An assessment of regional growth management activity in central and western states: Working paper series--01-03

The results of numerous polls and several ballot initiatives show that Americans are highly supportive of policies designed to manage growth in their local communities. In response, increasing numbers of jurisdictions have adopted proposals designed to protect the environment, preserve the quality of life, and promote continued economic growth. At the same time, many municipalities and counties have adopted a regional perspective in order to manage growth in the broader community. Issues concerning transportation, urban sprawl, open space, and water usage impact all the communities in a built-up area. As a result, organizations that operate with a regional perspective have formed to address common problems and propose region-wide solutions to these issues. This paper reviews the activities of several organizations that have arisen in many of the western and central portions of the U.S. In each instance, the structure of the organization is reviewed along with its history and the goals and strategies that each has established. The premise common to most of these organizations is the use of a collaborative approach to manage growth within a region, and the adoption of smart-growth practices to address universal problems. These typically include a desire to promote continued growth while establishing policies and guidelines that preserve and protect natural resources and promote social justice. Some of these organizations rely more heavily on market-based approaches; others have adopted a more regulatory attitude. In the end, each region is trying to demonstrate how to compete in a new environment while maintaining its uniqueness and preserving those qualities that initially attracted residents to each region

An examination of recent migration to Arizona: Working paper series--10-13

In the decades leading up to the current recession Arizona's population growth was among the fastest in the nation, with net domestic inmigration a major source of growth. In this paper we use Internal Revenue Service county migration data to examine migration flows to Arizona between 2006 and 2007. We examine both inmigration and net migration for Arizona counties and focus on the attraction of Arizona to outmigrants from other counties in the United States as well as from other states as a whole. We also examine migration flows with respect to distance from Arizona and location-specific factors in the origin and destination counties that impact migration decisions. Our findings revealed interesting differences among Arizona's counties in terms of overall net migration and origin states. While distance effects were significant, maps of the residuals from the regression models revealed regional clusters that indicate other factors also affect migration to Arizona. Comparisons of migration flows using the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes to classify origin and destination levels of urbanization reveal a tendency to move down the urban hierarchy when migrating to Arizona

An analysis of average annual pay and cost-of-living in U.S. metropolitan regions: Working paper series--02-28

One of the key factors in the decision to relocate or migrate from one location to another involves whether or not the migrant's economic status is enhanced by the move. The potential for improved economic status plays a significant role in the migration decision. Therefore, it is important to know whether relocation to a new area improves the economic welfare of the migrant. One means to determine the answer is to compare annual pay in each region with the relative cost-of-living there. This paper examines the relationship between "average annual pay" in 2000 for cities in 219 metropolitan areas and the cost of living in these same locations. A regression analysis was performed for cities in the 219 Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Additional regressions were performed after grouping these cities within the four U.S. Census Regions. The results allow us to determine the strength of the relationship between annual pay and cost-of-living variables in these locations, and also if different patterns emerge among the four census regions of the economy. Additional variables were included to determine if city size, climate, or education impact the relationship

Assessing domestic migration at the county level in the 4-corners region: Working paper series--07-06

This paper analyzes net domestic migration which occurred between 1995 and 2000 at the county level for the 4-Corners Region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.) Regression techniques were used to explain approximately 70 percent of the variation in net migration rates within the region for all counties whose populations exceeded 10,000 persons at the beginning of the period. The results of the study suggest net migration rates in the region are a function of both economic and non-economic characteristics existing within each county. Initially, a number of amenity-related, recreation and socio-demographic variables were considered along with traditional economic indicators; however, only a few of the traditional variables were correlated with migration activity to and from this region. Further research is needed in order to explain the differences in migration rates for these locations compared with results discovered in other regions

Economic or amenity driven migration? A cluster-based analysis of county migration in the American southwest: Working paper series--08-01

