This paper analyzes the budgetary choices of municipal governments in Mexico. Using a panel data approach that includes most municipalities in the country throughout the 1990-2001 period, I investigate to what extent local democracy has stimulated municipal governments to increase their investments on basic infrastructure projects, rather than expanding their bureaucratic apparatuses. My findings suggest that only under a decentralized policy setting, the competitiveness of the electoral arena has a positive influence on the provision of local public goods. I also find evidence that basic infrastructure spending increases when local elections are held, and when the local mayor belongs to a different party than the state governor.

The most popular method for reducing traffic related air pollution in Europe is to implement a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). The objective of this type of policy is to eventually phase out the operation of exhaust emitting vehicles in densely populated city centers. Reducing ambient air pollution is important because the rates of mortality associated with air pollution constitute a public health crisis. The LEZ in Paris, France was first implemented in 2015 and is currently in Phase 1 of its roll out schedule. The aim of this study was to determine the most equitable method for implementing Phase 2 of the Paris LEZ. To date, there is a significant lack of evidence that determines the impact that LEZs have on equity.

 The methods for this project involved extending the results of the Host et al. study which evaluated four hypothetical scenarios for Phase 2. Parameters evaluated by Host et al. were air pollution and expected health benefits. In order to determine the expected health benefits, a health impact assessment (HIA) was conducted. Evaluating Host et al.'s results in terms of equity meant utilizing the methods of a study by Kihal-Talantikite et al. This involved stratifying the census blocks of the Paris inner city region and the Metropolis of Greater Paris region into three socioeconomic groups based on Fdep scores. Next, by conducting a new health impact assessment, the expected health benefits were evaluated using three separate relative risk values for each socioeconomic group. The pollutants considered for this study were NO2 and PM2.5, and the health benefits evaluated were childhood asthma in children under 17 years old and all-cause premature death in adults over 30 years old. The results of this study determined that the scenario with the largest LEZ perimeter and the most stringent vehicle standards produced the highest number of cases avoided and the most equitable distribution of health benefits, especially for prevented cases of childhood asthma. If these methods to incorporate equity into HIAs continue to be developed and used for future LEZs and other air pollution policies, it will be easier and more effective to reduce the burden of ambient air pollution on society and the environment.  

A RECENT STUDY conducted

by UCLA researchers examines

the relationship of positive

emotions and inflammation

in women diagnosed with breast

cancer, a disease that affects 1

Villages were the backbone of rural organization in Pharaonic Egypt. Inner solidarity and family ties are recorded in literary texts as well as by the use of certain terms, which highlight their “clanic” structure, at least from the New Kingdom on. The relations between villages, royal administration, and institutional centers like the temples or the domains of the crown enabled the rural elite to enhance their status and wealth, thus preserving inequalities while providing paths to social elevation. But specific village values centered on solidarity, the praise of fellow citizens, and the celebration of prominent local ancestors served to strengthen the communal ties of its members.