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• 31. [Article] The Importance of Housing, Accessibility, and Transport Characteristic Ratings on Stated Neighborhood Preference

  Travel demand models commonly lack the ability to understand how changing residential preferences influence future housing, land use, and transportation policies. As communities struggle to address social ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Importance of Housing, Accessibility, and Transport Characteristic Ratings on Stated Neighborhood Preference Author: Currans, Kristina Marie Year: 2016 Travel demand models commonly lack the ability to understand how changing residential preferences influence future housing, land use, and transportation policies. As communities struggle to address social challenges related to increased economic uncertainty, transportation and land use planning have become increasingly centered on assumptions concerning the market for residential environments and travel choices. In response, an added importance has been placed on the development of toolkits capable of providing robust and flexible models to aid in understanding how differing assumptions contribute to a set of planning scenarios and how future residential location decisions may be made. In this study, we aim to examine the ability for current land use and transportation models to adequately account for the mechanism that drive households to prefer different neighborhoods based on typical transportation modeling methods. In particular, we conduct an original stated preference survey to identify the characteristics and preferences of individuals and households that influence unconstrained residential neighborhood preferences. Our objectives are to (a) determine the key drivers of residential neighborhood preferences, (b) test the contribution of sociodemographic and economic household characteristics commonly used in regional modeling tools to allocate households regionally across neighborhoods (e.g. household size, income, age, tenure), and (c) identify the preference profiles that can improve the sensitivity of our regional and statewide transportation-land use models to residential neighborhood preferences. The presentation for this seminar was done jointly with Steven Gehrke. It can be accessed at http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/18234. Title: The Importance of Housing, Accessibility, and Transport Characteristic Ratings on Stated Neighborhood Preference Author: Currans, Kristina Marie Year: 2016 Travel demand models commonly lack the ability to understand how changing residential preferences influence future housing, land use, and transportation policies. As communities struggle to address social challenges related to increased economic uncertainty, transportation and land use planning have become increasingly centered on assumptions concerning the market for residential environments and travel choices. In response, an added importance has been placed on the development of toolkits capable of providing robust and flexible models to aid in understanding how differing assumptions contribute to a set of planning scenarios and how future residential location decisions may be made. In this study, we aim to examine the ability for current land use and transportation models to adequately account for the mechanism that drive households to prefer different neighborhoods based on typical transportation modeling methods. In particular, we conduct an original stated preference survey to identify the characteristics and preferences of individuals and households that influence unconstrained residential neighborhood preferences. Our objectives are to (a) determine the key drivers of residential neighborhood preferences, (b) test the contribution of sociodemographic and economic household characteristics commonly used in regional modeling tools to allocate households regionally across neighborhoods (e.g. household size, income, age, tenure), and (c) identify the preference profiles that can improve the sensitivity of our regional and statewide transportation-land use models to residential neighborhood preferences. The presentation for this seminar was done jointly with Steven Gehrke. It can be accessed at http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/18234. Close

• 32. [Article] The health policy gap: income, health insurance and source of care effects on utilization of and access to dental, physician and hospital services by Oregon households

