Publications
Monday, May 12, 2008
As of July 1, 2008, California drivers must use hands-free technology when talking on a mobile phone, and drivers under age 18 may not use a mobile phone at all while driving. This study examines how fatalities changed in states after a hands-free law was enacted, compared to states without a hands-free law. The findings indicate that mobile phone ownership is associated with higher traffic fatality rates in bad weather, on wet roads, and in rush-hour traffic. Californias new law should lead to some 300 fewer traffic fatalities a year. However, to gain the full benefit of the law, California should concentrate its enforcement efforts during adverse driving conditions, and public education about the law ─ and about the distraction and danger of using a mobile phone in the first place ─ should be an important component in implementing the law, which could help change behavior that enforcement alone might not achieve.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Some findings of the current survey:
- More than half (53%) of the states residents say the quality of K-12 public schools is a major problem.
- Blacks (72%) and whites (60%) are much more likely than Latinos (42%) and Asians (38%) to say that educational quality is a big problem.
- But more than half of Californians (54%) give their public schools an A (18%) or B (36%). Among public school parents, 27 percent give an A and 40 percent a B.
- A strong majority (60%) of Californians choose K-12 public education as the area they would like to protect from budget cuts.
This is the 85th PPIC Statewide Survey. It is part of a series covering K-12, higher education, environment, and population issues. This survey includes the responses of 2,502 Californians and is supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The fastest-growing region of California is the Inland Empire of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, home to more people than live in Oregon. By 2015, almost 5 million will inhabit this vast and varied region. In this report, PPIC researchers Hans Johnson, Deborah Reed, and Joseph Hayes examine several likely characteristics of the Inland Empire in 2015, including the expected population makeup and economic conditions. Among their findings: a shift in ethnicity to majority Latino and a modest improvement in the educational profile of the region's population.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Some findings of the current survey:
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Seven in 10 residents say California is in a recession and three in four expect the state to have bad economic times during the next 12 months.
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Nearly half of likely voters say they prefer to deal with the budget gap through a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Solid majorities say major changes are needed in the states budget process.
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Optimism about progress in Iraq remains low, but is higher than a year ago. Most residents say the nation should bring troops home as soon as possible.
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If the 2008 presidential election were held today, likely voters say they prefer Barack Obama over John McCain (49% to 40%), while a race between Hillary Clinton and McCain would be closer (46% to 43%).
This is the 84th PPIC Statewide Survey, and the 28th in the Californians and Their Government series. This survey includes the responses of 2,002 Californians and is supported by The James Irvine Foundation.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Immigrants are far less likely than the average U.S. native to commit crime in California, according to this issue of California Counts. For example, among men ages 18-40 the age group most likely to commit crime the U.S.-born are 10 times more likely than the foreign-born to be in jail or prison. Even among noncitizen men from Mexico ages 18-40 a group disproportionately likely to have entered the United States illegally the authors find very low rates of institutionalization. Such findings suggest that longstanding fears of immigration as a threat to public safety are unjustified.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
This paper presents the results from a survey of local public health officials conducted between August and October 2007. The survey found that although most public health agencies have a number of programs in place to help mitigate the health risks associated with a changing climate, local health officials generally feel ill-prepared, both in terms of information and resources, to respond to the public health threat posed by climate change.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Some findings of the current survey:
- Nearly eight in 10 adults (78%) are at least somewhat concerned about the effects of spending reductions in the governor's 2008-09 budget proposal.
- A majority (57%) of voters would protect K-12 programs from budget cuts and 19 percent would shield health and human services. Smaller numbers would protect higher education and prisons.
- A majority of adults (64%) say they support the governor's proposed constitutional amendment to stabilize the budget.
- A majority of Democrats (52%) want to deal with the budget gap through a mix of cuts and taxes while most Republicans (56%) prefer spending cuts.
This is the 83rd PPIC Statewide Survey, and the 27th in the Californians and Their Government series. This survey includes the responses of 2,000 Californians and is supported by The James Irvine Foundation.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Californias school finance system is long overdue for fundamental reform. The authors of this paper simulate an alternative school finance system recently proposed by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley (Bersin, Kirst, and Liu). They conclude that the proposed system provides a good starting point for the kind of reform effort the state needs to undertake. This paper briefly reviews student needs and district costs throughout California and then discusses the results and implications of the simulation models.
