By: Joshua Durham As Florida looks inward to address ecological concerns, the lionfish invasion continues to plague coastal citizens and marine fauna. The problem has hampered both fishermen and ecological researchers in the Gulf Coast, effectively choking growth and stability on local reefs. With a growing population in the Gulf, the situation necessitates significant actions: … Continue reading Living with the Lionfish Problem: Awareness and Joint Operations
Removing the Lionfish Problem: A Private Market Guide
By: Joshua Durham When considering Florida’s ecology, the influence of devoted citizens in the private sector is imperative. A perfect example of this drive can be found in the growing trend of invasive lionfish hunting. Hunting these fish is critical because of their destructive presence in non-native waters, an issue explored in Part 1 of … Continue reading Removing the Lionfish Problem: A Private Market Guide
Interview with Dr. Keith Ihlanfeldt
Introduction & interview by Matthew Wykoff My name is Matthew Wykoff and I am a senior at FSU finishing my undergraduate degree in Economics. As a DMC researcher interested in Tallahassee’s local urban development, I interviewed Dr. Keith Ihlanfeldt about his recent paper, Impact of Rental Housing on Neighborhood Integration. Dr. Ihlanfeldt’s official title is … Continue reading Interview with Dr. Keith Ihlanfeldt
Corporate Social Responsibility and the Millennial Generation
By Alexis Gimbel The concept of corporate social responsibility, also known as “CSR,” is a company’s efforts to take accountability for its effects on the environment and society. A firm that practices CSR will often operate in a manner that surpasses the business standards required by government regulations. This ideal has led to the development … Continue reading Corporate Social Responsibility and the Millennial Generation
Raising the Gas Tax Will Not Help Finance Public Infrastructure
By Giovanna da Silva As a part of his plan to revamp US public infrastructure, President Donald Trump recently suggested increasing the gasoline tax to 25 cents a gallon from the current rate of 18.4 cents per gallon to help fund his $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan. This isn’t a new idea, however, as proposals for … Continue reading Raising the Gas Tax Will Not Help Finance Public Infrastructure
Hurricane Response Efforts are Most Effective When Decentralized
By Chad Thomas According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), emergency responses to hurricanes aim to prevent further loss of life and property damage. Effective emergency responses utilize local information and enable decentralized responses from within the disaster zone. Local information about necessary relief in affected areas aids response efforts. A decentralized response enables … Continue reading Hurricane Response Efforts are Most Effective When Decentralized
Challenges to Privatizing Flood Insurance
Giovanna Dasilva The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), implemented in 1968 to address a market failure in the flood insurance sector, has been the subject of scrutiny following hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Increasing the scope of the private sector has often been cited as a potential solution to the NFIP’s pitfalls. However, there are challenges … Continue reading Challenges to Privatizing Flood Insurance
Government Consolidation Rarely Lives Up to Promises
By Matt Kelly Government consolidation is an often-touted solution to economic and social problems in American cities. Several initiatives to combine local governments have resulted in conjoined regional governments, including Indianapolis-Marion County (IN), Athens-Clarke County (GA), and Jacksonville-Duval County (FL). Tallahassee and Leon County have seen six campaigns for consolidation over 50 years, all of … Continue reading Government Consolidation Rarely Lives Up to Promises
Beyond Recidivism: Addressing Behavioral Change within American Prisons
By Stephany Bittar Two-thirds of the 2.3 million Americans that are currently housed in the U.S. state and federal prison systems are expected to reoffend within three years of their release. Recidivism, or the tendency of a criminal to reoffend, is one of the most prevalent social problems facing current and former prisoners. High recidivism … Continue reading Beyond Recidivism: Addressing Behavioral Change within American Prisons
Study Finds Growth Management Laws Reduce Housing Affordability
by Matt Kelly A new study by Cato Institute Senior Fellow Randal O’Toole explores the history and effects of growth management in the United States. Growth-management laws, according to O’Toole, “restrict rural development in order to force most growth into the cities.” In “The New Feudalism: Why States Must Repeal Growth-Management Laws” O’Toole finds these … Continue reading Study Finds Growth Management Laws Reduce Housing Affordability
Preparing Florida’s Government Policy for The Next Big Hurricane
by Chad Thomas Political and economic conditions in New Orleans before 2005 left the city unprepared for Hurricane Katrina. The government bureaucracies responsible for levee maintenance were mismanaged and corrupt officials diverted needed funds. Weak economic performance before Katrina also set up affected areas for slow recovery afterward. New Orleans’ experience shows how government can … Continue reading Preparing Florida’s Government Policy for The Next Big Hurricane
Tourism tax may soon be used for public services
By Erick Winterkamp Officials in Okaloosa County recently diverted $2.5 million of Tourism Development Tax (TDT) revenues to pay for beach patrol and lifeguards, a move that Florida’s powerful tourism lobby contested. Tourism industry interest groups like the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association claimed this was … Continue reading Tourism tax may soon be used for public services
Fix the FRS Before It Breaks
By Randall G. Holcombe, Ph.D. In a recent blog post I argued in favor of shifting the Florida Retirement System (FRS) that provides pensions for retired state workers to a defined contribution system, and privatizing the system. Governor Scott and many legislators favor the shift to a defined contribution system, and because many private companies … Continue reading Fix the FRS Before It Breaks
Privatize the Florida Retirement System
By Randall G. Holcombe, Ph.D. Over the past few years both Governor Scott and several members of the Florida legislature have been pushing the idea of transforming the Florida Retirement System (FRS), which pays pensions to retired state workers, from a defined benefit system into a defined contribution system. A defined benefit system, which covers … Continue reading Privatize the Florida Retirement System