  This study explores the effects of income, insurance, and source of medical care on access to and utilization of health services. Profiles of dental, physician, and hospital services use are developed ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The health policy gap: income, health insurance and source of care effects on utilization of and access to dental, physician and hospital services by Oregon households Author: Fitzgerald, Constance Hall Year: 1983 This study explores the effects of income, insurance, and source of medical care on access to and utilization of health services. Profiles of dental, physician, and hospital services use are developed for more than 3,500 Oregonians. Low income, lack of health insurance, and/or an inappropriate source of medical care are hypothesized to be barriers to access and utilization. Households which face one or more of these barriers are identified as falling into a "Health Policy Gap." The data for this study were drawn from a 1978 random telephone survey of 1249 Oregon households. The survey was commissioned by the State Health Planning and Development Agency in conjunction with the Northwest Oregon Health Systems Agency, the Western Oregon Health Systems Agency, and the Eastern Oregon Health Systems Agency. The questionnaire was developed by the Oregon State University Research Center. Information was collected on use of health services, insurance coverage, income, household structure, health needs, health behaviors, and health satisfaction. A behavioral model of health services utilization was constructed, dividing the independent variables according to their relative mutability or amenity to policy intervention. Income, insurance, and source of care were selected as policy variables, while other variables less under policymakers' control were labelled household characteristics. The latter were assumed to reflect a household's propensity to consume services. They included household structure, health need, residential mobility, and health behaviors. Dependent variables included measures of dental and physician visits, use of the telephone for physician advice, preventive exams, and hospitalization during the past year. Multiple techniques of analysis were employed. Cross-tabular procedures were applied to investigate the interrelationship of income, insurance, and source of care. Multiple linear regression and partial correlation methods were used to select as control variables household characteristics highly correlated to each measure of health services use. Analysis of variance and multiple classification analysis were used to develop profiles of health services use. These last techniques allowed an examination of the relationship of each policy variable and health measure while applying increasing levels of statistical control. The initial bivariate relationship was studied in isolation; it was then studied while controlling for the other policy variables, and finally while controlling for both the other policy variables as well as selected household characteristic variables. Findings support the hypotheses. Income is found to be related to insurance coverage, and insurance coverage to source of medical care, although income is not found to be directly related to source of care. Low income, lack of insurance, and an inappropriate source of medical care depress use across almost all services. However, their relative barrier effects differ by the measure of service examined. After controlling for the effects of household structure, health need, residential mobility, and health behaviors, the greatest disparity in use of dental services remains due to income, in physician services to insurance and income, and in hospital services to insurance. Clear implications arise for policymakers, whether in the public or private sectors. The low income, the uninsured, and those with an inappropriate source of care face real barriers to access. Since the relative magnitude of these barrier effects vary by the health measure examined, neither income, insurance, nor health system delivery strategies can be assumed to evenly enhance use patterns. Their effects must be separately estimated for differing measures of health services. Furthermore, the relationship between these policy variables needs detailed study before large-scale policy interventions are undertaken. Understanding the complexity of these findings for different measures of health services as well as the interrelationship of income, health insurance, and source of care is crucial in designing and implementing more effective and equitable health policies in the future. Title: The health policy gap: income, health insurance and source of care effects on utilization of and access to dental, physician and hospital services by Oregon households Author: Fitzgerald, Constance Hall Year: 1983 This study explores the effects of income, insurance, and source of medical care on access to and utilization of health services. Profiles of dental, physician, and hospital services use are developed for more than 3,500 Oregonians. Low income, lack of health insurance, and/or an inappropriate source of medical care are hypothesized to be barriers to access and utilization. Households which face one or more of these barriers are identified as falling into a "Health Policy Gap." The data for this study were drawn from a 1978 random telephone survey of 1249 Oregon households. The survey was commissioned by the State Health Planning and Development Agency in conjunction with the Northwest Oregon Health Systems Agency, the Western Oregon Health Systems Agency, and the Eastern Oregon Health Systems Agency. The questionnaire was developed by the Oregon State University Research Center. Information was collected on use of health services, insurance coverage, income, household structure, health needs, health behaviors, and health satisfaction. A behavioral model of health services utilization was constructed, dividing the independent variables according to their relative mutability or amenity to policy intervention. Income, insurance, and source of care were selected as policy variables, while other variables less under policymakers' control were labelled household characteristics. The latter were assumed to reflect a household's propensity to consume services. They included household structure, health need, residential mobility, and health behaviors. Dependent variables included measures of dental and physician visits, use of the telephone for physician advice, preventive exams, and hospitalization during the past year. Multiple techniques of analysis were employed. Cross-tabular procedures were applied to investigate the interrelationship of income, insurance, and source of care. Multiple linear regression and partial correlation methods were used to select as control variables household characteristics highly correlated to each measure of health services use. Analysis of variance and multiple classification analysis were used to develop profiles of health services use. These last techniques allowed an examination of the relationship of each policy variable and health measure while applying increasing levels of statistical control. The initial bivariate relationship was studied in isolation; it was then studied while controlling for the other policy variables, and finally while controlling for both the other policy variables as well as selected household characteristic variables. Findings support the hypotheses. Income is found to be related to insurance coverage, and insurance coverage to source of medical care, although income is not found to be directly related to source of care. Low income, lack of insurance, and an inappropriate source of medical care depress use across almost all services. However, their relative barrier effects differ by the measure of service examined. After controlling for the effects of household structure, health need, residential mobility, and health behaviors, the greatest disparity in use of dental services remains due to income, in physician services to insurance and income, and in hospital services to insurance. Clear implications arise for policymakers, whether in the public or private sectors. The low income, the uninsured, and those with an inappropriate source of care face real barriers to access. Since the relative magnitude of these barrier effects vary by the health measure examined, neither income, insurance, nor health system delivery strategies can be assumed to evenly enhance use patterns. Their effects must be separately estimated for differing measures of health services. Furthermore, the relationship between these policy variables needs detailed study before large-scale policy interventions are undertaken. Understanding the complexity of these findings for different measures of health services as well as the interrelationship of income, health insurance, and source of care is crucial in designing and implementing more effective and equitable health policies in the future. Close

