UMBC School of Public Policy

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/59

The UMBC School of Public Policy includes the master of public policy (MPP) and PhD degree programs, and the Maryland Institute for Public Policy and Analysis Research (MIPAR). Established after four decades of sustained growth, the School consists of nine full-time faculty, more than 30 affiliated faculty from the departments of economics, sociology, political science, and policy analysis. MIPAR, with $23 million in active research grants, links the analytical resources of the University with policymakers in the state and region, conducting opinion research, policy analyses, and program evaluations on a variety of topics. MIPAR activities are supported by federal, state, and local governmental agencies, foundations, and corporations.

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Commentary: Black Mothers in Racially Segregated Neighborhoods Embodying Structural Violence: PTSD and Depressive Symptoms on the South Side of Chicago
(Journal of Mental Health & Clinical Psychology, 2024-01-04) Henderson, Loren; Mendenhall, Ruby; Lee, Meggan J.
Competition policy in North America in the context of the USMCA: an overview and some skepticism with regard to any prospects for harmonization
(Edward Elgar, 2025-02-11) Brennan, Timothy J.; White, Lawrence J.
Competition policy within the three countries of the USMCA ? Canada, Mexico, and the United States ? has remained largely apart from the general economic integration that is the theme of the USMCA (and of NAFTA before it). Indeed, this separation is consistent with the absence of competition policy in the wider economic integration efforts of the WTO (and of GATT before it). At first glance, this separation might appear to be anomalous, and there should be a link between competition policy and trade in the context of international trade agreements. After all, reduced barriers to international trade generally increase competition in domestic markets, and the latter is what competition policy is supposed to encourage. However, this chapter argues that this pattern of non-harmonized competition policy is not accidental or somehow an oversight. Instead, this pattern reflects some fundamental differences between competition policy and the policies that guide the export/import trade flows that are at the core of such ?free trade? agreements. The body of this chapter expands on this argument.
Cultivating change: an evaluation of departmental readiness for faculty diversification
(Frontiers, 2025-02-25) Carter-Veale, Wendy Y.; Cresiski, Robin H.; Sharp, Gwen; Lankford, Jordan; Ugarte, Fadel
Despite the increasing number of racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) individuals earning PhDs and the substantial investment in diversity initiatives within higher education, the relative lack of diversity among faculty in tenure-track positions reveals a persistent systemic challenge. This study used an adaptation of the Community Readiness Tool to evaluate readiness for faculty diversification efforts in five biomedical departments. Interviews with 31 key informants were transcribed and coded manually and using NVIVO 12 in order to assign scores to each department in the six domains of readiness. The results revealed no meaningful differences in overall scores across institutional types, but did show differences within specific domains of readiness. These findings indicate that readiness is multi-faceted and academic departments can benefit by identifying priority areas in need of additional faculty buy-in and resources to enhance the success of diversification efforts.
Is Transmission Expansion for Decarbonization Compatible with Generation Competition?
(RFF, 2022-08-08) Brennan, Timothy J.
Decarbonization of the electricity sector, and expanding it to facilitate decarbonization of transportation, heating, and other energy applications primarily using fossil fuels, is an important step in mitigating climate change. A widely advocated step in that direction is long-term planning to massively expand the transmission system to deliver electricity generated by wind and solar units that are far away from population centers. The transmission system has seen substantial investment in recent years, with few examples of failure to construct new lines, but future climate imperatives may justify moving away from the process of adding incremental capacity in response to specific requests. However, the planning process may sacrifice much of the benefits of competition that electricity policy has striven to achieve over the past three decades. These benefits are not only those from independent output and capacity responses to market prices but also dynamic benefits from technological innovation and market information acquired over time. Reconciling the benefits of competition with central planning has long been necessary in the electricity sector. I propose options for preserving some of the benefits of competition, if long-term transmission planning remains an imperative.
Managing cybersecurity in local governments: 2022
(Kennesaw State University, 2025-02-15) Norris, Donald; Mateczun, Laura
This paper, based on data from our second nationwide survey of cybersecurity among local or grassroots governments in the U.S., examines how these governments manage this important function. As we have shown elsewhere, cybersecurity among local governments is increasingly important because these governments are under constant or nearly constant cyberattack. Due to the frequency of cyberattacks, as well as the probability that at least some attacks will succeed and cause damage to local government information systems, these governments have great responsibility to protect their information assets. This, in turn, requires these governments to manage cybersecurity effectively, something our data show is largely absent at the American grassroots because, on average, local governments fail in to manage cybersecurity well. After discussing our findings, we conclude and make recommendations for ways to improve local government cybersecurity management.
