Understanding Preferences For Income Redestribution

Recent research suggests that income redistribution preferences vary across identity groups. We employ a new pattern recognition technology, tree regression analysis, to uncover what these groups are. Using data from the General Social Survey, we present a new stylized fact that preferences for governmental provision of income redistribution vary systematically with race, gender, and class background. We explore the extent to which existing theories of income redistribution can explain our results, but conclude that current approaches do not fully explain the findings.

Understanding Divergent Views on Redistribution Policy in the United States

Particular demographic groups are often associated with distinct points of view across various dimensions of redistribution policy. In this paper, we investigate which demographic groups account for heterogeneity in views on welfare policy and views on appropriate levels of overall redistribution. Using data from the General Social Survey and classification tools, we find evidence that classifications of the population by race, socioeconomic status, and age have some predictive power. However, much heterogeneity in views on redistribution policy persists even within these demographic groupings and remains unexplained. Our results suggest that identity-based explanations for variations in these views have to be interpreted with caution.Data mining, classification and regression trees, random forests, redistribution preferences, welfare, identity

Neighborhood environment and health in old age: what role do individual characteristics play in this link?

ManuscriptThis research investigates the relationship among objectively assessed neighborhood SES, subjective perceptions of neighborhood environment, and self-rated physical health among older persons. We further explore the structural and psychosocial mechanisms at the individual level underlying the observed neighborhood effects on health. We conceptualize that individual economic power, social resources, and psychological status are intervening factors rather than confounders on the path from neighborhood to health

Understanding preferences for income redistribution

Recent research suggests that income redistribution preferences vary across identity groups. We employ a new pattern recognition technology to uncover what these groups are. Using data from the General Social Survey, we present a new stylized fact that preferences for governmental provision of income redistribution vary systematically with race, gender, and class background. We explore the extent to which existing theories of income redistribution can explain our results, but conclude that current approaches do not fully explain the findingsIncome redistribution, social interactions

Creating a policy mapping tool for early childhood obesity prevention in Australian states and territories

Childhood obesity is an internationally recognised public health problem. The prevention of obesity is complex, it requires a systematic approach across all sectors of government. Policy represents the intention of a government to act in a particular area. Currently, there is no comprehensive tool to assess childhood obesity prevention policies in an Australian context

Lifestyle patterns and incident type 2 diabetes in the Dutch lifelines cohort study

We aimed to identify the underlying subgroups of the population characterized by distinct lifestyle patterns, and to investigate the associations between lifestyle patterns and risk of incident type 2 diabetes. Using data from the Dutch Lifelines cohort study, latent class analysis was performed to derive lifestyle patterns on five lifestyle factors, i.e., smoking, diet quality, TV watching time, physical activity level, and risk drinking. Associations between lifestyle patterns and incident type 2 diabetes were estimated. Among 61,869 participants analyzed, we identified 900 cases of type 2 diabetes during follow-up (205,696 person-years; incidence rate 4.38 per 1000 person-years). Five lifestyle pattern groups were identified. Using the “healthy lifestyle group” as reference, the “unhealthy lifestyle group” had the highest risk for type 2 diabetes (HR 1.51 [95%CI 1.24, 1.85]), followed by the “poor diet and low physical activity group” (HR 1.26 [95%CI 1.03, 1.55]). The “risk drinker group” and the “couch potato group” (characterized by excessive TV watching) showed no significantly elevated risk. These models were adjusted for age, sex, total energy intake, education, BMI, family history of diabetes, and blood glucose level at baseline. Our study shows that lifestyle factors tended to cluster in unique behavioral patterns within the heterogeneous population. These lifestyle patterns were differentially associated with incident type 2 diabetes. Our findings support the relevance of considering lifestyle patterns in type 2 diabetes prevention. Tailored prevention strategies that target multiple lifestyle risk factors for different lifestyle pattern groups may optimize the effectiveness of diabetes prevention at the population level

Intention to breastfeed and awareness of health recommendations: findings from first-time mothers in southwest Sydney, Australia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2001, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. The objectives of this study are to assess awareness of the WHO recommendation among first-time mothers (women at 24 to 34 weeks of pregnancy) and to explore the relationship between this awareness and mothers' intention to exclusively breastfeed for six months.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was part of the Healthy Beginnings Trial (HBT) conducted in southwest Sydney, Australia. We analysed cross-sectional baseline data of the trial conducted in 2008, including 409 first-time mothers at 24 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. The mothers' awareness of the recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding and their intention to meet the recommendation were assessed through face-to-face interviews. Socio-demographic data were also collected. Factors associated with awareness of the recommendation, or the intention to meet the recommendation, were determined by logistic regression modeling. Log-binomial regression was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (ARR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty-one per cent of mothers knew the WHO recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Only 42% of all mothers intended to meet the recommendation (breastfeed exclusively for six months). Among the mothers who knew the recommendation, 61% intended to meet the recommendation, compared to only 11% among those mothers who were not aware of the recommendation.</p> <p>The only factor associated with awareness of the recommendation was mother's level of education. Mothers who had a tertiary education were 1.5 times more likely to be aware of the recommendation than those who had school certificate or less (ARR adjusted for age 1.45, 95% CI 1.08, 1.94, p = 0.02). Mothers who were aware of the recommendation were 5.6 times more likely to intend to breastfeed exclusively to six months (ARR adjusted for employment status 5.61, 95% CI 3.53, 8.90, p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Awareness of the recommendation to breastfeed exclusively for six months is independently associated with the intention to meet this recommendation. A substantial number of mothers were not aware of the recommendation, particularly among those with low levels of education, which is of concern in relation to promoting breastfeeding. Improving mothers' awareness of the recommendation could lead to increased maternal intention to exclusively breastfeed for six months. However, whether this intention could be transferred into practice remains to be tested.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>HBT is registered with the Australian Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRNO12607000168459)</p