Economic Analysis of SNAP/Food Stamps Program Assignment | Essay Help Services

Economic Policy Paper
Paper Assignment:
You are an economic analyst. Your assignment is to conduct an economic analysis of a narrowly-defined government program for a relevant policy maker. As discussed further below, all papers should follow the basic structure of the policy analysis conducted by Portney et al. in “Policy Watch: The Economics of Fuel Economy Standards,” Journal of Economic Perspectives 17(4), Fall 2003, pp. 203-217 (available via JSTOR).
Paper Proposal Due Date: Tuesday, March 17 (for pre-break feedback) OR no later than Thursday, April 2. The proposal is an input into the final paper grade. If submitted after the due date, there will be a penalty applied to the final paper grade. For full credit, the proposal must be submitted on time (no later than April 2), with appropriate sources, and following the specifics outlined below.
This should be around 1 page, typed, double-spaced, and contain:
1) Title that describes the narrowly-defined government program you are analyzing (Example: Economic Analysis of the WIC Program)
2) 1 paragraph description and motivation for the policy being studied. This is important!
Provide a specific economic rationale (or rationales, as relevant) for government to play a role in this policy area and a brief justification as to how this rationale applies. (If there is an efficiency motive, be specific as to the type: public good, externality, etc. and then explain/justify each separately). To help guide you in thinking this through for your proposal, please read the appropriate suggested readings listed under Section II of the final paper.
Attach at least three hard copies of research/academic papers (I will return these to you). To be “green” you can limit this to the first 5 pages of each. Make sure the source and date is clear on each AND indicate which TJL database you used to find the academic articles (or if from a think tank, which one).
Detailed information on choosing sources is below.
3) Go to the federal/state/local source of the policy and attach an authoritative discussion of how the specific program works (e.g. date started, eligibility, rules, etc.). Note: If it is many pages long, just attach a few pages. Again, provide a source and date so it is clear where the information came from.
Paper Due Date: Tuesday, May 5, at start of class.
Late or incomplete proposals will be penalized ½ of a letter grade.
Late papers will be penalized one full letter grade per day (weekend counts 2 days).
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Topic Selection
Students are strongly encouraged to choose from the topics suggested below. There are quite a few readable research papers on these topics and they fit well into the assignment. There is no advantage to choosing your own topic (apart from the list below), grade-wise. Also, not every topic that comes to mind fits well into the requirements of the assignment.
Suggested topics to choose from:
Social Policy:
WIC (federal nutrition program for pregnant mothers and infants)
Headstart (federal pre-k for disadvantaged children)
Food Stamps (also known as SNAP)
Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Pell Grant (federal program for Higher Ed)
Section 8 Housing Vouchers (subsidies for rental housing)
Environmental Policy:
London’s Congestion Fee (to relieve city traffic congestion)
MN Pass (Minneapolis’ electronic toll policy to relieve highway traffic congestion)
A specific locality’s recyling program (good example: San Jose, CA has PAYT)
The policy chosen cannot be one covered in class or on a class assignment (see course outline and readings and/or consult professor if you are unsure). Further, part or all of the paper cannot have been previously submitted for credit in another course and/or concurrently be submitted for another course. If you have any concerns, you must consult the professor before the paper is turned in for grading.
The bottom line is that you are to choose a narrowly-defined policy topic for which there is adequate research so that you can specifically study the effects of the policy’s rules on outcomes.
Format
Your paper should be 10-12 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 font with 1” margins. Please submit two copies. All papers require a friendly title, a body (see further information below), a conclusion, and a bibliography in MLA format. You may also be asked to turn in copies of sources used (but not actual books/journals). I will gladly return these materials to you after the paper is graded. Econ 5550 papers do not include tables/figures.
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Paper Content. All papers should follow the “model” given by Portney et al. “Policy Watch: The Economics of Fuel Economy Standards,” Journal of Economic Perspectives 17(4), Fall 2003, pp. 203-217 (available via JSTOR). Obviously, their topic is not identical to yours, so you need to adjust accordingly (e.g., a “rebound effect” may not be relevant). Below is a description of what you would provide in each section, using examples from Portney. I would suggest using these same section headings.
Policy Topic: An Economic Policy Analysis of CAFE Standards
Section I: Introduction and Background
Portney et al. describe the public policy (CAFE standards) and provide a context, including historical background.
(Comment: If your policy has been around a long time, with many changes along the way, after mentioning when it first began, focus on how it works in current years.) Make sure you include sufficient details about rules, eligibility, etc. since these likely affect outcomes.
Section II: Rationale(s) for a Role for Government
Provide rationale(s) for the government to play a role. Each rationale must be explained so it is clear you understand the concept. You previously worked on this in the proposal. It is very important (albeit not a huge section of the paper).
