An interdisciplinary system dynamics model for post-disaster housing recovery

Many previous disasters have demonstrated the need for extensive personal, public, and governmental expenditures for housing recovery highlighting the importance of studying housing recovery. Yet, much research is still needed to fully understand the multi-faceted and complex nature of housing recovery. The goal of this paper is to present a holistic model to further the understanding of the dynamic processes and interdependencies of housing recovery. The impetus for this work is that inequalities in housing recovery could be addressed more effectively if we better understood interconnected factors and dynamic processes that slow down recovery for some. Currently, there is a lack of understanding about such factors and processes. Literature from engineering and social sciences was reviewed to develop an integrated system dynamics model for post-disaster housing recovery. While it is beyond current capabilities to quantify such complexities, the presented model takes a major stride toward articulating the complex phenomenon that is housing recovery

Have State Renewable Portfolio Standards Really Worked? Synthesizing Past Policy Assessments to Build an Integrated Econometric Analysis of RPS effectiveness in the U.S.

Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are the most popular U.S. state-level policies for promoting deployment of renewable electricity (RES-E). While several econometric studies have estimated the effect of RPS on in-state RES-E deployment, results are contradictory. We reconcile these studies and move toward a definitive answer to the question of RPS effectiveness. We conduct an analysis using time series cross sectional regressions - including the most nuanced controls for policy design features to date - and nonparametric matching analysis. We find that higher RPS stringency does not necessarily drive more RES-E deployment. We examine several RPS design features and market characteristics (including REC unbundling, RPS in neighboring states, out-of-state renewable energy purchases) that may explain the gap between effective and ineffective policies. We also investigate other RES-E policies and technology-specific effects. Ultimately, we show that RPS effectiveness is largely explained by a combination of policy design, market context, and inter-state trading effects

Journal of Public Procurement : Volume 12 Number 3 Fall 2012

Contents :Symposium on Exploring the Frontiers in Public Procurement : Moving Past Tradition, Part IIA.V.Roman, K.V.Thai, and C.McCueInnovation Procurement as ProjectsJ.Yeow and j.EdlerLean Thinking within Public Sector Purchasing Department : The Case of the U.K Public ServiceJ.Waterman and C.McCueMeasuring the Efficient Management of Public Works Contracts : A Non-Parametic ApproachC.Guccio, G.Pignataro and I.RizzoState-Business Relations and Participation of Firms in Public Procurement in Russia : An Empirical StudyO.Demivoda and A.Yakovlev422hlm.;15,5x23c

The political economy of state-level adoption of natural resource damage programs

Political economy, Natural resource damage, State policy, K32, Q28, Q58,