(Cast study)
You have been hired as a consultant to the superintendent of a large suburban school district in Missouri. Superintendent Tiger has read and heard many reports on the problem of childhood obesity, and many parents and school board members have expressed concern about the rising numbers of obese teens in the district.Further, some activists have argued that the school district itself is somewhat responsible for this problem locally.They point to several main factors: 1) the district does not require physical education classes past grade school and provides only a minimal number of such classes, 2) the exercise equipment and venues for sports are available exclusively to the varsity and junior varsity teams outside of class sessions, 3) the high school has an exclusive contract with a big cola company that allows it to place soda pop machines throughout the high school in exchange for a cut of the profits, sponsorship of athletics, and a flat annual fee, and 4) the school allows several fast food restaurants to run operations in the high school dining facilities in exchange for rent.
Tiger is concerned about getting some of the policy alternatives passed by the school board.Conduct a strategic assessment of the board using the following three alternatives: 1) completely eliminate access to junk food restaurants, 2) restrict access to soda pop (so that it is only in the lunch room, or 3) increase funding for exercise classes.In particular, what voting mechanism might the superintendent use to get the soda proposal passed plurality, approval voting or a Borda system?Tiger has this power so how should it be set up. The seven-member board has the following configuration of members: 1) a restaurant owner, 2) a beverage distributor, 3) a nutritionist mostly concerned about food then drink issues, 4) an aerobics instructor who also sees caffeine as a major problem, 5) an ACLU member who is most concerned with degree of restrictions on personal freedom, 6) a parent who is opposed to soda pop on religious grounds and also opposes commercialization of the school, and 7) a former teacher who strongly opposed the introduction of fast food originally and did not care for the soda machines. /span>Derive the preferences (for example #1 would prefer the exercise program most, then soda machine restrictions, and completely oppose fast food restrictions).Then, calculate the result of each method and determine which one could produce the pop machine restriction.
Reference: PA453S01Midterm.doc Midterm Exam for GSPA 453. Policy Analysis - Spring 2001
(Approach)
(List of alternatives)
A. Elimination of junk food restaurant
B. Restriction of soda
C. Increase fund for exercise class
(Seven-member board)
(1) Restaurant owner
(2) A beverage distributor
(3) A nutritionist
(4) An aerobics
(5) ACLU member
(6) A parent
(7) A former teacher
(Preference diagram)
|
Preference |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
|
Best |
C |
C |
A |
C |
C |
B |
A |
|
Middle |
B |
A |
B |
B |
B |
A |
B |
|
Worst |
A |
B |
C |
A |
A |
C |
C |
C is chosen because 4 people out of 7 prefer C best.
After I draw a line between the worst acceptable and middle acceptable, I calculate how many votes each alternative get. That is,
The number of A is 4.
The number of B is 5.
The number of C is 4.
So, B is chosen.
When we set Best=2, middle=1 and worst=0, the score of each alternative is as following.
A = 0+1+2+0+0+1+2=6
B = 1+0+1+1+1+2+1=7
C = 2+2+0+2+2+0+0=8
So, C is chosen.