• 33. [Article] Light Rail Transit Impacts in Portland: The First Ten Years

  This paper examines how the first decade of light rail transit (LRT) in the Portland region has affected auto ownership, mode share, density, and property values. The empirical analysis provides evidence ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Light Rail Transit Impacts in Portland: The First Ten Years Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Bianco, Martha J. Year: 1999 This paper examines how the first decade of light rail transit (LRT) in the Portland region has affected auto ownership, mode share, density, and property values. The empirical analysis provides evidence that light rail has had some positive effect of rail on single-family property values, transit use, and slower growth of two-plus car households in the outer part of the LRT corridor as compared to an outer part of a parallel bus corridor. These effects may be the result of households self-selecting to make housing location decisions where LRT is located, rather than current households changing mode. This assessment of the evidence indicates the extent to which consumer preferences have responded to LRT investments. This kind of assessment is needed to provide the basis for estimating travel mode shares and market shares for dispersed and concentrated development forms. Examination of data suggests that it may be advisable for planners to entertain more modest expectations of LRT. Title: Light Rail Transit Impacts in Portland: The First Ten Years Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Bianco, Martha J. Year: 1999 This paper examines how the first decade of light rail transit (LRT) in the Portland region has affected auto ownership, mode share, density, and property values. The empirical analysis provides evidence that light rail has had some positive effect of rail on single-family property values, transit use, and slower growth of two-plus car households in the outer part of the LRT corridor as compared to an outer part of a parallel bus corridor. These effects may be the result of households self-selecting to make housing location decisions where LRT is located, rather than current households changing mode. This assessment of the evidence indicates the extent to which consumer preferences have responded to LRT investments. This kind of assessment is needed to provide the basis for estimating travel mode shares and market shares for dispersed and concentrated development forms. Examination of data suggests that it may be advisable for planners to entertain more modest expectations of LRT. Close

• 34. [Article] Effects of increased fuel costs on households in a low income neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

