Networks for Representation: Social Capital and the Efficacy of Local Participatory Institutions

Efforts to understand the successes and limitations of civil society institutions have inspired a growing literature on social networks, social capital, and the role that social relationships play in developing group norms supporting collective action and in linking groups to network-based resources. The literature has tended to emphasize broad egocentric networks or informal networks of community organizations, largely ignoring the importance of social capital for supporting engagement of the formal participatory institutions that are arising as a way of improving stakeholder input in many cities. The extant research on community-representing organizations has tended to conceptualize social networks in largely metaphorical terms, and has not systematically investigated the manner in which political networks support their operations. This paper argues that differing forms of network resources will support distinct types of activities undertaken by participatory organizations. Our empirical analysis demonstrates that different network resources are employed in different contexts, while suggesting that civil society organizations must overcome basic organizational hurdles related to internal conflict in order to leverage latent network resources

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of δ-viniferin analogues and isosteres

The natural stilbenoid dehydro-δ-viniferin, containing a benzofuran core, has been recently identified as a promising antimicrobial agent. To define the structural elements relevant to its activity, we modified the styryl moiety, appended at C5 of the benzofuran ring. In this paper, we report the construction of stilbenoid-derived 2,3-diaryl-5-substituted benzofurans, which allowed us to prepare a focused collection of dehydro-δ-viniferin analogues. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated against S. aureus ATCC29213. The simplified analogue 5,5′-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzofuran-3,5-diyl)bis(benzene-1,3-diol), obtained in three steps from 4-bromo-2-iodophenol (63% overall yield), emerged as a promising candidate for further investigation (MIC = 4 µg/mL)

GSE Activity, FHA Feedback, and Implications for the Efficacy of the Affordable Housing Goals

Abstract There is a seeming paradox about the "affordable housing goals": GSE activities in targeted communities have increased under the goals but there has been little measurable improvement in housing market conditions in these communities. This paper seeks to reconcile this paradox by focusing on linkage between GSE purchases and FHA activities. We build a simple model based on credit rationing theory that suggests that GSE activities can have a feedback effect on FHA. More aggressive GSE pursuit of targeted borrowers under the affordable housing goals induces potential FHA borrowers with best credit quality to use the conventional market. In response, the FHA applies more strict underwriting standards under new market equilibrium, which results in reduced loan volumes. On balance, these effects can offset and make credit supply and homeownership effectively unchanged. Empirical evidence on changes in GSE and FHA lending after affordable housing goals were made more binding is found to be consistent with the theoretical predictions

[Draft: All Comments Welcome]

The meteoric rise of Internet usage and high-profile uses of the technology by political campaigns and governments have reinvigorated the nascent debate regarding the democratizing effects of new information and communication technologies (ICTs). At this early stage of the application of Internet in politics, a central theoretical and empirical question demanding attention concerns the dynamics of the design and implementation of electronic political forums. While the proliferation of decentralized, high-bandwidth, two-way communications has the potential to affect politics profoundly, the Internet in raw form remains too chaotic to be constructive. Tools must be developed that facilitate the use of information, channel communications, and support meaningful dialogues on relevant topics. Electronic democratic forums that provide this requisite organization take on many forms. Candidates and political parties establish sites to provide voters, potential contributors, and the press easy access to campaign information (cite to be added). Government departments and agencies create sites that promote service delivery, information access, and input into decision-making processes. Newspapers may create chat rooms to promote debate on on-going issues, and non-governmental organizations provide centralized locations for debate an