Agricultural Use‐Value Property Tax Assessment: Estimation and Policy Issues

This paper provides an overview of the theory and methods used to implement use‐value property tax assessment for agricultural land in the United States. After a critical review of the methods used by various states in their application of use‐value statutes for agricultural land, the paper examines several policy issues related to the estimation and application of use‐value assessment methods. Five state case studies are included, providing an overview of methods used in use‐value assessment, and suggestions are provided regarding several ways in which use‐value assessment methods need to be improved.     

No Blues in Beijing

Foreign acts are coming to play - and stay - onChina's vibrant music scene. THERE was a time whenWestern music in Beijingwas provided by a hardcore of Filipino coverbands and the odd part-time collective of embassy staff andforeign journalists. Today, however,foreign acts are coming to Beijing toplay - and stay. Many hotels in the citycontinue to hire Filipino groups butacts have increasingly been comingfrom more diverse places. Trained atone of Bulgaria's most prestigiousuniversities, Ir…     

The Keys to Legislative Success in the U.S. House of Representatives

Our research addresses how individual member behavior and institutional variables affect legislative success in the U.S. House of Representatives. Using new measures of activity from the 103d Congress (1993–94), a count dependent variable, and negative binomial regression, our analysis assesses member effectiveness. We find that a member's activity level encourages legislative success, but gains are limited when members speak or sponsor too frequently. Our results provide a clearer picture of the role of legislative context and the relevance of institutions in determining a member's legislative successes and failures.