  This study is made up of two parts which explore some of the effects upon individual households making up a sample of a low income neighborhood in Portland. The first section in Chapter II presents a survey ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of increased fuel costs on households in a low income neighborhood in Portland, Oregon Author: Allen, Ora, Heald, Betty Year: 1976 This study is made up of two parts which explore some of the effects upon individual households making up a sample of a low income neighborhood in Portland. The first section in Chapter II presents a survey of sample households in our identified area, securing personal information given by adult members along with their responses to questions concerning effects on their budgets and the adaptations they have made to reduce the cost of fuel. The second section compares costs of fuel for January, February, and March of 1975 with the same months of 1974 for another sample in the same area. Amount of fuel was tabulated along with costs, and percentage increases or decreases were charted. The fortunate coincidence of the same three-month average temperature in downtown Portland for both years gave an especially good comparison. The monthly use of gas could be more accurately measured than the use of oil. None of our interviewed sample were found to use electricity as a primary source of heat. Title: Effects of increased fuel costs on households in a low income neighborhood in Portland, Oregon Author: Allen, Ora, Heald, Betty Year: 1976 This study is made up of two parts which explore some of the effects upon individual households making up a sample of a low income neighborhood in Portland. The first section in Chapter II presents a survey of sample households in our identified area, securing personal information given by adult members along with their responses to questions concerning effects on their budgets and the adaptations they have made to reduce the cost of fuel. The second section compares costs of fuel for January, February, and March of 1975 with the same months of 1974 for another sample in the same area. Amount of fuel was tabulated along with costs, and percentage increases or decreases were charted. The fortunate coincidence of the same three-month average temperature in downtown Portland for both years gave an especially good comparison. The monthly use of gas could be more accurately measured than the use of oil. None of our interviewed sample were found to use electricity as a primary source of heat. Close

• 35. [Article] How Does Transportation Affordability Vary Among TODs, TADs, and Other Areas?

  Transit-oriented development (TOD) has gained popularity worldwide as a sustainable form of urbanism; it concentrates development near a transit station so as to reduce auto-dependency and increase ridership. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: How Does Transportation Affordability Vary Among TODs, TADs, and Other Areas? Author: Scheer, Brenda, Ewing, Reid, Park, Keunhyun, Khan, Shabnam Sifat Ara Year: 2017 Transit-oriented development (TOD) has gained popularity worldwide as a sustainable form of urbanism; it concentrates development near a transit station so as to reduce auto-dependency and increase ridership. Existing travel behavior studies in the context of TOD, however, are limited in terms of small sample size, inconsistent TOD classification methods, and failure to control for residential self-selection. Thus, this study has three research questions. First, how can we distinguish between Transit-oriented development (TOD) and Transit-adjacent development (TAD)? Second, how do travel behaviors vary between TODs and TADs? Third, how does transportation affordability vary between TODs and TADs? This study utilizes cluster analysis to classify station area types and propensity score matching to control residential self-selection. From cluster analysis with built-environment factors—density, diversity, and walkability—in a half-mile buffer, this study classifies existing station areas as TOD, TAD or Hybrid types. After controlling for residential self-selection, it shows that a TOD motivates its residents to walk more and take transit more while using personal vehicles less. The significant difference between TOD and TAD in both VMT and the number of auto trips demonstrates that TODs make the personal vehicle trips shorter and fewer. Travel behavior in the Hybrid type demonstrates the possibility of gradual and practical change. Finally, the percentage of household income spent on transportation is lower in TOD households than TAD households. This shows that a TOD household is likely to save enough money on vehicle ownership and use that, while it likely spends more on transit, the final result is a significantly lower financial burden from transportation. Title: How Does Transportation Affordability Vary Among TODs, TADs, and Other Areas? Author: Scheer, Brenda, Ewing, Reid, Park, Keunhyun, Khan, Shabnam Sifat Ara Year: 2017 Transit-oriented development (TOD) has gained popularity worldwide as a sustainable form of urbanism; it concentrates development near a transit station so as to reduce auto-dependency and increase ridership. Existing travel behavior studies in the context of TOD, however, are limited in terms of small sample size, inconsistent TOD classification methods, and failure to control for residential self-selection. Thus, this study has three research questions. First, how can we distinguish between Transit-oriented development (TOD) and Transit-adjacent development (TAD)? Second, how do travel behaviors vary between TODs and TADs? Third, how does transportation affordability vary between TODs and TADs? This study utilizes cluster analysis to classify station area types and propensity score matching to control residential self-selection. From cluster analysis with built-environment factors—density, diversity, and walkability—in a half-mile buffer, this study classifies existing station areas as TOD, TAD or Hybrid types. After controlling for residential self-selection, it shows that a TOD motivates its residents to walk more and take transit more while using personal vehicles less. The significant difference between TOD and TAD in both VMT and the number of auto trips demonstrates that TODs make the personal vehicle trips shorter and fewer. Travel behavior in the Hybrid type demonstrates the possibility of gradual and practical change. Finally, the percentage of household income spent on transportation is lower in TOD households than TAD households. This shows that a TOD household is likely to save enough money on vehicle ownership and use that, while it likely spends more on transit, the final result is a significantly lower financial burden from transportation. Close