Further Analysis
Data Reconciliation
Request the School Finance Model
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
PPIC's At Issue series focuses on issues important for California now and in the future. In this issue, PPIC president and CEO Mark Baldassare offers a straightforward, nonpartisan assessment of Californias partisan dividedetailing the demographic and ideological differences between Democratic and Republican voters. He also takes a closer look at the growing numbers of decline to state or independent voters and assesses their increased importance in California elections. Finally, he considers the consequences of the states partisan divide and offers suggestions for engaging more independent voters in the future.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Events
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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May 13, 2008 |
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12:00-1:30 p.m. |
| Location: |
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CSAC Conference Center |
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1020 11th St, 2nd Floor |
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Sacramento, CA |
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Starting July 1, 2008, California drivers will be required to use hands-free technology when using a mobile phone while driving, and drivers under age 18 will be prohibited from using a mobile phone while driving. This report analyzes hands-free laws across states, discusses how fatalities changed in states after a hands-free law was introduced, and estimates the reduction in fatalities California can expect.
SPEAKER
Jed Kolko is a research fellow at PPIC whose expertise includes urban and regional economic development and technology policy.
Friday, May 2, 2008
| Date: |
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May 2, 2008 |
| Time: |
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12:00-1:30 p.m. |
| Location: |
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CSAC Conference Center |
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1020 11th St, 2nd Floor |
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Sacramento, CA |
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
PPICs latest Statewide Survey, Californians and Education, examines Californians' opinions about K-12 public education in the state, including perceptions of the quality of K-12 education, approval ratings of elected officials, and ratings of local public schools. It examines fiscal attitudes, including the adequacy and efficiency of state funding, spending priorities in light of the state's budget deficit, and ways to maintain current funding levels. It also reviews policy preferences on issues such as student testing, the high school drop-out rate, English learners, teacher shortages, curriculum, and data systems.
SPEAKERS
PPIC president, CEO, and survey director
Mark Baldassare is an expert in public opinion, including political, social, economic, and environmental attitudes.
Sonja Petek is a research associate and member of the PPIC Statewide Survey team.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
ABOUT THE PROGRAMPPIC researchers
Hans Johnson,
Deborah Reed, and
Joseph Hayes discussed this report at a series of events in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and also at a special hearing of the Inland Empire Caucus in Sacramento. Their report analyzes the latest demographic, employment, and economic data on the Inland Empire and develops projections for the future of this unique region.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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April 1, 2008 |
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12:00-1:30 p.m. |
| Location: |
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Rayburn House Office Building |
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Room 2203 |
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Washington, D.C. |
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
PPICs latest Statewide Survey, Californians and Their Government, examines Californians opinions of the economy, the states multibillion dollar budget deficit, and spending cuts as a solution to the fiscal crisis. It also looks at preferences in the presidential election, attitudes toward immigration policy and the situation in Iraq, and support for the states eminent domain initiatives, Propositions 98 and 99, which will appear on the June 3rd primary election ballot.
SPEAKER
PPIC president, CEO, and survey director
Mark Baldassare is an expert in public opinion, including political, social, economic, and environmental attitudes.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
| Date: |
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March 27, 2008 |
| Time: |
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12:00-1:30 p.m. |
| Location: |
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CSAC Conference Center |
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1020 11th St, 2nd Floor |
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Sacramento, CA |
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
PPICs latest Statewide Survey, Californians and Their Government, examines Californians opinions of the economy, the states multibillion dollar budget deficit, and spending cuts as a solution to the fiscal crisis. It also looks at preferences in the presidential election, attitudes toward immigration policy and the situation in Iraq, and support for the states eminent domain initiatives, Propositions 98 and 99, which will appear on the June 3rd primary election ballot.
SPEAKERS PPIC president, CEO, and survey director
Mark Baldassare is an expert in public opinion, including political, social, economic, and environmental attitudes.
Jennifer Paluch is a research associate and member of the PPIC Statewide Survey team.
Friday, March 14, 2008
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March 14, 2008 |
| Time: |
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12:00-1:30 p.m. |
| Location: |
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Rayburn House Office Building |
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Room B-369 |
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Washington, DC |
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Are public fears about immigrants and crime justified? From a public safety standpoint, would proposals to reduce immigration have high returns? This presentation compares incarceration rates of immigrants and the U.S.-born, and looks at immigration growth and city-level crime rates. These findings and more will help illustrate the effects of immigrants on public safety in California. Lunch will be provided.
SPEAKER
Anne Morrison Piehl is an associate professor of economics and faculty affiliate in criminal justice at Rutgers University.
