Public Pensions and the Initiative Process: Winds of Change?

An extensive literature seeks to measure the effect of the initiative and referendum on public policies. Several conclusions emerge: The initiative and referendum have different effects on policy. Requiring popular approval of fiscal policies (mandatory referendums) results in lower expenditure, taxes, and debt. The initiative process gives voters more power and results in policies closer to the median voter preference; this often has reduced spending (American states, Swiss cantons), but sometimes has increased spending (cities). The initiative is associated with more socially conservative policy choices. Spurious correlation is a concern in many studies, and more research on causality is needed.

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Do Public Pensions Improve Mental Wellbeing? Evidence from the New Rural Society Pension Insurance Program

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052391 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2391

Author(s):

Fang Wang ◽

Haitao Zheng

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Rural Society ◽

Rural Elderly ◽

Public Pensions ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Pension Insurance ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Pension Income ◽

The Impact

The causal effect of public pensions on the mental wellbeing of the elderly in lower and middle-income countries deserves further investigation. This paper first constructed a theoretical framework for the impact of New Rural Society Pension Insurance pensions in China on the mental wellbeing of the rural elderly, and described potential channels through which pension income may affect mental wellbeing. We then used the fixed effect model and the instrument variable approach to estimate the casual effects of pension income on the mental wellbeing of the rural elderly. The results reveal that pension income improves mental wellbeing by relieving depression of the rural elderly; however, the beneficial effects of pension income are very limited. Pension income has no beneficial effects on the mental health of the rural elderly in the east region, whereas it slightly relieves depression of those in the middle and west regions. We also found that pension income produces small improvements in the mental health of older females, elderly persons living independently, and those with relatively poor economic conditions.

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What Ails Public Pensions?

Financial Analysts Journal ◽

10.2469/faj.v63.n6.4925 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 38-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Richard M. Ennis

Keyword(s):

Public Pensions

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Who Favors Legalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide? The Vote on Michigan's Proposal B

Politics and the Life Sciences ◽

10.1017/s073093840000544x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 155-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Strate ◽

Timothy Kiska ◽

Marvin Zalman

Keyword(s):

Republican Party ◽

Democratic Party ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Church Attendance ◽

Personal Autonomy ◽

Party Identification ◽

Physician Assisted Suicide ◽

Sanctity Of Life ◽

Initiative Process ◽

Social Liberalism

At the November 1998 general election, Michigan citizens were given the opportunity to vote on Proposal B, an initiative that would have legalized physician-assisted suicide (PAS). PAS initiatives also have been held in Washington State, California, Oregon, and Maine, with only Oregon's passing. We use exit poll data to analyze the vote on Proposal B. Attributes associated with social liberalism—Democratic Party identification, less frequent church attendance, more education, and greater household income—led to increased odds of a “yes” vote. Attributes associated with social conservatism—Republican Party identification and frequent church attendance—led to decreased odds of a “yes” vote. Similar to the abortion issue, PAS's supporters strongly value personal autonomy, whereas its opponents strongly value the sanctity of life. Voter alignments like those in Michigan will likely appear in other states with the initiative process if PAS reaches their ballots.

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