• 36. [Article] Assessing Latrine Use in Rural India: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Reported Use and Passive Latrine Use Monitors

  Although large-scale programs, like India's Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), have improved latrine coverage in rural settings, evidence suggests that actual use is suboptimal. However, the reliability ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessing Latrine Use in Rural India: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Reported Use and Passive Latrine Use Monitors Author: Sinha, Antara, Nagel, Corey L., Thomas, Evan A., Schmidt, Wolf P., Torondel, Belen, Boisson, Sophie, Clasen, Thomas Year: 2016 Although large-scale programs, like India's Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), have improved latrine coverage in rural settings, evidence suggests that actual use is suboptimal. However, the reliability of methods to assess latrine use is uncertain. We assessed the reliability of reported use, the standard method, by comparing survey-based responses against passive latrine use monitors (PLUMs) through a cross-sectional study among 292 households in 25 villages in rural Odisha, India, which recently received individual household latrines under the TSC. PLUMs were installed for 2 weeks and householders responded to surveys about their latrine use behavior. Reported use was compared with PLUM results using Bland–Altman (BA) plots and concordance statistics. Reported use was higher than corresponding PLUM-recorded events across the range of comparisons. The mean reported “usual” daily events per household (7.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.51, 7.68) was nearly twice that of the PLUM-recorded daily average (3.62, 95% CI = 3.29, 3.94). There was poor agreement between “usual” daily latrine use and the average daily PLUM-recorded events (ρc = 0.331, 95% CI = 0.242, 0.427). Moderate agreement (ρc = 0.598, 95% CI = 0.497, 0.683) was obtained when comparing daily reported use during the previous 48 hours with the average daily PLUM count. Reported latrine use, though already suggesting suboptimal adoption, likely exaggerates the actual level of uptake of latrines constructed under the program. Where reliance on self-reports is used, survey questions should focus on the 48 hours prior to the date of the survey rather than asking about “usual” latrine use behavior. Title: Assessing Latrine Use in Rural India: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Reported Use and Passive Latrine Use Monitors Author: Sinha, Antara, Nagel, Corey L., Thomas, Evan A., Schmidt, Wolf P., Torondel, Belen, Boisson, Sophie, Clasen, Thomas Year: 2016 Although large-scale programs, like India's Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), have improved latrine coverage in rural settings, evidence suggests that actual use is suboptimal. However, the reliability of methods to assess latrine use is uncertain. We assessed the reliability of reported use, the standard method, by comparing survey-based responses against passive latrine use monitors (PLUMs) through a cross-sectional study among 292 households in 25 villages in rural Odisha, India, which recently received individual household latrines under the TSC. PLUMs were installed for 2 weeks and householders responded to surveys about their latrine use behavior. Reported use was compared with PLUM results using Bland–Altman (BA) plots and concordance statistics. Reported use was higher than corresponding PLUM-recorded events across the range of comparisons. The mean reported “usual” daily events per household (7.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.51, 7.68) was nearly twice that of the PLUM-recorded daily average (3.62, 95% CI = 3.29, 3.94). There was poor agreement between “usual” daily latrine use and the average daily PLUM-recorded events (ρc = 0.331, 95% CI = 0.242, 0.427). Moderate agreement (ρc = 0.598, 95% CI = 0.497, 0.683) was obtained when comparing daily reported use during the previous 48 hours with the average daily PLUM count. Reported latrine use, though already suggesting suboptimal adoption, likely exaggerates the actual level of uptake of latrines constructed under the program. Where reliance on self-reports is used, survey questions should focus on the 48 hours prior to the date of the survey rather than asking about “usual” latrine use behavior. Close