This paper initially analyzes the determinants of net domestic migration which occurred from 1995 to 2000 at the county level in the 4-Corners Region of the U.S. (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.) Regression techniques were used to explain approximately 70 percent of the variation in net migration rates within the region for counties whose populations exceeded 10,000 persons at the beginning of the period. The results of the study suggest net migration flows in the region are a dual function of both economic and non-economic characteristics existing within each county. The analysis is extended through the use of additional multivariate techniques in order to group the counties into clusters that reflect natural groupings based on a similar profile of variables used in the analysis. Migration activity differed statistically from cluster to cluster based upon variations in the predictor variables used in the analysis. Further research is suggested in order to extend these results to the broader economy

Genome-wide association study of response to cognitive-behavioural therapy in children with anxiety disorders

Background Anxiety disorders are common, and cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment. Candidate gene studies have suggested a genetic basis to treatment response, but findings have been inconsistent. Aims To perform the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of psychological treatment response in children with anxiety disorders (n = 980). Method Presence and severity of anxiety was assessed using semi-structured interview at baseline, on completion of treatment (post-treatment), and 3 to 12 months after treatment completion (follow-up). DNA was genotyped using the Illumina Human Core Exome-12v1.0 array. Linear mixed models were used to test associations between genetic variants and response (change in symptom severity) immediately post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Results No variants passed a genome-wide significance threshold (P = 5×10−8) in either analysis. Four variants met criteria for suggestive significance (P<5×10−6) in association with response post-treatment, and three variants in the 6-month follow-up analysis. Conclusions This is the first genome-wide therapygenetic study. It suggests no common variants of very high effect underlie response to CBT. Future investigations should maximise power to detect single-variant and polygenic effects by using larger, more homogeneous cohorts

Genome-wide analysis identifies 12 loci influencing human reproductive behavior.

The genetic architecture of human reproductive behavior-age at first birth (AFB) and number of children ever born (NEB)-has a strong relationship with fitness, human development, infertility and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, very few genetic loci have been identified, and the underlying mechanisms of AFB and NEB are poorly understood. We report a large genome-wide association study of both sexes including 251,151 individuals for AFB and 343,072 individuals for NEB. We identified 12 independent loci that are significantly associated with AFB and/or NEB in a SNP-based genome-wide association study and 4 additional loci associated in a gene-based effort. These loci harbor genes that are likely to have a role, either directly or by affecting non-local gene expression, in human reproduction and infertility, thereby increasing understanding of these complex traits

An Examination of Domestic Migration from California Counties

California has experienced a net loss of domestic migrants within the United States every year since 1990. This reversal from California’s traditional attraction to migrants has been attributed to numerous causes including the high cost of housing, the cyclical downturn in business activity, and a decline in the level of amenities and quality of life that drew thou-sands of migrants to California each year over several decades. This paper uses Internal Rev-enue Service county migration data to examine outmigration flows and assesses the influences of proximity and urban classification on migration flows. Simple and augmented gravity models investigate distance and population effects, finding surprisingly little effect of economic variables but significant differences among counties in the roles of distance and population

Analyzing the Effects of Amenities, Quality of Life Attributes and Tourism on Regional Economic Performance using Regression Quantiles

Conventional wisdom argues that tourist expenditures and recreation activities generate demands for traded goods and services, and create jobs and income for local residents in counties endowed with rich natural amenities. However, more recent studies have suggested that regions with high levels of amenities can experience lower wages and higher unemployment because amenities are capitalized into wages and rents in a manner that can hinder economic growth. Attempting to estimate the impact of tourism and retirement activities on the local economy, a few studies have performed multiple least squares regression analysis to discount activities generated by both local residents and nonresidents who travel for purposes other than tourism. However, the least square regression provides nothing more than an estimate of the average of the response (dependent) variable conditioned on the covariates (independent variables). In almost all regression settings with the exception of the rather naive constant- error-variance setup, the upper and lower quantiles (percentiles) often depend on the covariates quite differently from the mean or the median response. Investigating quantiles other than the mean or median using quantile regression analysis, we have found interesting dependency effects that cannot be discovered otherwise. The results of this analysis provide crucial information to policy makers while discussing public policy effectiveness in natural resource management and community development. If policy is to rely on the structural shift that is taking place in rural America, we need a better understanding on how amenities, quality of life attributes, and tourism affect regional economic performance