Do Exploitations of Marcellus and Utica Shale Formations Improve Regional Economy in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia? A Synthetic Control Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan‐Ming Huang ◽  
Xiaoli Etienne
Keyword(s):  
West Virginia ◽  
Regional Economy ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Shale Formations ◽  
Utica Shale

scholarly journals 1620. Effectiveness of the 2016 California Policy Eliminating Non-Medical Exemptions on Vaccine Coverage: A Synthetic Control Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S591-S591
Author(s):  
Sindiso Nyathi ◽  
Hannah Karpel ◽  
Kristin L Sainani ◽  
Yvonne Maldonado ◽  
Peter J Hotez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
The United States ◽  
State Policies ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Permutation Testing ◽  
Personal Belief ◽  
Post Period

Abstract Background Vaccine hesitancy in low vaccine coverage “hot spots” has led to recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases across the United States. State policies to improve vaccine coverage by restricting non-medical (personal belief) exemptions are heavily debated and their effectiveness is unclear due to limited rigorous policy analysis. In 2016, a California policy (SB 277) eliminated non-medical exemptions from kindergarten requirements. To address the ongoing debate on such policies, we performed a quasi-experimental, controlled analysis of the policy’s impact on vaccine and exemption outcomes. Methods We used state vaccine coverage and exemption data (2011–2017) from the CDC and health data from public sources. We prespecified a primary outcome of MMR coverage (%) and secondary outcomes of medical and non-medical exemptions (%). We included covariates related to socioeconomic and health measures (e.g., insurance, well child visits) and pre-2016 mean coverage. Using the synthetic control method, with 2016 as the treatment year and a 2-year post-policy period, we constructed a “control” California, from a weighted sum of states. We used permutation testing to repeat the process for each of the other states and their unique synthetic control, to determine whether there was a meaningful difference in California (i.e., a change in California’s coverage relative to its control in the top 5th percentile of states). We tested the model’s sensitivity to various analytical assumptions. Results Of 43 control states, synthetic California was predominantly comprised of Idaho, Mississippi, and Arkansas, and had a good pre-policy match on outcomes. MMR coverage in California increased by 3.2% relative to synthetic California in the post period (Top 1 of 44 states, Figure 1). Medical exemptions increased by 0.4%, while non-medical exemptions decreased by 2.2% in the post-period (Top 1 of 43 states). The model was robust to changes in covariates and control states. Conclusion The policy resulted in a meaningful increase in MMR coverage and reduction in non-medical exemptions. We measured a modest increase in medical exemptions, but this was offset by the larger reduction in non-medical exemptions. State policies removing non-medical exemptions can be effective in increasing vaccination coverage. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Regulation Requires Records: Access to Fracking Information in the Marcellus/Utica Shale Formations

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eira Tansey
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Environmental Regulation ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Shale Formations ◽  
Utica Shale ◽  
The World ◽  
Shale Formation ◽  
Records Access

In the world of environmental regulation, records are the foundation on which all further regulatory action takes place. From permits that give industry permission to pollute in the name of economic activity, to annual production reports documenting how much fossil fuel is taken out of the ground, notices of violation issued by regulators, to complaints filed by citizens noticing contaminants in their water supply, recordkeeping is fundamental to regulation. Even as records are critical to understanding and contextualizing environmental problems, accessing and interpreting this information is an exceptionally difficult experience. This article will consider the regulatory recordkeeping context of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, the three most productive states in the Marcellus/Utica shale formation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document