• 37. [Article] Explorations into the Characteristics, the Determinants of Production, and the Impact of Land Policies on the Informal Housing Sector in Alexandria, Egypt

  This study investigates the housing characteristics and the determinants of housing production of the informal housing sector in Alexandria, Egypt. It also examines the impact of land policies on the development ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Explorations into the Characteristics, the Determinants of Production, and the Impact of Land Policies on the Informal Housing Sector in Alexandria, Egypt Author: Araby, Mostafa Morsi El Year: 1993 This study investigates the housing characteristics and the determinants of housing production of the informal housing sector in Alexandria, Egypt. It also examines the impact of land policies on the development of the informal housing sector. Informal housing, by definition, is constructed and acquired outside the legal procedure of land and building registration and without the necessary permissions and approvals. Therefore, there is a little knowledge about it, and its role in the housing market could be underestimated. The aim of this research is to enhance the factual knowledge about informal housing as a basis for future policy development. The findings of this research, based on data collected from a field study conducted in four informal settlements in Alexandria in 1991, include the following: 1. Macro-economic, political, and social structures accelerated the emergence and the development of informal housing settlements, which occurred rapidly during and after times of economic and political crises. 2. Informal settlements are heterogeneous and it is not evident that informal housing is synonymous with marginal housing for poor people. 3. Informal settlements have low levels of public utilities and infrastructure. 4. Income, household size, age of household head, and tenure status of the household are the major variables that explain different patterns of housing consumption and expenditure among informal households. 5. Inhabitants of informal settlements have moved from other areas of the city rather than origins outside Alexandria. Owners are more satisfied with both the units and the neighborhoods than renters are. 6. The determinants of informal housing production are in a dynamic process of change and are self-organized. The general conditions of the overall housing market influence informal housing in similar ways. Informal housing finance depends upon small scale and incremental methods of savings. 7. Implementation of different land policies results in augmenting provision of illegal land subdivisions, increasing land prices and expanding informal land market operation. From the analysis undertaken in this research and previous findings, some policy implications for future planning for informal development become evident. Title: Explorations into the Characteristics, the Determinants of Production, and the Impact of Land Policies on the Informal Housing Sector in Alexandria, Egypt Author: Araby, Mostafa Morsi El Year: 1993 This study investigates the housing characteristics and the determinants of housing production of the informal housing sector in Alexandria, Egypt. It also examines the impact of land policies on the development of the informal housing sector. Informal housing, by definition, is constructed and acquired outside the legal procedure of land and building registration and without the necessary permissions and approvals. Therefore, there is a little knowledge about it, and its role in the housing market could be underestimated. The aim of this research is to enhance the factual knowledge about informal housing as a basis for future policy development. The findings of this research, based on data collected from a field study conducted in four informal settlements in Alexandria in 1991, include the following: 1. Macro-economic, political, and social structures accelerated the emergence and the development of informal housing settlements, which occurred rapidly during and after times of economic and political crises. 2. Informal settlements are heterogeneous and it is not evident that informal housing is synonymous with marginal housing for poor people. 3. Informal settlements have low levels of public utilities and infrastructure. 4. Income, household size, age of household head, and tenure status of the household are the major variables that explain different patterns of housing consumption and expenditure among informal households. 5. Inhabitants of informal settlements have moved from other areas of the city rather than origins outside Alexandria. Owners are more satisfied with both the units and the neighborhoods than renters are. 6. The determinants of informal housing production are in a dynamic process of change and are self-organized. The general conditions of the overall housing market influence informal housing in similar ways. Informal housing finance depends upon small scale and incremental methods of savings. 7. Implementation of different land policies results in augmenting provision of illegal land subdivisions, increasing land prices and expanding informal land market operation. From the analysis undertaken in this research and previous findings, some policy implications for future planning for informal development become evident. Close