Portney et al. provide explicit THEORETICAL rationales for why the government might have a role. As you will see, there can be more than one motivation. Each rationale is clearly explained/justified.
This is a theory section—evidence/findings should not be placed here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP YOU WRITE THE RATIONALES SECTION:
Market failures are discussed in Stiglitz (and, as relevant, in Portney). Equity is not explicitly discussed in Portney, but it could be relevant as a motive in some cases.
James Poterba,”Government Intervention in the Markets for Education and
Health Care: How and Why?” in Individual and Social Responsibility: Child Care, Education,
Medical Care, and Long-Term Care in America, edited by Victor R. Fuchs (Cambridge, MA: NBER, 1996). http://www.nber.org/chapters/c6566.pdf
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Prabhat Jha et al. “The Economic Rationale For Intervention in the Tobacco Market,”
In Tobacco Control in Developing Countries, edited by Prabhat Jha and Frank Chaloupka, Oxford University Press, 2000, Chapter 7.
See PDF on Canvas.
John Cawley. “Markets and Childhood Obesity Policy,” Future of Children (2006). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7245207_Markets_and_Childhood_Obesity_Policy
Sock-Yong Phang, Housing Finance Systems: Market Failures and Government Failures, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. See Supplement on Canvas.
Bitler, Marianne and Steve J. Haider. “An Economic View of Food Deserts in the United States.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 30.1 (Winter 2010). 153-176. See especially: p. 160, “Efficiency, Market Failures, and the Role for Government Intervention.” and pp. 168-171, “Why Do Food Deserts Exist.”
Section III: Economic Analysis [MOST IMPORTANT SECTION]
Evaluate EVIDENCE on the policy. Does the policy attain the goals it was intended to accomplish? Assess efficiency (also, consider unintended consequences), equity, administration and implementation, political feasibility.
Portney et al. discuss findings on efficiency and observe that CAFE standards reduce efficiency in light of existing gas taxes that may already adequately correct for the negative externalities associated with gas consumption. They also point to unintended consequences on safety and a “rebound” effect on miles driven. Note that the authors buttress their arguments by referring to specific studies and evidence. You should do this too. [NOTE: The rebound effect is specific to the CAFE program—not every program/policy has this consequence!]
Think about the research design used to obtain the evidence – experimental design versus statistical (regression model), as well as issues of selection, causation versus correlation (as relevant given your current coursework/level of training in methods).
Section IV. Policy Alternative(s)
Given space limitations, do not consider “eliminate the policy.” Rather consider 1-2 plausible alternatives or modifications to the program/policy.
Portney et al. suggest specific ways that the existing CAFE policy might be modified and consider another alternatively entirely (raise the gas tax). Note that as Portney et al. contemplate alternative policies, they consider their political feasibility.
Section V. Conclusion
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Bibliography. You must use MLA formatting or another standard one and prove complete bibliographic information. See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/584/01/
Please review your bibliography to make sure it is in a consistent format. (This seems to be a huge area of weakness in recent years).
Using online documents? See this source regarding proper citation: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html (The bottom of the page has EXAMPLES!)
Note: For maximum credit, it must be clear from your paper that you understand basic economic policy terminology such as market failure, externality, efficiency, equity, etc. Be sure you provide sufficient explanation in your text so that it is 100% clear you understand them. Don’t just “throw these words around.”
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Information on Sources for the Paper:
Your paper must include at least 6 entries in the bibliography
• At least three of these should be research-oriented/ “academic” papers on your policy topic published in peer-reviewed journals or available in working paper form from policy “think tanks” or a chapter in an edited book (e.g. Caroline Hoxby is the editor of a book called College Choices, which has chapters contributed by economists on educational tax credits, etc.).
• One source needs to be from the state/federal/local agency in charge of the policy.
• The other two are up to you, either extra journal articles or newspaper articles.
Additional notes:
• A Wall Street Journal article, etc. is not an academic paper.
• The author(s) of each paper used should be different.
• Books, unless approved by the instructor, are not acceptable
• In general, articles should be fairly current (last few years, presumably not more than 10 years ago) since you are looking at policy (and rules and methods of analysis change), though there can be exceptions if it is a key article.
• If you find a “working paper” and it is more than 1 year old, it may have been published. You must use the published version, if available.
• The objective is not to create a huge bibliography but rather fully reading a handful of very relevant papers thoroughly.
• Some research can be too technical. If so, choose another article.
Refer to the “Finding Information” document that is available on Canvas. It provides web links to policy think tanks and indicates other useful sources for policy information. I am available for help after you have made a serious effort to look for relevant materials. Also, the reference librarians at TJL are terrific resources; you can also set up a research consultation with them (see TJL web site for electronic sign-up form.)
