Carol B. Meeks

Sex Differences in Children's Time Use.

A sample of children (410 on a school day and 347 on a non-school day) was examined to determine differences in time spent in household work, leisure activities, school, paid work, personal care, and sleep by males and females. Males spent more time in leisure activities and less time in household work and personal care than females. Differences in time allocation appeared to be in accordance with traditional male-female roles. These patterns were established at early ages.

Children's Time in Structured and Unstructured Leisure Activities

Using the 1981 Time Use Longitudinal Panel Study data, this study examines factors which influence childrens time use in leisure activities. More time is spent in unstructured than structured leisure activities. Analysis of variance is performed on 32 categories of leisure time, including total leisure, to determine the influence of characteristics of the child and the mother and other socioeconomic characteristics. Males spend significantly more time than females in active sports, playing games, and passive leisure especially watching television on weekends. Females spend significantly more time than males socializing on weekends. The amount of time spent socializing increases with age but decreases with employment. Time spent playing games decreases with age, increases with number of children, and decreases as family income increases. Given the large number of children who do not participate in a given set of leisure activities, future research should examine the probability of participation.

Demographic Comparisons of Aging in Five Selected Countries

The worldwide aging of the population is having a major impact upon society. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 1999 to be the International Year of Older Persons to increase the awareness of aging worldwide. They identified five principles for older persons: independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment, and dignity. The numbers of elderly are growing around the world with many elderly living considerably longer than in past times. Developed countries are struggling with the high cost of maintaining support programs, and developing countries face dissolution of traditional care systems without institutional replacements. Women around the globe typically live longer than men, often without the economic resources to maintain independence. As nations adapt to their aging populations, a partnership among policy makers, family members, and older persons themselves is needed to offer alternatives to meet the needs of elders.

Time allocation of one- and two-parent mothers

Using data from one- and two-parent households with two children in rural and urban areas of California, this study analyzes time allocation decisions in market work, household work, and leisure activities among single and married mothers. Results of the seemingly unrelated regression procedures indicate that family structure affects time in household work but not market work or leisure activities. Of the socio-demographic variables, only day of the week explains time allocation to household work, market work, and leisure activities among single and married mothers.

Community Development Strategies for Meeting Rural Housing Needs

Housing will be a major policy issue of the 1990s for community development practitioners. The role of state and local government policymakers in meeting housing needs will continue to grow in the 1990s. Their role in rural areas is especially critical since rural areas have some distinguishing characteristics that make urban-oriented housing assistance approaches, delivery systems, and programs inappropriate. As state and local government decision makers take responsibility for more of the housing burden, they need to be creative in developing strategies that will not induce fiscal strain at the local level. Community development practitioners can provide leadership in implementing these strategies by maximizing the use of federal resources, encouraging the development of nonprofits, and critically evaluating regulations that increase housing costs. They can institute open forums to discuss the issues and develop local solutions by educating citizens, as well as policymakers and program administrators, o...

Changes in Perceived Housing Quality Among Elderly Movers

Abstract This research focused on households headed by an older person who moved within a two-year period. Perceived changes in housing quality and the neighborhood characteristics were examined in order to further the understanding of the housing conditions that todays elderly face in the United States. Data from the American Housing Survey 1997 were used for this study. Overall, the findings suggest that the educational level of the household head, family size, reason for moving, reason for choosing the neighborhood, neighborhood rating, and tenure status before and after the relocation were associated with the variations in perceived change in housing quality after relocation. Physical neighborhood characteristics included in this study were not associated with the change in perceived housing quality.

Computerized Fire Risk Assessment Models: A Regulatory Effectiveness Analysis

Computerized Fire Risk Assessment Models have been proposed for regulatory use. The models normally are used to examine alternative designs to determine whether they are equivalent to standard code approved Structures. However, mathematical equivalence in a model may not constitute social or technical equivalence, if the assumptions and methods used in the model are not property specified. Regulatory Effectiveness Analysis is a tool which can be used to determine whether the model satisfies the regulators legal requirements, and whether it is properly responsive to public judgments of fire safety. Model builders should expect detailed examination of the specifications and data used in the model, and be prepared to show competent verification and validation of the model results.

