Policy Analysis and Management

The well-being of individuals and households over the life course are affected by federal, state, and local legislation and by access to, and quality of, human services at the community level. Faculty in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management address these issues through research strengths in the following areas.

• The intersection between work, family, and financial well-being: covering issues such as welfare reform; the impact of parental and pregnancy leave policies on family work behavior and child well-being; the impact of subsidies and tax policies for dependent and child care needs; the economic well-being and management of family-owned businesses; family time management and investment in children.
• The economic and legal aspects of marriage and divorce: covering issues such as child custody and support.
• The financial well-being of individuals and households: covering issues such as financial management and practices.
• The well-being of children, youth, and the elderly: covering issues such as the experiences of children in foster care; policy surrounding special needs adoption; the efficacy of policy in impacting the use by youth of prohibited substances; housing for the elderly; Social Security and resources in the retirement years; and long-term care services for the elderly.

Back to page contents menu

Policy and management issues are interrelated across the public and private sectors around the issues of cost, quality, and access to health services. Faculty in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management address these issues through research strengths in the following areas.

• The economics of the health care system: covering issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care delivery systems, the organization and financing of personal health services; the structure of health care delivery systems; the role of support systems in ameliorating the health impact of unemployment; rural health networks.
• Access to, and quality of, health care services: covering issues such as managed care enrollment choice, long-term care, and mental health services.
• Human behavioral aspects of health: covering issues such as health care status and the evaluation of health outcomes across varied population groups, policies and programs promoting health and disease prevention, reproductive health and human sexuality.
• Women's health: covering issues such as promoting women's health across generations; alternative medicine; and medical ethics.

Back to page contents menu

The welfare of individuals and households is significantly affected by consumer decision making and choices faced in the marketplace. Market and nonmarket choices are shaped by public and private sector policies and the media. Faculty in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management address these issues through research strengths in the following areas.

• The demand for publicly and privately supplied goods and services: covering issues such as economic incentives and the psycho-social determinants of behavior; public policy and community planning in housing markets especially for the elderly; home modification and mortgages.
• The regulation of market information: covering issues such as nutritional labeling and consumer choice.
• The economics of insurance policy: covering automobile insurance regulation, insurance fraud, and insurance distribution.
• Consumer messages portrayed via the media: covering issues such as nutrition and consumption information portrayed on prime-time television.

Back to page contents menu