Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Investigating the impact of four categories of antecedents on the privatization decision in local governments, analysis of panel data finds a stronger effect of mission-related and institutional factors, compared to fiscal or political determinants.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Ecstasy’s psychopharmacology, reputation among users and the nature of the buyer and sellers’ relationships challenge our current understandings of drug distribution practices. In this paper drawing from analyses of data collected during our NIJ (2002-2004) and NIDA (2003-2006) funded Ecstasy seller studies we examine sellers’ perceptions of legal, social and health related risks and their effect on sales practices and the continuation or cessation of Ecstasy sales. We look at gender and racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of criminal justice risks. We examine the role of the level and duration of sales, sale settings and buyer/seller relationships in sellers’ risk perceptions. Other perceived risks of selling Ecstasy include stigmatization and sellers’ concerns regarding customers’ health outcomes. We end with a discussion of how various kinds of risk perceptions influenced sellers’ reduction or cessation of Ecstasy selling.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper expands upon the Grossman and Helpman (1994) "Protection for Sale" model to include a legislature with three members. In doing so, it links the literature on industry lobbying with legislative bargaining. It also focuses upon the substantive issue of whether legislative malapportionment has an effect upon trade protection. Its main theoretical findings are that constituency population does not have a very large direct effect, but smaller constituencies that depend heavily upon one industry will be more likely to get trade protection for that industry. These predictions are then tested using voting data from the U.S. Senate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and upon a cross-section of U.S. tariffs in 1997. Some empirical evidence is found to support the predictions of the theory.

Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: This paper builds upon previous that focuses on the dynamics of audience measurement and their implications for how decision-makers perceive their market and the behaviors of consumers within it. Specifically, this paper provides a comparative analysis of the BookScan and New York Times lists of best-selling books in an effort to chart how different methodological approaches provide different portraits of this particular area of cultural consumption. Drawing upon four months of New York Times and BookScan data for the same time period, this study compares and contrasts these measurement systems in terms of their volatility, congruence, genre prominence, and in terms of the diversity of product consumption reflected in both measurement systems.