Volume 3, Number 1 (2008)
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Item Is Small Beautiful? The Microfinance Movement Challenge(2008-12) Baldridge, William; Starnes, MonicaThis paper seeks to assess the scope and economic impact of the microlending phenomenon and its long term economic viability. While millions of individuals have benefited from microloans, it does not appear that the numbers of individuals served are sufficient to register measureable economic improvements on the scale of an improved national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or increased income per capita measurements. For this reason, the importance of microfinance to economic growth in developing nations hinges both on its sustainability and the ability of microfinance to grow and serve a significantly larger percentage of the populations in those economies.Item Hedge Funds(2008-12) Patel, AshishThis paper seeks to provide insight into what hedge funds really are, how they operate, and the relevant aspects of regulatory reforms being proposed. The paper will provide arguments from various stakeholders within the industry and draw on some conclusions as to the effects and feasibility of proposed regulatory reforms.Item American Environmental Associations in the Age of Climate Change(2008-12) Peretz, Neil M.Explores public attitudes toward Global Warming.Item Why Are Some States More Obese Than Others: A State-By-State Comparison of Obesity(2008-12) Witters, Joseph; Snow, WilliamThe purpose of this study is to analyze the causes of obesity on a nationwide level through a state-by-state comparison of individual characteristics of the citizens, state characteristics, and state-based programs.Item Item War for Peace: Neoconservative Networks, Strategic Issue Framing, and the Making of a War(2008-12) Cole, Benjamin R.This paper begins by considering various theoretical models that have been or could be applied to presidential decision making on similar issues, identifying the weaknesses that necessitate use of the framing model. Part II describes Garrison’s three-component model and highlights its strengths and weaknesses vis-à-vis alternatives. The nature of the neoconservative movement is also discussed, and the movement is codified as a policy advocacy coalition. Part III puts the puzzle together, analyzing the consonance of the neoconservative frame with the unique perspectives of Cheney and Rumsfeld, and identifies why alternative frames failed to resonate with (or even reach) these men. The conclusion summarizes the paper’s findings and discusses consequences of this cognitive consonance.Item To Our Readers(2008-12) Hart, David M.Note from David M. Hart, Faculty Advisor for New Voices in Public PolicyItem