Suchergebnisse

Calorie labeling on menus became a federal law in 2010 but was not implemented until 2018, 8 years after adoption. This study reconstructs the history of the federal menu-labeling mandate using a process-tracing approach and finds that the delays in implementation resulted not from direct agency capture by the regulated industry, but rather from a system of indirect influence whereby lawmakers continue to influence policy-making even after adoption. Excessive legislative control can contribute to substantial implementation delays that undermine legislative intent. However, administrative agencies can serve as trustees to hold elected officials accountable to their own policy commitments.

AbstractAdministrative burden in social welfare programs is increasingly recognized as a barrier to eligible individuals' access to their legally entitled benefits. Using composite indices of administrative rules for three major safety‐net programs (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Medicaid) that vary in the degree and type of costs conferred on claimants across states between 2000 and 2016, we examine the effect of rule burden on program participation using two‐way fixed effects models. We find that each program contained numerous rules that confer a high degree of learning and compliance costs, and psychological costs to a lesser extent, though to varying degrees. Reducing costs associated with burdensome administrative rules was associated with higher program inclusivity across the programs, with relaxing some rules contributing more than others. Rules that automate enrollment/renewal, link eligibility with other programs and reduce asset tests seem especially promising. Easing burdensome administrative rules can increase access to services to which claimants are legally entitled.

AbstractAdministrative burden is widely recognized as a barrier to program enrollment, denying legal entitlements to many potentially eligible individuals. Building on recent research in behavioral public administration, this article examines the effect of voluntary state reductions in administrative burden (administrative easing) on Medicaid enrollment rates using differential implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Using a novel data set that includes state‐level data on simplified enrollment and renewal procedures for Medicaid from 2008 to 2017, the authors examine how change in Medicaid enrollment is conditioned by the adoption of rule‐reduction procedures. Findings show that reductions in the administrative burden required to sign up for Medicaid were associated with increased enrollments. Real‐time eligibility and reductions in enrollment burden were particularly impactful at increasing enrollment for both children and adults separate from increases in Medicaid income eligibility thresholds. The results suggest that efforts to ease the cognitive burden of enrolling in entitlement programs can improve take‐up.

Many of the datasets that could contribute to solutions for current public problems are proprietary and reside outside of government agencies. Accelerating data sharing and collaboration between those who hold valuable data and those able to deliver solutions is key to generating public value from private data. There is still a limited body of literature, however, that addresses data sharing and collaboration between private and public organizations. Using a case study of food traceability from local farms to institutions, this paper contributes to this emerging field by identifying challenges and incentives in data sharing among different types of organizations. In particular, our goal is to study how small farms and institutional buyers can be incentivized to share their data in a way that contributes to food safety, public health, and other societal goals. Our findings demonstrate that initiatives which can show the benefits of having a whole-chain food traceability system, have clear policies and regulations, and opportunities for participation in training activities are key incentives.