The PolicyMatters Editorial team is happy to announce the publication of the Autumn 2006 Issue.
In our Features section this issue, Sonya Blesser examines health savings accounts to see if their professed merits hold up under scrutiny. Renowned feminist economist Marianne A. Ferber and University of Illinois economics professor Michael Brun collaborate to analyze whether the policy choices of female legislators differ from those of their male counterparts. Matthew Steinberg asserts that privately-operated supplemental educational services, which have expanded extensively under No Child Left Behind, are not worth what they cost. Finally, Adam Langton, Hai Guan, and Anne Su assess the incentive structure of the California Solar Initiative, which is slated to go into effect in 2007.
In Policy in Practice, rule of law consultant Kate Harrison provides instructions from the field for court reform in
Armenia and Macedonia. Her how-to guide illustrates institutional reform procedures for addressing concerns from the top-level of the judicial branch down to the details of office dynamics.
In honor of this election year, we conclude this issue with a special section devoted to electoral and voting policy. Four authors contribute their thoughts on current policy issues that shape our electoral process. Paul Leistra argues that the dichotomy between voter fraud and voter suppression is false; their harm to the democratic system is identical. Chris Finn explores voting rights for non-citizens, explaining that such an extension is far from unprecedented. Ernie Tedeschi counters attacks on electronic voting machines, promoting their unsung worth. Lastly, Brian Leubitz digs into redistricting, offering an alternative to frequently used procedures.
The staff of PolicyMatters would like to thank the entire GSPP community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni for
their continued interest in and support of the journal. In particular, we would like to extend our gratitude to our advisory board: GSPP Dean Michael Nacht, Jack Glaser, David Kirp, and Larry Rosenthal. Their efforts this fall have been our saving grace. Thanks also to Director of Career and Alumni Services Cecille Cabacungan, and alumnus David Gamson ’86, whose promotional efforts are greatly appreciated. Finally, we would like to single out our active bloggers for recognition. Their work is not featured in the print edition of PolicyMatters, but their year-round commitment to www.policymatters.net deserves attention and thanks.
We hope you enjoy Volume 4, Number 1 of PolicyMatters.
