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This research examined the impact of South Carolina's in-state preference policies on the economy of the state. To achieve this purpose, the research sought to answer the question: what are the impacts of implementing the in-state procurement preference policies on the economy of the state of South Carolina? The question was answered by using seven economic indicators: jobs, personal income, real disposable income, output (sales), Gross State Product (GSP), value added and state's population. The data related to the in-state preference policies were collected from the South Carolina Procurement Services Office. The data was then analyzed using the Regional Economic Model Policy Insight (REMI PI+) for economic-forecasting and policy-analysis. The results revealed the existence of quantitative differences between the baseline, which represents the values of the economic indicators without implementing the preference policies, and the alternative forecast, which represents the values of the economic indicators when implementing the policies. Specifically, the results showed that implementing in-state preference policies presented economic benefits to the state and its communities in the form of additional jobs, income, GSP, value added, population and sales. From 2010 until 2017, the total economic impact of implementing preference policies generated $17 million in total output, 135 total job-years, $10.22 million in GSP, $10.27 million in value added, $7.52 in income and $5.14 million in real disposable personal income. The impact on the wholesale trade industry was over $5 million in total industry output and approximately 27 jobs. The manufacturing sector had a total impact of over $4 million in total industry output and approximately 17 jobs. The impact on the construction industry was approximately $3 million in total industry output and approximately 30 jobs. Over 100 people were predicted to relocate to the state within the next 8 years. Although the values of the economic indicators are very small compared to the size of the state economy, they outweighed the direct cost of preferences. The direct cost of preferences represents the extra dollars that government pays when they award the contracts based on preferences. Overall, implementing the in-state preference policies contributed to South Carolina's economy. However, further research is warranted to account for the total costs of implementing the preference policies.

Research design is a critical topic that is central to research studies in science, social science, and many other disciplines. After identifying the research topic and formulating questions, selecting the appropriate design is perhaps the most important decision a researcher makes. Currently, there is a plethora of literature presenting multiple approaches to the formulation of research design. Although the existence of multiple approaches is a powerful source in the development of a research design, new public administration (PA) researchers and students may see it as a source of confusion because there is a lack of clarity in the literature about the approaches to research design, research methods, and research methodology in the social sciences. The purpose of this research paper is to lessen the confusion over research design and offer a better understanding of these approaches. The comparison analysis obtained in this research can provide guidance for PA researchers, students and practitioners when considering the research design most appropriate for their study. To achieve the research purpose, a comparison analysis was conducted to study the differences in research design perspectives and approaches. Three dominant works related to research design, by Earl R. Babbie, Elizabethann O'Sullivan et al., and John W. Creswell, were selected as representative of the wide array of approaches in the PA literature. In identifying similarities and differences across the scholars' approaches, the analysis includes: (a) definitions of and steps in research design, and (b) the perspectives on research methods and research methodology. The analysis showed that research design approaches are convergent and divergent and that it is necessary for PA researchers and students to be knowledgeable about the various research design approaches before selecting a specific design for their research. An example scenario was provided to show the impact of different perspectives on research design in the PA literature.

The past two decades have witnessed substantial changes in the dynamics of state—local relationships for highway funding. We argue that four factors have produced a funding crisis for local governments: an increase in developed land and locally owned roads; a rise in construction and maintenance costs; devolution of highway financing responsibility from the states to localities with a reduction in intergovernmental transfers; and more wear and tear on roads due to increased vehicle miles traveled. Local governments can delay maintenance and build fewer new facilities, but eventually many will seek new sources of revenues to fund their growing responsibilities. We identify several potential financing mechanisms: impact fees and smart growth policies; local option transportation taxes; nontraditional taxes and fees such as transportation utility fees and land taxes; and low-cost debt financing from state infrastructure banks. We discuss challenges faced by local governments in continuing to meet their responsibilities and financing needs.

Innovation is often promoted as the path to overcoming the burdens of bureaucratic organizations and fostering improved service to the public. In a moment where governments face dynamic administrative and policy challenges, there is great need for leveraging innovative ideas from public sector employees. What is less clear are which factors of employee human capital correlate with feeling encouraged to innovate. We test how three types of human capital influence innovation: organization level, industry specific, and individual specific human capital. We also explore whether there are differences in feeling encouraged to innovate linked to education, training, and demographics such as gender, race, and age. Using survey responses from 2,191 public procurement officers from various levels of government in the United States, we find human capital components including experience, and age correlate with feeling encouraged to innovate, though not always in expected ways.