Research Activities: FACULTY RESEARCH

Statistician John Bailar was featured in a February Chicago Tribune series on cancer studies and was interviewed for a Canadian television news show, challenging claims that indicate that medical advancements have "turned the corner" in the war on cancer. The former National Cancer Institute official says that scientists should "not claim a big success in the battle against cancer until we've had a big reduction in the mortality rate."

Economist Don Coursey and Ph.D. Student Doug Noonan co-authored a study that examines the influence of environmental amenities in two south Chicago suburbs. The study finds that area home values, which are high because of nearby forests, lakes and wildlife refuges, could drop by about $13,000 or 6.3% on average, if populations rise or preserved green space decreases. Separately, Coursey was awarded funding from the Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation in December for his study, "Measuring the Health of our Common Culture."

Political Scientist Charles Glaser received renewal funding for the university's Program in International Security Policy (PISP) from the Smith Richardson Foundation

Political Scientist Lloyd Gruber's new book, Ruling The World: Power Politics and the Rise of Supranational Institutions was published in April by Princeton University Press. Gruber examines the rise of multinational institutions and organizations such as NAFTA and the European Monetary System and argues that the voluntary, cooperative nature of these associations does not necessarily mean that they work to the advantage of all parties.

Development Psychologist Ariel Kalil received a $35,000 Spencer Foundation grant in March to investigate the sources of differences in standardized test scores between racial groups. Kalil and Northwestern University co-author, Mary Patillo-McCoy, will draw on sociological and psychological perspectives to investigate the source of disparities in test scores and school grades among 1,400 black and white public school students. Separately, on May 22, Kalil, presented her study, "Work Participation Among Mothers After TANF: Links to Family Economic and Emotional Well-Being" at the Northwestern University Institute for Policy Research's Colloquia Series.

Economist Helen Levy and co-author Henry S. Farber found that employers continue to offer health insurance to core long-term employees but are restricting access to this benefit for short-term and temporary employees. The study, "Recent Trends in Employer Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage: Are Bad Jobs Getting Worse?" appeared in the January issue of the Journal of Health Economics.

Economist Robert LaLonde discussed job and skill training for low-income individuals and presented his recent paper, "The Promise of Public Sector-Sponsored Training Programs," at the School's April Research Briefing. The briefing was sponsored by the Center for Human Potential and Public Policy.

Sociologist Susan Mayer received summer funding from the Russell Sage Foundation for the study, "Social Consequences of Economic Inequality and Economic Segregation."

Economist David Meltzer, M.D., was part of an Institute of Medicine panel charged by the U.S. Congress to assess the potential impact of a 1998 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ruling on Organ Procurement Transplantation Network policies. Although no significant disparities for organ transplant rates were identified on a regional, gender or racial basis, researchers did call for more cohesive and attentive federal oversight for the nation's organ transplant system.

Economist Robert Michael served as Principal Investigator on the newest wave of the popular social science survey, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 97 (NLSY97), which was conducted on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Health Economist Tomas Philipson and co-author Richard Posner completed the study "How Technology Has Influenced Worldwide Obesity" that suggests that the rise in obesity may be the result of the industrial revolution making food cheaper and transforming physical exercise from a vocational activity to an off-the-job leisure activity.