Report California’s Future By Ellen Hanak, Laura Hill, Hans Johnson, Caroline Danielson ... Jan 15, 2021 This multi-topic publication highlights the state’s most pressing long-term policy challenges in several key areas: criminal justice, economy, education, safety net, and water and a changing climate.
Report Early Grade Retention and Student Success: Evidence from Los Angeles By Jill Cannon, Stephen Lipscomb Mar 17, 2011 Does repeating a grade help struggling students? Which students are more likely to be retained? This report finds that retention can be effective, at least in the short term: students who repeat the first or second grade can significantly improve their grade-level skills. This report was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Statewide Survey Facing Facts: Public Attitudes and Fiscal Realities in Five Stressed States Oct 7, 2010 A survey in five of the nation’s most fiscally stressed states reveals a disconnect between what the public wants from state government and budget realities. Residents in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, and New York believe their states could spend less without cutting services. They want to protect K-12 education and Medicaid funding—by far the biggest portions of state budgets. They prefer charging someone else— wealthy corporations, smokers, drinkers, and gamblers—to ensure essential government services. But even these increases would likely be insufficient to close severe budget gaps. This survey was co-published by the Pew Center on the States and Public Policy Institute of California. Any text or graphics taken from the multistate survey should jointly credit the Pew Center on the States and Public Policy Institute of California, 2010.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha Jan 30, 2013 Some findings of the current survey: There is widespread support for Governor Brown’s budget proposal, including his plans to target education funding and pay down debt. A record-high share of Californians say working illegal immigrants should be offered a path to legal status. Two in three Californians support a nationwide ban on assault weapons. Gun Regulation: Guns in Homes [PDF] Role of Government [PDF] Assault Weapon Ban [PDF] Worry About Shootings [PDF] Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [PDF] Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] U.S. Congress [PDF] Senator Boxer [PDF] Senator Feinstein [PDF] Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [PDF] Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [XLS] Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] U.S. Congress [XLS] Senator Boxer [XLS] Senator Feinstein [XLS] Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [XLS] Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [XLS] Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California [PDF] General Direction of Things in the United States [PDF] Economic Outlook for California [PDF] Time Trends for the Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California [XLS] General Direction of Things in the United States [XLS] Economic Outlook for California [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Dec 17, 2009 Some findings of the current survey: Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman leads the field among likely voters in the GOP gubernatorial primary, but Democrat Jerry Brown beats all three potential Republican candidates in hypothetical 2010 general election matchups. More than half of likely voters say the issues of lowering the legislative vote threshold to pass a state budget and allowing same-sex marriage are very important. Half of Californians support proposed changes to the health care system, given what they know about the legislation. They take a pessimistic view of military efforts in Afghanistan, and are divided on President Obama’s proposal for more troops there. Job Approval Ratings: President ObamaGovernor SchwarzeneggerCalifornia State LegislatureU.S. CongressTheir Own State Legislator in the Assembly and SenateTheir Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President ObamaGovernor SchwarzeneggerCalifornia State LegislatureU.S. Congress Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and SenateTheir Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in CaliforniaGeneral Direction of Things in the United StatesEconomic Outlook for CaliforniaEconomic Outlook for the United States Time Trends for the Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in CaliforniaGeneral Direction of Things in the United StatesEconomic Outlook for CaliforniaEconomic Outlook for the United States This survey is supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
Report Business Location Decisions and Employment Dynamics in California By David Neumark, Jed Kolko Nov 5, 2007 Much recent debate about the state’s economy has focused on the narrow issue of whether California businesses are moving to other states—taking jobs with them. In this report, PPIC researchers Jed Kolko and David Neumark examine the broader patterns of employment dynamics—the ways in which jobs and businesses move into, around, and out of the state— to provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the California economy.
Occasional Paper, Report Medi-Cal Expenditures: Historical Growth and Long Term Forecasts By Hans Johnson, Thomas E. MaCurdy, Margaret O’Brien-Strain, Raymond Chan Jun 13, 2005 This paper addresses three questions to assess the fiscal challenges Medi-Cal may pose in the future for California policymakers: First, how much are Medi-Cal costs likely to grow over the next decade in the absence of policy changes? Second, how will this growth compare to revenue growth? And third, what factors are driving Medi-Cal costs? To answer these questions this paper forecasts the expected costs of the Medi-Cal program through 2015, as well as examines the forces underlying recent growth in Medi-Cal expenditures.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare Jul 10, 2003 This is the 37th PPIC Statewide Survey and the fifth in a series of eight surveys that will focus on population growth, land use, and the environment. This survey focuses in particular on public perceptions, individual actions, and policy preferences relating to air quality issues. Some findings of the current survey Residents in the Central Valley (42%) are now as likely as Los Angeles residents (43%) to consider air pollution a big problem in their region of the state. In 2000, only 28% of Central Valley residents saw air quality as a big problem. 68% of Californians believe that increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere will, if unchecked, lead to global warming. Most employed residents in the state report that they commute to work by driving alone (73%); many fewer commute by carpool (13%) or public transit (5%). President and governor receive very low approval ratings for their handling of environmental issues: Davis, 30%; Bush, 37%. 86% of Californians say that the presidential candidates' positions in 2004 on environmental issues will be a very important (41%) or somewhat important (45%) factor in determining their vote.
Report Holding the Line? The Effect of Recent Border Build-up on Unauthorized Immigration By Hans Johnson, Belinda Reyes, Richard Van Swearingen Jul 1, 2002 Controlling unauthorized immigration along the U.S.-Mexican border has become an increasingly important national objective. Despite initial bipartisan support for this strategy, concerns about its effectiveness are beginning to emerge. This report addresses the following questions: Has increased border enforcement changed decisions to migrate? Has it changed where and how people cross the U.S.-Mexican border? Has it led to an increase in migrant deaths? Has it altered how long immigrants stay once they arrive? Has it reduced the total number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S.? What other policy options might help curb unauthorized immigration?
Report Redistricting and Legislative Partisanship By Eric McGhee Sep 9, 2008 Critics of the state legislature contend that its pattern of gridlock—as exemplified by the current budget impasse—can be traced to the “safe seats” it drew for itself in the 2001 redistricting process. Redistricting reform is often suggested as the right prescription for these legislative ills. This report analyzes in detail the effects of the 2001 redistricting on legislative behavior, voting patterns, and partisanship. It concludes that if increased bipartisanship is what critics want, redistricting reform may not be the optimal way to attain it.