• 38. [Article] The Effects of Scale Variation on Single-Family Residential Water Use in Portland, OR

  With growing urban populations and increasing concerns over the effects of climate change on water supplies, there has recently been a significant amount of interdisciplinary research focused on identifying ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Effects of Scale Variation on Single-Family Residential Water Use in Portland, OR Author: Bonnette, Matthew Ryan Lee Year: 2017 With growing urban populations and increasing concerns over the effects of climate change on water supplies, there has recently been a significant amount of interdisciplinary research focused on identifying the drivers of urban water use. Due to unavailability of individual or household level data, these studies are often limited to using spatially aggregated data. There is concern that this aggregation of data may be leading to misrepresentations of the drivers of urban water use, yet there have been few studies that have addressed this concern. As in all spatial quantitative analyses, studies in this area should consider how the spatial scales chosen for analysis are affecting the results. The purpose of this research is to use a case study of single-family residential (SFR) water use in Portland, Oregon to determine the extent to which scale variation significantly affects the patterns of SFR water use, and whether household scale water use is influenced by neighborhood and census tract characteristics. The results of this analysis provide evidence that aggregating household scale water use data can mask meaningful patterns in SFR water use and potentially provide misleading information on what is influencing water use habits. This research also shows that using the chosen exploratory variables, there is a statistically significant, but not substantial, cross-scale influence on household scale water use by neighborhood and census tract characteristics. Title: The Effects of Scale Variation on Single-Family Residential Water Use in Portland, OR Author: Bonnette, Matthew Ryan Lee Year: 2017 With growing urban populations and increasing concerns over the effects of climate change on water supplies, there has recently been a significant amount of interdisciplinary research focused on identifying the drivers of urban water use. Due to unavailability of individual or household level data, these studies are often limited to using spatially aggregated data. There is concern that this aggregation of data may be leading to misrepresentations of the drivers of urban water use, yet there have been few studies that have addressed this concern. As in all spatial quantitative analyses, studies in this area should consider how the spatial scales chosen for analysis are affecting the results. The purpose of this research is to use a case study of single-family residential (SFR) water use in Portland, Oregon to determine the extent to which scale variation significantly affects the patterns of SFR water use, and whether household scale water use is influenced by neighborhood and census tract characteristics. The results of this analysis provide evidence that aggregating household scale water use data can mask meaningful patterns in SFR water use and potentially provide misleading information on what is influencing water use habits. This research also shows that using the chosen exploratory variables, there is a statistically significant, but not substantial, cross-scale influence on household scale water use by neighborhood and census tract characteristics. Close

