Using Propensity Score Matching to Improve Validity in Public Administration Research

Randomized clinical trials have a longstanding status as the gold standard in detecting causal effects. In the social sciences, randomized clinical trials are rare because of their attendant logistical and cost burdens. Most social science research makes use of observational data. The empirical challenge posed by observational data is that treatment assignment is no longer random. This challenge continues to spur innovation across many disciplines toward more sophisticated techniques for estimating causal relationships. Scholars have developed a common theoretical framework for estimating causal effects, often called the potential outcomes or counterfactual framework. This chapter demonstrates the propensity score matching methodology as a way to estimate causal effects using observational data. Throughout, an example from public administration research, the effect of government employment on volunteerism, is used to illustrate the concepts. Empirical estimates of the treatment effects show that there may be a causal effect of government employment on volunteerism.

Raising youth unemployment as one of the consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic

For studying the excess of youth unemployment in comparison with other age groups in Europe and selected world regions, the authors hypothesized the high efficiency of government employment policy, taking into account the possible consequences of displacing other age groups. The aim of the study is to formulate proposals for reducing youth unemployment in Europe and selected world regions in accordance with the identified specific causes of this phenomenon. The main objectives of the study are: - consideration of macroeconomic indicators of Europe and selected world regions in 2015 to 2020 and the peculiarities of their interconnection; - identification of the most specific causes of youth unemployment excess in comparison with other age groups in Europe and selected world regions; - formation of proposals for reducing youth unemployment and justification of their feasibility. To achieve the purpose, special and general scientific methods were used, including: graphic method, comparison, formalization, systematization, generalization, induction, deduction, analysis and synthesis. Based on a study of employment in selected world regions in 2015 to 2020, it was found that there is a significant excess of youth unemployment compared to the general unemployment rate. However, unemployment may be less of a problem for young people than for adults, as it tends to be shorter. Moreover, young people may simply change jobs more often, so the higher unemployment rate observed is mainly functional and therefore not particularly harmful. Reducing youth unemployment is a difficult task, but complete inaction in this area or attempts to solve unemployment problems in other age groups at the expense of youth employment can lead to more severe economic consequences. In general, the hypothesis of the high efficiency of government employment policy, taking into account the possible consequences of displacing other age groups, is proven. Among the main motives prompting scientists to further study the problems of youth unemployment are the economic and social difficulties that the economically active population faces when they lose their jobs. In the future, concrete steps can be developed by states in the framework of employment policy, which can include individual counseling procedures, as well as systemic interventions based on the analysis of social circles in which young people are involved (for example, families and couples, not just individuals). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the macroeconomic indicators of Europe and selected world regions is examined. In particular, the dynamics of real GDP and employment rates during 2012-2020 are reflected. It was found that young workers in Europe were more prone to job losses during the crisis than the elderly population. However, the downward trend in youth employment affects not only Europe but also other regions of the world, including developing countries, where youth unemployment can be three times higher than the general rate. A number of reasons for low youth employment are identified, including a barrier to entry the labor market due to the lack of experience, insecurity of jobs, high frequency of voluntary dismissals and a tendency of youth unemployment towards over-cyclicality.

Does Affirmative Action Work? Evaluating India’s Quota System

This paper examines two common critiques of ethnic quota policies in government hiring and education: that they do not benefit the target group, and that any benefits are unevenly distributed within the target group. It focuses on the effects of educational and hiring quotas for Other Backward Class (OBC) castes in India, using difference-in-difference and triple difference designs that take advantage of the gradual introduction of these quotas. The results provide little support for these critiques: affirmative action is associated with small increases in educational attainment and government employment among eligible age cohorts, though the increases in government employment may be a result of other social and political trends. These benefits extend even to poorer OBCs (though not the very poorest), and increase the chances of social contact between uneducated OBCs and government officials.

Clashing Canons and the Contract Clause

This Article is the first in-depth examination of substantive canons that judges use to interpret public pension legislation under the Contract Clause of the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions. The resolution of constitutional controversies concerning pension reform will have a profound influence on government employment. The assessment begins with a general discussion of these interpretive techniques before turning to their operation in public pension litigation. It concentrates on three clashing canons: the remedial (purpose) canon, the “no contract” canon (otherwise known as the unmistakability doctrine), and the constitutional avoidance canon. For these three canons routinely employed in pension law, there has been remarkably little research on their history, evolution, or impact. This study spotlights the methodology that underlies these diverse and complicated judgments. Illuminating actual judicial practices lets us better comprehend when, how, and why these canons function. It puts us in a position to choose the most appropriate canon(s) and to offer improvements on their operation. It also allows us to relate the role of canons to other kinds of legal reasoning. Significantly, studying these canons fills a void in state statutory interpretation as well as contributes to a better understanding of state court enforcement of the Contract Clause that has received scarcely any attention.

FENOMENA UNGKAPAN TRADISIONAL BAHASA SUNDA DI KOTA BANDUNG: KAJIAN SOSIOLINGUISTIK [THE PHENOMENON OF SUNDANESE LANGUAGE TRADITIONAL EXPRESSION IN BANDUNG CITY: SOCIOLINGUISTICS ANALYSIS]

The purpose of this study is describing the existence and utilization of Sundanese language traditional expressions in Bandung speech community today. The method was descriptive. Data collection techniques was done by direct interviews with informants in the field using Sundanese and in natural situation communication. The main informant was a culture-supporting community who really known-well the traditional expressions. The informant was assumed, at least, to understand it as a form of culture. Moreover, notes techniques was used too. The analytical method used distributional. The results showed that: there are 206 data traditional expressions which is still known by the people in Bandung. The sub-district that is still familiar with traditional expressions is Ujungberung with a percentage of 100%. The sub-district that is unknow-well of traditional expressions is Sumur Bandung with a percentage of 15%. In terms of usage, Sundanese language traditional expressions are still used in the domain of: family, intimate, neighborliness, education, government, employment, and religion. The function of using expessions is to remind, to advise, to admonish, to calm, to affirm, to appeal, and to express the feelings. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan eksistensi dan penggunaan ungkapan tradisional bahasa Sunda yang ada di lingkungan masyarakat tutur Kota Bandung dewasa ini. Metode yang digunakan deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara wawancara langsung kepada informan di lapangan dengan menggunakan bahasa Sunda dan dalam situasi yang asli (natural situation communication). Informan utama yang dipilih adalah masyarakat pendukung budaya yang memahami ungkapan tradisional. Informan tersebut diasumsikan paling tidak mengetahui ungkapan tradisional sebagai sebuah bentuk kebudayaan. Di samping itu, digunakan pula teknik catat. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah distribusional. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa: ungkapan tradisional yang masih dikenal oleh masyarakat tutur di Kota Bandung berjumlah 206 data. Kecamatan yang masih mengenal ungkapan tradisional dengan baik adalah Ujungberung dengan jumlah persentase 100%. Kecamatan yang sudah tidak lagi mengenal ungkapan tradisional dengan baik adalah Sumur Bandung dengan jumlah persentase 15%. Dari segi penggunaan, ungkapan tradisional bahasa Sunda masih digunakan dalam ranah: keluarga, kekariban, ketetanggan, pendidikan, pemerintahan, kerja, dan agama. Fungsi penggunaan ungkapan untuk mengingatkan, menasihati, menegur, menenangkan, mengiaskan, mengimbau, dan mengungkapkan perasaan.