Urban Institute

About: Urban Institute is a nonprofit organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Medicaid & Population. The organization has 927 authors who have published 2330 publications receiving 86426 citations.

Capital gains and the people who realize them

Abstract: ** Abstract - This paper draws on data from many sources to examine the nature of both capital gains realized by taxpayers and those taxpayers them- selves. The data show that high-income taxpayers realize the overwhelming majority of capital gains, but that, over a ten-year period, nearly a third of taxpayers report a capital gain on their tax returns. Even a larger percentage own assets that might generate capital gains. Sales of corporate stock account for more gains than sales of any other asset. Most capital gains arise from returns with many sales and large capital gains. After adjustment for inflation, most capital gains disappear.

Association between fish consumption and risk of dementia: a new study from China and a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of fish consumption with risk of dementia and its dose-response relationship, and investigate variations in the association among low-, middle- and high-income countries. DESIGN: A new community-based cross-sectional study and a systematic literature review. Settings Urban and rural communities in China; population-based studies systematically searched from worldwide literature. SUBJECTS: Chinese adults aged ≥60 years in six provinces (n 6981) took part in a household health survey of dementia prevalence and risk factors. In addition, 33 964 participants from eleven published and eligible studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. RESULTS: In the new study in China, 326 participants were diagnosed with dementia (4·7 %); those who consumed any amount of fish in the past two years v. those who consumed no fish had reduced risk of dementia (adjusted OR=0·73, 95 % CI 0·64, 0·99), but the dose-response relationship was not statistically significant. The meta-analysis of available data from the literature and the new study showed relative risk (RR) of dementia of 0·80 (95 % CI 0·74, 0·87) for people with fish consumption; the impact was similar among countries with different levels of income. Pooled dose-response data revealed RR (95 % CI) of 0·84 (0·72, 0·98), 0·78 (0·68, 0·90) and 0·77 (0·61, 0·98) in people with low, middle and high consumption of fish, respectively. Corresponding figures for Alzheimer's disease were 0·88 (0·74, 1·04), 0·79 (0·65, 0·96) and 0·67 (0·58, 0·78), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Greater consumption of fish is associated with a lower risk of dementia. Increasing fish consumption may help prevent dementia worldwide regardless of income level.

Trends in the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum employment in the United States.

Abstract: It is widely assumed that employment and breastfeeding are relatively incompatible behaviors in the United States; yet recently both the incidence of breastfeeding and the incidence of postpartum employment increased. This paper examines the relationship between these trends from 1968–86 using data from the National Surveys of Family Growth. I find that these trends result from increases in the likelihood that a woman engages in both breastfeeding and postpartum employment. There has been an increase over time in the incidence and duration of women concurrently breastfeeding and working. However, the majority of employed women did not concurrently breastfeed, suggesting that conflicts between these behaviors still exist.

Exploring the Relationship between Urban Quiet Areas and Perceived Restorative Benefits

Abstract: To help mitigate the adverse health impacts of environmental noise, European cities are recommended to identify urban quiet areas for preservation. Procedures for identifying urban quiet areas vary across cities and between countries, and little is known of the strength of the salutogenic (health-promoting) benefits they may provide. Taking a multi-site approach, this study examines the potential of three sites as urban quiet areas and their associated health benefits, particularly in relation to perceived restorative benefits. Across three cities in the United Kingdom, an urban garden, urban park, and an urban square had sound pressure levels measured. Responses from 151 visitors to these sites evaluated the place as quiet, calm, and tranquil, and assessed their experience of the place in terms of perceived sounds, its benefits, how it made them feel, and perceived restoration. Depending on the criteria used, the sites varied in their suitability as urban quiet areas, although all provided perceived health benefits. Relationships between sound levels (subjective and objective) and perceived restoration were not linear, with the type of sounds heard and other aspects of the place experience believed to affect the relationship. Building on this work, a future experimental approach based on the study sites is planned to manipulate the multiple variables involved. This will provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between urban quiet areas and perceived restorative benefits.

State regulations and child care choice

Abstract: While government regulations are designed to safeguard the health and well-being of children, they may also alter the cost and availability of child care, thus affecting parental use of such services. This paper investigates the total effects of regulation on parental choice of child care and the indirect effects of regulation through the price, quality, and availability of care. In our analysis of data from the National Child Care Survey 1990 we find strong evidence that state regulations requiring center-based providers to be trained are associated with a lower probability that parents choose a center, while state inspections are associated with more parental choice of center and home care. We end by discussing the policy implications of our findings.