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Caution!!! Do you wait until the last minute to get your articles because you may have to obtain an article and/or book through interlibrary loan (this is free and available via the TJL web site!)
Note: It is important to be aware that items on the internet are often not peer-reviewed. Note that a “Yahoo” or “Google” type search is NOT the same as searching an electronic database of peer-reviewed articles.
Second Note: If you obtain information from a web site other than a government site or a think tank listed on “Finding Information,” then your reading must be approved by the professor prior to turning in your paper. And, as noted above, you then need to turn these materials in with your paper.
Sourcing Information in your Paper
To properly credit author(s)’ ideas, you should use an “informal style” as used in economics, political science, and other social sciences. See below for examples. You are using the author’s /authors’ last name(s) followed by the date of article. Also, you are paraphrasing their work (putting it in your words), not copying word for word:
Some recent research indicates that women have increased their employment in response to their own increasing labor market opportunities, rather than as a result of the decline in their husbands’ wages (Juhn and Murphy, 1997).
Or
Juhn and Murphy (1997) find that women have increased their employment in response to their own increasing labor market opportunities, rather than as a result of the decline in their husbands’ wages.
The bibliography (in MLA format, for instance) would contain full information on the article:
Juhn, Chinhui and Kevin Murphy. Wage Inequality and Family Labor Supply.” Journal of Labor Economics 15.1 (1997): 52-97.
Key point: All of your sources need to be in ONE CONSISTENT FORMAT.
For further information on sourcing and writing a bibliography go to the following web site at Purdue: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/584/01/
Using online documents? See this source regarding proper citation: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html (The bottom of the page has EXAMPLES!)
By the way, avoid massive use of quotes. The idea is that you are reading articles/research and writing it up in your words.
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Important Information about Drawing Material from Other Sources
When you are discussing an idea that is not your own, you must cite the source in the text of your paper, providing the source’s name and the date the book/article was published (see above). You also need to cite the assertions you make in your paper (e.g. if you are claiming that the minimum wage is less effective at reducing poverty than the EITC, you must attribute this finding to someone and his/her work). In using someone else’s words or ideas, it is most common to “paraphrase” their thoughts, putting them in your own words (with a citation that follows). If you copy their words exactly (this should typically not be done on 5550 assignments—an objective of this class is to put thoughts in your own words), you must use quotes (again, with a citation that follows). What this means for this assignment is the following: IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO CUT AND PASTE SOMEONE ELSE’S WORDS INTO YOUR DOCUMENT, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PROVIDED A SOURCE/FOONTOTE AT THE END OF THE MATERIAL. If you copy directly and fail to use quotes (even if the material is fully cited) or commit other forms of plagiarism, the assignment will receive a grade of F (numerical score of 0). I am available for consultation if you have questions or concerns.
For further discussion, go to the following web sites:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/avoiding_plagiarism/is_itplagiarism.html
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/5-most-effective-methods-for-avoiding-plagiarism/
Consult with the Writing Center at UMSL on this and other writing issues: https://www.umsl.edu/~umslenglish/Writing%20Center/
Paper Assessment
Your grade will be based on the considerations raised elsewhere in the paper guidelines, including proper sourcing and inclusion of other’s research (you cannot cut and paste someone else’s words, without quotation, etc.) In addition, papers will be judged on overall clarity of discussion, flow of paper (THIS IS AN ESSAY, NOT A PROBLEM SET!), and on your ability to critically analyze the relevant issues, as outlined in the paper content section. Successful papers should also consider all sides of an issue, even if you are an advocate (or strongly opposed) to the particular policy. Your paper must demonstrate content learned from the course (and other MPPA courses, as relevant). For maximum credit, it must be clear from your paper that you understand basic economic policy terminology such as market failure, externality, efficiency, equity, etc. Be sure you provide sufficient explanation in your text so that it is clear you understand the terms and how they apply to your topic. Higher-order papers will also think about issues about how the evidence is obtained (research design) and whether the author has established a causal or correlational relationship. Papers must use a minimum of 3 academic/research sources and a minimum of 6 total sources. In writing a quality paper, you need to be clear about differentiating between your own critique/thoughts and the author(s)’ views. Avoid technical jargon and explain terms that are not well-known. You should put ideas in your own words rather than using quotes. In addition, you are expected to check your spelling and grammar. Writing quality matters in successfully conveying your ideas. References and sourcing of materials must be complete and properly done (MLA format or another consistent
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format), including any internet-based sources. The paper grade will also reflect whether the topic idea was submitted on time and if it was complete. I reserve the right to issue a grade of zero to those students who do not follow the guidelines on “drawing materials from other sources.” I also reserve the right to issue a grade of zero if part or all of the paper submitted has been and/or is being concurrently submitted for another course.