• 39. [Article] Papers Please: Immigration, Enforcement, and Remittances

  Immigrants are an understated agent in local economies. Whilst legal immigrants may be accounted for in the macro realm, illegal immigrants are very much an externality. Immigrant agents participate heavily ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Papers Please: Immigration, Enforcement, and Remittances Author: Rojas-Fallas, Jose A. Year: 2017 Immigrants are an understated agent in local economies. Whilst legal immigrants may be accounted for in the macro realm, illegal immigrants are very much an externality. Immigrant agents participate heavily in local economies, almost exclusively, due to their status and the implicit risks associated with it. Immigrants’ decision to migrate towards better economies come with the goal of achieving prosperity that more than likely would not have been possible in their location of origin. A majority of immigrants are heads of households that migrate alone seeking greater wages to support their household. They do this through remittances. These are capital accumulation packages that are sent through institutions (formal or informal) to their households and communities. In the presence of anti-immigration rhetoric and laws of this nature being created, the immigrant agent will see a change in economic activity. With certainty being removed, behavior goes through unintended changes. Immigrants that are in a position of danger, and a necessity to remit to their household back in their community of origin, will do so. One way or the other. If institutional mistrust sets in, there are economic consequences from the lack of use of institutions, that will spillover in to the macro-environment. Authors: Jose A. Rojas-Fallas, Jamein P. Cunningham Presenter: Jose A. Rojas-Fallas Title: Papers Please: Immigration, Enforcement, and Remittances Author: Rojas-Fallas, Jose A. Year: 2017 Immigrants are an understated agent in local economies. Whilst legal immigrants may be accounted for in the macro realm, illegal immigrants are very much an externality. Immigrant agents participate heavily in local economies, almost exclusively, due to their status and the implicit risks associated with it. Immigrants’ decision to migrate towards better economies come with the goal of achieving prosperity that more than likely would not have been possible in their location of origin. A majority of immigrants are heads of households that migrate alone seeking greater wages to support their household. They do this through remittances. These are capital accumulation packages that are sent through institutions (formal or informal) to their households and communities. In the presence of anti-immigration rhetoric and laws of this nature being created, the immigrant agent will see a change in economic activity. With certainty being removed, behavior goes through unintended changes. Immigrants that are in a position of danger, and a necessity to remit to their household back in their community of origin, will do so. One way or the other. If institutional mistrust sets in, there are economic consequences from the lack of use of institutions, that will spillover in to the macro-environment. Authors: Jose A. Rojas-Fallas, Jamein P. Cunningham Presenter: Jose A. Rojas-Fallas Close

• 40. [Article] Lifestyles, Buildings and Technologies: What Matters Most?

  There is considerable variation across households in energy use, even within similar climates and housing styles. There is also considerable variation in energy savings following upgrades of housing and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lifestyles, Buildings and Technologies: What Matters Most? Author: Lutzenhiser, Loren, Hu, Huafen, Moezzi, Mithra, Levenda, Anthony Michael, Woods, James Year: 2012 There is considerable variation across households in energy use, even within similar climates and housing styles. There is also considerable variation in energy savings following upgrades of housing and appliances. We combine empirical data on household consumption with advanced simulation modeling techniques to investigate just how much behavior matters in determining consumption levels. compared to weather, technology and building characteristics. We explore several new concepts, including the BETA (building, environment, technology, activity) Model of household energy use, a habitation zone approach that can be used to differentiate BETA effects, and a hybrid (simulation/ statistical) end-use consumption analysis approach. For illustrative purposes, we report the consumption dynamics within three representative dwelling types, located in four different California climate zones, and occupied by a range of households. We also consider energy saving potentials from building retrofits and appliance replacement under different occupancy/activity conditions. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for energy efficiency policies and programs of our findings that behavior may determine up to 2/3 of typical home energy use, or more depending on heating and cooling requirements and environmental conditions. Title: Lifestyles, Buildings and Technologies: What Matters Most? Author: Lutzenhiser, Loren, Hu, Huafen, Moezzi, Mithra, Levenda, Anthony Michael, Woods, James Year: 2012 There is considerable variation across households in energy use, even within similar climates and housing styles. There is also considerable variation in energy savings following upgrades of housing and appliances. We combine empirical data on household consumption with advanced simulation modeling techniques to investigate just how much behavior matters in determining consumption levels. compared to weather, technology and building characteristics. We explore several new concepts, including the BETA (building, environment, technology, activity) Model of household energy use, a habitation zone approach that can be used to differentiate BETA effects, and a hybrid (simulation/ statistical) end-use consumption analysis approach. For illustrative purposes, we report the consumption dynamics within three representative dwelling types, located in four different California climate zones, and occupied by a range of households. We also consider energy saving potentials from building retrofits and appliance replacement under different occupancy/activity conditions. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for energy efficiency policies and programs of our findings that behavior may determine up to 2/3 of typical home energy use, or more depending on heating and cooling requirements and environmental conditions. Close