History with Jackson: Insurrection with John Rennie Short
(podfollow, 2024-03-17) Jackson; Short, John Rennie
Today on the History with Jackson Podcast Jackson sits down to talk with Author and historian John Rennie Short! Today we discuss his book with Reaktion Books, 'Insurrection: What the January 6 Assault on the Capitol Reveals about America and Democracy'. In this conversation, we spoke about the two insurrections, the polarization of American Politics, and the rise of Donald Trump!
Make downtown great again: what's next for dead and dying downtowns?
(iheart, 2024-06-13) Short, John Rennie; Mike; Kathie
John Rennie Short, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, joins Mike and Kathie to talk about how many traditional downtowns across North America are dead or dying and what?s next for these areas
Climate Change and New Challenges for Rural Communities: Particulate Matter Matters
(MDPI, 2023-11-22) Miousse, Isabelle Racine; Hale, Rachel B.; Alsbrook, Scott; Boysen, Gunnar; Broadnax, Tanya; Murry, Carleisha; Williams, Candace; Park, Chul Hyun; Richards, Robert; Reedy, Justin; Chalbot, Marie-C�cile; Kavouras, Ilias G.; Koturbash, Igor
Climate change presents multiple challenges to rural communities. Here, we investigated the toxicological potential of the six types of particulate matter most common to rural Arkansas: soil, road, and agricultural dusts, pollen, traffic exhaust, and particles from biomass burning in human small airway epithelial cells (SAECs). Biomass burning and agricultural dust demonstrated the most potent toxicological responses, exhibited as significant (p < 0.05) up-regulation of HMOX1 (oxidative stress) and TNF� (inflammatory response) genes as well as epigenetic alterations (altered expression of DNA methyltransferases DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B, enzymatic activity, and DNA methylation of alpha satellite elements) that were evident at both 24 h and 72 h of exposure. We further demonstrate evidence of aridification in the state of Arkansas and the presence of winds capable of transporting agricultural dust- and biomass burning-associated particles far beyond their origination. Partnerships in the form of citizen science projects may provide important solutions to prevent and mitigate the negative effects of the rapidly evolving climate and improve the well-being of rural communities. Furthermore, the identification of the most toxic types of particulate matter could inform local policies related to agriculture, biomass burning, and dust control.
Connecting Citizen Voices to the Policy Process: the Rockefeller Ethic
(JSTOR, 2023) Harris, Janet; Richards, Robert C.; Hopper, James; Park, Chul Hyun; Hawkins, Carder; Hollenbeck, Claire; Vestal, Stefanie
Arkansas? Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is crafting an approach to public deliberation rooted in principles of respectful dialogue, diverse opinions, and collaborative problem-solving. It is called the ?Rockefeller Ethic,? and it is designed to maximize the influence of public deliberative processes on policymaking and public officials.
Introduction: law in a changing climate
(Cambridge University Press, 2025-01-28) Sterett, Susan M.; Dias, Vitor Martins; Marshall, Anna-Maria
As societies grapple with mitigating or adapting to climate change, law plays a prominent role in the social relations that constitute a response. In this essay, we briefly review of the many different perspectives on law and climate change offered by the authors in this special issue of Law and Society Review. From transnational human rights activism to constitutional litigation to local practices and all around the globe, both the powerful and the marginalized draw on legal institutions and actors in multiple arenas and at multiple scales to address the consequences of climate change. Together, these articles show that law is not confined to courtrooms or judicial systems or regulations; rather, law offers both limitations and opportunities in the ongoing struggle over climate change.
2023 ARKANSAS CIVIC HEALTH INDEX
(NCOC, 2023) Park, Chul Hyun; Ajayi, Joyce O.; Abdul-Bey, Kwami; Chue, Brittany; Richards, Robert C. Jr.
