- Welcome
- For Prospective Students
- For Students
- Degree Programs
- Focus Fields
- Faculty and Staff
- Research
- Public Service and Outreach
- Career Development
- For Alumni and Friends
- Calendar
- News
- Contact Us
- Sitemap
Publications: Workshop Reports: 2006
The Public Affairs Workshops are the capstone courses for the La Follette School's two master's degree programs, the Master of International Public Affairs and the Master of Public Affairs. Workshop students gain practical experience applying the tools of political, economic and statistical analysis they acquired during three semesters of coursework. In addressing actual problems faced by clients in the public, non-governmental and private sectors, the students work closely together in teams to produce carefully crafted reports that meet high professional and academic standards. This culminating project is the equivalent of the thesis for a degree from the La Follette School of Public Affairs: The students produce research-based, analytical, evaluative and prescriptive reports for real-world clients who range from municipal government offices to international development organizations. Through these reports, students contribute to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's outreach mission and to the Wisconsin Idea.
PA 869: Public Affairs Workshop, Domestic Issues
Assistant professor Donald P. Moynihan
Evaluating Green Tier: A Practical Guide for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Prepared for Neal Kedzie, 11th District, Wisconsin Senate, and Mark McDermid, director, Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by Darryn Beckstrom, Jessalyn Frost, Erin Rushmer, and Melody Sakazaki
This report presents the authors suggested criteria for the evaluation of the Green Tier program, which encourages partnerships between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and state businesses to improve environmental performance. The evaluation should be conducted before the law authorizing Green Tier sunsets in 2009. The authors recommend that the WDNR: create a joint legislative and WDNR working group to oversee the evaluation; undertake a multi-method approach for collecting data; provide an open evaluation process that makes results readily available; and continue to increase awareness of the Green Tier program. Presentation slides
Billing at the Milwaukee Health Department Clinics: An Analysis of Potential Revenue Gains
Prepared for the City of Milwaukee, Budget and Management Division, Department of Administration by Jamie John Aulik, Victoria June Deitch, Emily Eleanor Pope and Eric Andrew Thomasgard
The Milwaukee Health Department operates six health clinics to provide services to uninsured and underinsured residents. This paper looks at ways by which the department could increase clinic revenue. At the time of the report, the department only billed Medicaid HMOs. The authors recommend that the health department make changes to its billing process, bill Medicaid for sexually transmitted disease tests and treatments, increase monitoring of the clinics, and investigate billing private insurance companies. Presentation slides
Low- and No-Cost Sustainable Design Solutions for Existing Wisconsin Government Facilities
Prepared for the Wisconsin Department of Administration by Peter Lemoine, Justin Ronca, and Brandon Von Feldt.
The authors outline
a framework for reducing the environmental impacts of Wisconsin
facilities run by the Department of Administration. Next, they
apply this framework to the Department of Revenue building
in Madison. The authors recommend a series of low- and no-cost
strategies to minimize energy and waste consumption, and
waste production associated with the building.
Professor Andrew Reschovsky
Changes in Shared Revenue and the Effects on Wisconsin Taxpayers
Prepared for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue by Jenna Griffin, Jennifer Klippel, Kathryn Maguire, and Brendon Riggs.
This paper analyzes the effects on Wisconsin taxpayers of the 1995 level-funding and 2001 per capita reductions to the Wisconsin Shared Revenue Program. The authors examine the impact these changes had on taxpayer equity across the state. They also study the combined affects of changes to Shared Revenue in conjunction with increased school funding to meet the two-thirds commitment on the levy taxpayers face. Authors conclude that changes to Shared Revenue has hurt taxpayer equity, and they recommend reinstating the Shared Revenue formula. Presentation slides
An Analysis of Community Aids
Prepared for the Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council by Bai Linh Hoang, Martha Kraetsch, Jennifer Leavitt-Moy, and Maureen Quinn.
In Wisconsin, counties hold the primary responsibility for providing public human services. This report examines Community Aids, one source of financial assistance for human services that the state provides to counties. The report documents a real decrease in Community Aids allocations to counties, demographic changes that suggest the need for human services in Wisconsin is rising, and the increased cost of human service provision. The report explores how counties are responding to these trends.
An Analysis of a Red-Light Camera Program in the City of Milwaukee
Prepared for the City of Milwaukee, Budget and Management Division, Department of Administration, by Karyn Kriz, Christian Moran, and Molly Regan.
Red-light running is the cause of approximately 1,340 crashes each year in the City of Milwaukee, resulting in an estimated societal cost of $131 million per year. This report analyzes whether implementing a red-light camera system at dangerous intersections would increase safety and create additional revenue opportunities for the city. The authors find that placing cameras at the city's 13 most dangerous intersections would result in a net present benefit of $7.6 million and create additional revenue of $4.8 million during a five-year period of time. Therefore, the authors recommend the City of Milwaukee implement a red-light camera program.
PA 860: Public Affairs Workshop, International Issues
Associate professor Clark Miller
Nation-Building in Afghanistan: A Role for NGOs
Prepared for a select group of U.S. government agencies interested in South Asia by Richard Barajas, Rachel Howard, Andrew Miner, Jeff Sartin, and Karina Silver
The process of nation-building has increased in importance over the last few years. The authors view nation-building as a process that is separate from government-building. In this report, the authors argue that non-governmental organizations have a potentially important role to play in this broader vision of nation-building in Afghanistan. NGOs can help contribute to a variety of sectors in Afghanistan, including security, judicial, economic, as well as a stronger democracy.
An Assessment of Environmental Effects of the 2005 Mexican Automotive Decree
Prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., Office by Roberto A. DallAsta, Jacqueline Dullin, James W. Magua, Brooke M. Skartvedt, and Paul R. Stanchfield
The authors examine the environmental effects of Mexican President Vicente Foxs 2005 Automotive Decree which allows the importation of 10- to 15-year-old used vehicles to Mexico. The authors focus on the air pollution effects in Mexican border-states resulting from the increased vehicle flow and discuss whether the decree is a net benefit or detriment to the environment. Based on their findings, the authors recommend policy options to decrease vehicle emissions in the border region.
Evaluating NGO Service Delivery in South Asia: Lessons for Afghanistan
Prepared for a select group of U.S. government agencies interested in South Asia by Laura Antuono, Chris Meeks, Melissa Kay Miller, and Jean Rene Watchou
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of non-governmental organizations at providing public services in South Asia, with respect to Afghanistan. Research on NGOs in Nepal and Bangladesh reveals that with proper cooperation and coordination with the government, NGOs can play a vital role in service delivery in Afghanistan, where the government has insufficient resources to meet the growing demand for public services.