2008 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Saturday, April 5-8:00 am
Paper
Paper
Paper
Disc.
The Life-Cycle of Special Districts Governments: A Downsian
Approach
Special districts have a life cycle which is very different from that
of other governments. Where a district stands in relation to this life
cycle has a strong bearing upon its policies and behavior. This study
uses Downs as its theoretical basis.
Nicholas Bauroth, North Dakota State University
nicholas.bauroth@ndsu.edu
Analysis of Factors Affecting Type of Public Service Delivery
There are considerable differences among local governments in
adopting type of service delivery. Where do the differences come
from This study examines the factors affecting type of public
service in county governments using 2002 ICMA data.
Yunreun Kwag,
ykwag1@student.gsu.edu
Local Government Choices of Contracting Out Structure:
Complete vs. Partial Contracting Out
Contracting out always involves partial or outright transfers of
service delivery rights. Local governments recognize that complete
dependency on external service providers will reduce their control
over the service production and delivery process.
Hee Soun Jang, California State University, Fullerton
hjang@fullerton.edu
Richard A. Wandling, Eastern Illinois University
rawandling@eiu.edu
Rex L. Facer, Brigham Young University
rfacer@byu.edu
Jered B. Carr, Wayne State University
jcarr@wayne.edu
47-11 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Room Suite 13-150 on the 13th Floor, Sat at 8:00 am
Chair Mark Lubell, University of California, Davis
mnlubell@ucdavis.edu
Paper Effects of Federal Fundings on Scientific Collaboration
This paper examines the influences of federal funding on the
collaborative behavior of academic researchers.
Benjamin Y. Clark, University of Georgia
benclark@uga.edu
Paper Effect of Human Capital on Patent Quality and Productivity in
Nanotechnology
This study explores effects of human capital on patent productivity
and quality in nanotechnology. Human capital is hypothesized to be
positively related to innovation. Findings of the study may inform
Universities and agencies resource allocation.
Kamna Lal, University of Illinois, Chicago
klal2@uic.edu
Carly Wobig, University of Illinois, Chicago
wobigcs@uic.edu
Paper Non-Cooperative Games in Science Policy
An incentive compatible contract is proposed to address the problem
of moral hazard in science policy. This contract is shown to be
distinctly useful promoting emerging technologies.
Walter D. Valdivia, Arizona State University
walter.valdivia@asu.edu
Paper Does the Level of Economic Development Affect the Level of
Bioethics at the National Level
This study attempts to demonstrate a causality between the level
of economic development and the level of bioethics by comparing
national bioethics committees in China, South Korea, and the
United Kingdom.
Myong Hwa Lee, ABD
mari.mal1999@gmail.com
Disc. Daniel M. Cook, University of Nevada, Reno
dmcook@unr.edu
49-11 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY MAKING AND
PARTICIPATION
Room UEH 403 on the 4th Floor, Sat at 8:00 am
Chair Jeffrey L. Roberg, Carthage College
jroberg@carthage.edu
Paper The Influence of Land Owner Attitudes on Environmental
Policy Participation
This paper examines the results of an empirical study of the effects
of landowner attitudes on policy adoption in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Derek Kauneckis, University of Nevada, Reno
kauneck@unr.edu
Disc. Katherine Sye Grover, American University
kg1500a@american.edu
50-7 METHODOLOGY
Room Suite 8-150 on the 8th Floor, Sat at 8:00 am
Chair David Houston, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
dhouston@utk.edu
Paper To Work or To Avoid Work That is The Question: Toward a
Public Administration Theory
Public administration theories thus far fail to adequately predict or
explain public administration as a field of inquiry or practice. More
to the point, public administration lacks a theory that adequately
explains bureaucratic decision-making.
Christopher John McLucas, University of Texas, Arlington
cmclucas@paradisesettlementservices.com
Paper Towards a Comparative Ethics for Public Administration
Given the global impact of public administration, ought there be
a global ethics for public administration Is such a global ethics
possible Is it preferrable These questions will be addressed in this
paper.
Sara R. Jordan, University of Hong Kong
sjordan@hku.hk
Paper
Paper
Paper
Disc.
Evaluation Methods Employed by Local Economic
Development Agencies: A Comparative Analysis
To improve the efforts of local economic development agencies
systematic evaluation is needed. This paper explores how and to
what degree a large cross-sample of local economic development
agencies evaluate tax incentives.
Marvin Hoffman, Appalachian State University
hoffmanmk@appstate.edu
Josephine Gatti, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Josephinegatti@hotmail.com
An Inventory and Critique of Performance Measures Used in
Empirical Research in Public Management and Policy Studies
This study inventories and critiques empirical research on
government performance. Public management and policy studies
scholars provide highly useful perspectives, but they define the
dependent variable differently. Integration is suggested.
Gene A. Brewer, University of Georgia
cmsbrew@uga.edu
Civil Service Reforms and Good Governance: Chasing Evasive
Targets
The paper examines recent literature on civil service reforms in the
post-communist countries and illustrates its failure by discussing of
how the goals and outcomes of reforms implemented in the region
undermined good governance.
Dinissa S. Duvanova, Princeton University
duvanova@princeton.edu
Katja Michalak, American University
Katjamichalak@web.de
David Houston, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
dhouston@utk.edu
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