The main source of information in this report is periodic supplements?on topics suchas voting, civic engagement, and volunteering?to the U.S Census Bureau?s CurrentPopulation Survey (CPS), which poses questions to approximately 60,000 householdsaround the U.S. From that data, this report focuses on: 1) levels of political, civic, andsocial engagement among Arkansans, 2) comparisons of Arkansas with U.S. nationalaverages, and 3) characteristics that may be associated with participation, such asrace/ethnicity, gender, age, income, and education. The survey findings reported here,unless otherwise noted, are obtained from the CPS data, which cover the years 1972through 2020, and the precise year for data is noted in each section. Other sourcesof numerical data in the report are J. O. Ajayi and M. Kalulu, Access Arkansas: Countyand City Web Transparency (4th ed., 2023);1 the National Study of Learning, Voting,and Engagement; the American National Election Studies 2020 time-series study;data on local newspaper availability from the University of North Carolina HussmanSchool of Journalism and Media; and data on ownership of local radio stations from theU.S. Federal Communications Commission. Moreover, the report presents qualitativeresults of interviews with Arkansas nonprofit leaders, civic leaders, public-engagementprofessionals, and residents about coalitions across sectors to address social issues,as well as political, civic, and social engagement and local civic spaces. While thereport?s quantitative findings are based on a scientifically valid and representativesample of residents, each estimate features a small margin of error; as a result, smalldifferences in percentages may not be statistically significant.
The effects of CenteringPregnancy on maternal and infant health outcomes: a moderation analysis
(Oxford University Press, 2023-12-01) Park, Chul Hyun; Driver, Nichola; Richards, Robert C.; Ward, Penny
CenteringPregnancy (CP) has been expected to produce beneficial outcomes for women and their infants. However, previous studies paid little attention to testing variations in CP?s effects across women from different demographic groups. This study aimed to test how multiple demographic factors (obesity, race, ethnicity, marital status and socioeconomic status) moderate CP?s effects on health outcomes.This study employed a quasi-experimental design. De-identified hospital birth data were collected from 216 CP participants and 1159 non-CP participants. We estimated the average treatment effect of CP on outcome variables as a baseline. Then we estimated the average marginal effect of CP by adding each of the moderating variables in regression adjustment models.CP produced salutary effects among those who were obese or overweight and unmarried as well as women with lower socioeconomic status. These salutary effects were also strengthened as maternal age increased. However, CP was ineffective for Hispanic/Latinx women.CP produced more beneficial health outcomes for high-risk women such as obese, unmarried women and those with lower socioeconomic status. These are meaningful findings from a public health perspective.
Affirmative Action is a Successful Policy for Diversity in College Graduation
(Syracuse University, 2023-06-07) Lutz, Amy; Bennett, Pamela R.; Wang, Rebecca
Leveraging State Data Sources to Improve Analysis of Medicaid Participant Race and Ethnicity
(2024-06-29) James, Parker; Woodcock, Cynthia; Middleton, Alice; Idala, David; Smirnow, Alexis
The Economic Impact of Medicaid Expansion in Mississippi
(2024-02-20) Henderson, Morgan; Woodcock, Cynthia
Hilltop Principal Data Scientist Morgan Henderson, PhD, and Executive Director Cynthia Woodcock, MBA, presented Hilltop research to the Mississippi House Medicaid Committee. The research – a 2021 economic analysis of Medicaid expansion in Mississippi – was commissioned by the Center for Mississippi Health Policy, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization.
Sustainability of a dual language program during and beyond COVID-19 challenges
(Taylor & Francis, 2024-10-28) Mata-McMahon, Jennifer; Williams, Sabrina; Daramola, Adebola; Kruse, Lance; Hossain, Shahin
This study evaluates the Dual Language Program (DLP) implemented at a Title I public school in Baltimore City during the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 school years. Building on previous research, the DLP's implementation, sustainability, and effects on students’ learning outcomes were examined. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study’s second phase included participants from the school’s mainstream, English-only program (MP), enriching the overall understanding of the school community’s perception of the program. Data were collected through surveys, classroom observations, and standardized assessments—the DIBELS and the iReady Diagnostic assessments. Findings showed challenges with curriculum standardization and prevalent misconceptions about bilingualism. Nevertheless, the program's successes were evident in DLP students’ enhanced engagement, parental involvement, and community support. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DLP demonstrated its capacity for scaleability and sustainability. During the 2020–2021 school year, regardless of virtual learning, DLP students not only maintained but, in the case of Cohort 1, showed greater growth in reading skills compared to MP students, with Cohort 3 DLP students improving to reach statistically similar performance levels to their MP peers. Findings indicate that the DLP has the potential to serve as a sustainable educational program, fostering both dual language proficiency and academic outcomes.