European unification, single markets, and product safety: The American experience with federal/state regulation of housing safety

The integration of Europe into a single market is accompanied by debate over whether a unified market requires uniform product safety standards for consumer products. The experience in the United States is that a single unified market can be created despite a variety of state safety requirements for products. The market is “single” if all producers are able to satisfy the regulatory requirements, and no special restrictions protect in-state producers, even though all products cannot be sold in all places. However, such a market is not static but dynamic. Effective regulatory structures are required to keep various government levels from deliberately or inadvertently sabotaging the single market. The most common problem is the use of consumer protection or safety justifications for economic protectionism. The experience with kerosene heaters, aluminum wire, and factory built housing shows the complex system required to respond to all of the safety concerns related to consumer products. The European Community (EC) may need to develop such as system or run the risk of either limiting its economic development, or allowing the distribution of unsafe products.ZusammenfassungDer europäische Einigungsprozeß wirft die Frage auf, inwieweit ein einheitlicher Binnenmarkt auch einheitliche Normen der Produktsicherheit verlangt. Die amerikanische Erfahrung zeigt, daß ein einheitlicher Binnenmarkt geschaffen werden kann, wenn alle Hersteller die geltenden regulatorischen Anforderungen erfüllen und keine speziellen Vorschriften einheimische Hersteller schützen, selbst wenn die Produkte nicht überall verkauft werden können. Ein solcher Markt ist jedoch dynamisch, nicht statisch zu verstehen. Effektive regulatorische Strukturen sind erforderlich, um die verschiedenen staatlichen Zuständigkeitsebenen daran zu hindern, bewußt oder unbewußt den Binnenmarkt zu torpedieren. Das drängendste Problem besteht darin zu verhindern, daß Verbraucherschutz oder Produktsicherheit als Mittel wirtschaftlicher Abschottung mißbraucht werden. Die amerikanischen Beispiele der Regelung von Kerosinöfen, elektrischen Leitungen aus Aluminium sowie fabrikmäßig hergestellten Wohnhäusern verweisen auf die Komplexität eines Regulierungssystems, das auf die verschiedenen Sicherheitsanforderungen bei Verbrauchsprodukten reagiert. Daraus folgt insbesondere:Das amerikanische Beispiel der Produktregelung basiert nicht auf einem theoretischen Regulierungsmodell. Es besteht keine Regel, daß ähnliche Produkte in gleicher Weise geregelt werden müßten. In den USA werden deshalb unterschiedliche einzelstaatliche Produktregulierungen wegen ihres Experimentalcharakters positiv bewertet. Es ist auch politisch konsentiert, daß die Einzelstaaten unterschiedliche Schutzniveaus von Produktsicherheit aufweisen. Es besteht ein dynamischer Spannungszustand zwischen Bundes- und einzelstaatlicher Regulierung, der dazu führt, die Klarheit, wenn auch nicht immer die Qualität der Regulierung zu verbessern. In gewisser Weise besteht ein Wettbewerb zwischen Bundestaat und Einzelstaaten über die Regelungsmöglichkeit. Das Regulierungssystem kann sich technologischem Wandel anpassen, wenn auch mit Verzögerungen. Bestimmte Besonderheiten sind nur historisch erklärbar.Zweifelsohne bestehen Ineffizienzien im amerikanischen System, vor allem dort, wo die Industrie in der Lage ist, die zentralen Elemente des Regulierungsprozesses zu kontrollieren. Der Begriff der am wenigsten den Handel beschränkenden Alternative erweist sich als entscheidend, um zu bestimmen, ob das einzelstaatliche Interesse an lokaler Kontrolle dem bundestaatlichen Interesse an Einheitlichkeit vorgeht. Die Offenheit des Systems, verbunden mit Verfahrensgarantien, kann dabei helfen, protektionistische Elemente im Regulierungssystem abzubauen.Die Autoren plädieren dafür, die Ergebnisse der amerikanischen Regulierungserfahrungen auf den verschiedenen Ebenen auch für die Herstellung eines europäischen Binnenmarktes unter Berücksichtigung eines hohen Schutzniveaus an Produktsicherheit nutzbar zu machen.

Balancing regulation and affordability of housing

Housing regulation is a growing concern because affordability of housing has been declining and regulations which increase housing costs have been escalating. Many of the regulations which have been adopted fulfill goals of protection of health, safety, or welfare; preservation of the environment; or improved energy conservation. Little attention, however, has been paid to the effect of these regulations on affordability. This article reviews the role of government regulation on housing, and discusses the parameters of the affordability/regulatory issue.

Mother's Employment Status, Family Income, and Children's Time Allocation

This study examined the effects of mothers employment and family income on the decision for children to participate in structured leisure activities and, given participation, the amount of time allocated to structured leisure activities. Tobit regression was used to analyze data on 149 children who did not participate and 197 children who participated in structured leisure activities. Mothers employ ment was found to have a negative effect on childrens time allocation decisions related to structured leisure activities. Family income was not significantly related to time spent in structured leisure activities. Changes in the explanatory variables had a greater influence on the decision to participate than on the variation in time allocated once participating.