Jennifer M. Nations

Examines how fiscal constraints and city leaders’ own assessments shape municipal tax proposals. Finds that declines in discretionary revenues are correlated with tax proposal. However, rather than expanding discretionary capacity, city leaders often respond by proposing earmarked taxes, which may be more politically palatable but fiscally constraining.

Discusses the value, and limitations, of an educational workshop which aimed to reduce residential displacement by educating low-income tenants about their rights. Demonstrates that The Eviction Prevention Workshop had a strong positive effect on participants’ understanding of their rights and awareness of available legal resources and mixed effects on tenants’ self-reported stress. 

Evaluates the travel costs and experiences of affordable housing residents in San Diego, especially seniors. Findings show that younger, working residents are more dissatisfied with transit costs, while seniors are more concerned about transit stop conditions.

Discusses how public university boards determine tuition levels for college students in every state but New York and Florida. Argues that structural features of states and universities created beliefs about the types of policies that were appropriate in a given state, ultimately constraining politicians' decisions and leading them to reject the devolution of tuition authority to university boards.

Examines how California transit agencies are responding to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Highlights barriers like cost, access, and limited service, and recommends actions such as coordinated outreach, shuttle services, fare assistance, and involving people with lived experience in planning.

Tells the story of how decades-old no-tuition policies at the University of California and The City University of New York (CUNY) were reversed in the 1970s. Mentions how no-tuition policies became targets of neoconservative critiques of the proper role of government support for public services. Discusses how no-tuition policies became impossible to defend in the context of the stalled economy and growing conservative movement, whose members embraced government austerity.

Employs panel regression models to a data set of California school districts. Tells that school boards were least likely to propose new parcel taxes where there was a high percentage of Latinx students or a large gap between the percentage of white students and the percentage of white residents 65 and older. 

Shows that voters are more likely to approve local school taxes if the policy is written to require citizen-state consultation on how the funds are spent. Provides evidence that citizens may trade increased taxation for increased voice even within an established democracy.