution of minorities. Findings indicate that
rapid demographic changes in the four largest U.S. cities have not
remarkably changed representation of minorities and nonminorities in
those municipal governments. Demographic changes do affect the
composition of the city work forces, but demographic changes do not
seem to affect considerably the composition of the city work forces.
Although minorities and nonminorities appear to be gaining more
representation, the extent of the increase of representation has been
much higher in Caucasians than minorities. Occupational and agency
segregation as well as salary differences between minorities and
nonminorities and between men and women has not been significantly
reduced.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The pretrial release phase of the criminal justice process has garnered a great deal of interest among scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. Most of this attention focuses on the initial pretrial release decision, the types of pretrial release options available in criminal courts, and the efficacy of commercial surety bondsmen and pretrial programs in ensuring that released defendants do not engage in pretrial misconduct.

In order to examine these issues, data from the State Court Processing Statistics (SCPS) database will be examined. SCPS is a biennial data collection series sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that tracks defendants arrested on a felony charge in 75 of the Nation's most populous counties for one year. The merged data file contains pretrial case processing information for over 380,000 defendants arrested on a felony charge during the 1990 to 2002 time period.

The topics to be covered by this presentation include the pretrial release or detention status of felony defendants at the time of arrest, bail amounts, release rates by prior criminal record and criminal justice status, characteristics of released versus detained defendants, and failure to appear and re-arrest rates for defendants released on commercial surety bond versus other types of non-financial release programs.

Publication Type: Traditional Presentation
Abstract: The Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair is the world’s largest renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living educational event of its kind. The Educator Tent, hosted by the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP), provides a haven within the Fair for teachers to network and attend workshops designed especially for them.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The economic recession of 2001 and ensuing fiscal difficulties at all levels of government brought renewed attention to the health of the public finance system. We watched as the economy and federal, state, and local governments went from a period of unprecedented growth and surplus in the late 1990s to sustained decline and deficit from 2001 to 2005.

Beyond their inherent importance, recent cyclical economic and fiscal struggles are a wake-up call for public officials to pay attention to a much broader set of structural problems. The evolving nature of the economy from one based on manufacturing and property-based wealth to one based on services and knowledge-based wealth creates unprecedented challenges for fiscal structures. Significant changes in demographic, political, and intergovernmental factors are creating opportunities and threats for the fiscal arrangements required to support evolving government roles. Changing government roles have important implications for the future of the system of public finance.

How have America’s cities, and in particular its biggest cities—the lynchpins of the nation’s metropolitan and regional economies—fared during recent periods of economic boom and bust and amid ongoing structural changes? The research presented in this paper is part of an ongoing project that has four purposes: (1) to analyze the effects of cyclical changes on city finances; (2) to outline and call attention to structural challenges to city finances; (3) to examine changes in the finances of America’s biggest cities over time; and (4) to analyze the effects of the recent economic downturn for America’s biggest cities. This paper summarizes our results, to date, on the first three items. In terms of our analysis of the fiscal conditions of America’s largest cities, we emphasize the underlying revenue and economic structures of America’s 40 largest cities. Our hypothesis is that the way that these cities tax affects the fiscal and economic health of their communities. Revenue structures matter, affecting the rise and fall of revenues, investments, and the abilities of governments to meet the needs of their residents.