The Appropriate Division of Regulatory Labor
(Springer, 2024-10-22) Brennan, Timothy
Should national postal authorities or postal operators, experts in postal economics and policy, also become experts in estimating environmental costs and benefits? The alternative view is that there should be a “division of regulatory labor,” akin to the division of productive labor going back to Adam Smith. An environmental regulator can incorporate pollution and global warming costs across the economy, while postal authorities address postal policy goals taking the costs determined by environmental policy into account. A potential boundary between postal and environmental policy is pertinent also to national or transnational regulation of electric transmission and distribution grids. This issue has recently arisen in antitrust, as policymakers express greater sympathy for considerations beyond consumer benefit, including social equality and environmental sustainability. Employment and equity are arguably (and controversially) separable as well. However, there may be limits to the division of regulatory labor. Competition authorities in the USA have not been reluctant to expect other regulators in the USA to incorporate competitive effects in designing their regulations. Moreover, often sectoral regulators are expected to balance multiple policy considerations. One also needs to recognize that other regulations, such as climate-related carbon pricing, may not be in place.
The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Medicare Quality Measures
(2024-11-05) Algrain, Hala; Cardosa, Elizabeth; Desai, Shekha; Fong, Eugene; Ringoir, Tanguy; Ashqar, Huthaifa
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, expanding Medicaid and improving access to care for millions of low-income Americans. Fewer uninsured individuals reduced the cost of uncompensated care, consequently improving the financial health of hospitals. We hypothesize that this amelioration in hospital finances resulted in a marked improvement of quality measures in states that chose to expand Medicaid. To our knowledge, the impact of Medicaid expansion on the Medicare population has not been investigated. Using a difference-in-difference analysis, we compare readmission rates for four measures from the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program: acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, heart failure, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Our analysis provides evidence that between 2013 and 2021 expansion states improved hospital quality relative to non-expansion states as it relates to acute myocardial infarction readmissions (p = 0.015) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery readmissions (p = 0.039). Our analysis provides some evidence that expanding Medicaid improved hospital quality, as measured by a reduction in readmission rates. Using visualizations, we provide some evidence that hospital quality improved for the other two measures as well. We believe that a refinement of our estimation method and an improved dataset will increase our chances of finding significant results for these two other measures.
The Effects of a Statewide Ban on School Suspensions
(IZA- Institute of Labor Economics, 2024-10) Lincove, Jane; Mata, Catherine; Cortes, Kalena E.
This research analyzes the implementation of a school suspension ban in Maryland to investigate whether a top-down state-initiated ban on suspensions in early primary grades can influence school behavior regarding school discipline. Beginning in the fall of 2017, the State of Maryland banned the use of out-of-school suspensions for grades PK-2, unless a student posed an “imminent threat” to staff or students. This research investigates (1) what was the effect of the ban on discipline outcomes for students in both treated grades and upper elementary grades not subject to the ban? (2) did schools bypass the ban by coding more events as threatening or increasing the use of inschool suspensions? and (3) were there differential effects for students in groups that are historically suspended more often? Using a comparative interrupted time series strategy, we find that the ban is associated with a substantial reduction in, but not a total elimination of, out-of-school suspensions for targeted grades without substitution of in-school suspensions. Disproportionalities by race and other characteristics remain after the ban. Grades not subject to the ban experienced few effects, suggesting the ban did not trigger a schoolwide response that reduced exclusionary discipline.
Climate-related disasters and transparency: Records and the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency
(Wiley, 2024-09-12) Sterett, Susan
Objective Many governments aim for transparency for accountability. Transparency and its processes contribute to governing climate. The transparency agenda focuses on sharing records to inform the public. In the United States, accessible records also add to decision-making processes since records are useful to contest decisions. Few people put together the two kinds of transparency, sharing and challenging. Analyzing both is critical as calls for acting on climate-related disasters grow. Method In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shares records. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is one route to access FEMA's records. To assess transparency, I coded FEMA's 2019 FOIA log for requester and record requested. Years of damaging, notable disasters preceded 2019, but 2019 precedes pandemic disruptions. Result Requesters can make requests likely to be useful instrumentally, concerning assistance and insurance. Journalists and scholars request records useful to conceptualizing governing disaster to include both individual political officials and aggregate bureaucratic policy. Instrumental requests dominate, as they do for other agencies. Conclusion This article answers the call in recent studies of transparency, policy, and of disaster governance to track how policies embed power. Assessing record requests contributes to understanding the accountability in freedom of information.

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