Homeownership Gaps Among Low-Income and Minority Households

While homeownership rates currently stand at historically high levels for all segments of the U.S. population, large gaps are present comparing various groups of the population. As of the third quarter of 2006, the non-Hispanic white homeownership rate was 76 percent while black and Hispanic homeownership rates were below 50 percent, and the Asian rate was 60 percent. The ownership gap between black and white households is larger in 2006 than 1990, while that between Hispanics and whites is only slightly smaller. Households with very-low income had a homeownership rate that was 37 percentage points below the rate for high-income households. These gaps have changed little over the last 50 years. The primary goal of this study is to synthesize what is known about the determinants of gaps in homeownership rates by income, racial, and ethnic status. We first present a conceptual framework for analyzing the determinants of homeownership. We then review the literature that identifies the relative importance of various contributing factors to observed homeownership gaps, separating the factors into those that are observed and those that are part of an unexplained residual that represents unmeasured factors such as discrimination, lack of information about the home buying and mortgage financing process, and omitted socio-economic variables.

Method and apparatus for measuring distance

The invention employs a continuous wave radar technique and apparatus which can be used as a distance measuring system in the presence of background clutter by utilizing small passive transponders. A first continuous electromagnetic wave signal S sub 1 at a first frequency f sub 1 is transmitted from a first location. A transponder carried by a target object positioned at a second (remote) location receives the transmitted signal, phase-coherently divides the f sub 1 frequency and its phase, and re-transmits the transmitted signal as a second continuous electromagnetic wave signal S sub 2 at a lower frequency f sub 2 which is a subharmonic of f sub 1. The re-transmitted signal is received at the first location where a measurement of the phase difference is made between the signals S sub 1 and S sub 2, such measuremnt being indicative of the distance between the first and second locations

The Effects of the Deflection Point and Shaft Mass on Swing and Launch Parameters in the Golf Swing

This study determined whether a higher dynamic deflection point (DDP) was evident when using a driver fitted with a stiff shaft of greater mass and whether between-shaft differences were evident in swing and launch parameters. Twelve elite male golfers had three shots analysed for each of two drivers fitted with “stiff” shafts of different mass (56 g and 78 g). Six swing and launch parameters were measured by a real-time launch monitor and the (DDP) was measured using a motion analysis system. Between-shaft differences were evident for the DDP at maximum, but not at ball impact. Between-shaft differences in swing and launch parameters for the heavier shaft resulted in; lower launch angles (p\u3c0.001), increased spin rates (p\u3c0.001) and steeper attack angles (p\u3c0.001). The findings show the importance of DDP and optimising swing and launch parameters

Partisan Defection and Change in the 2008 US Presidential Election

Party identification remained an important determinant of vote choice in the 2008 election. Indeed, the extent to which people voted according to their partisanship remained as exceptionally high as it had been in the 2004 election. The Democrats led in partisanship, with a greater lead than in 2004. The ANES four‐wave panel survey shows that some change occurred in the Democratic direction during 2008. The Democrats gained among most population groups, with the exception of older citizens. Obama\u27s victory margin was due to his carrying pure independents and the growth in strong Democrats as opposed to strong Republicans. Both candidates lost the votes of some partisans who disagreed with them ideologically. The rate of defection among major‐party identifiers to the other major party hit post‐1950 lows in 2004 and 2008, reflecting increased polarization in the electorate. The partisanship shifts of young people and Hispanics could portend realignment, although that depends on their satisfaction with the Obama administration

Effects of the June 1995 Freshet on The Main Virginia Tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay

Environmental conditions in the Virginian waters of the Chesapeake Bay area during the summerof 1995 have been characterized as a severe drought. This drought was punctuated on 27 June with a headwater (James and Rappahannock River) rain storm that produced a freshet . Although it did not rain in the Tidewater area of Virginia, surface salinities were depressed by the run-off, and main-stem bottom ox}\u27gen levels dropped to z.ero in the James and Rappahannock rivers. The effects of the reduced oxygen were apparent on the James River oyster stock, particularly the reduction in spatfall, and to a lesser degree on the Rappahannock River young-of-the-year striped bass index. Long-term effects of the June flood and/or the drought must be monitored

Chesapeake Bay Status of Stocks Report 1988-89 : Virginia Juvenile Finfish Trawl Data

The results presented here are the tabular Catch-per-Unit-gffort (CPUE) Virginia trawl data for young of the year and yearling finfish from the inception date of the survey (1954) to the present. These data will also be the basis for developing a Virginia juvenile finfish index in 1989-1990