This study examines pay differences between comparable workers in state and local governments and in private firms in the same state. Using a pooled sample of national census data (ACS 2001-2006), we test whether private/public pay differential exists at the state and local levels and whether...

Using data on 116,816 respondents from 91 national surveys conducted between 2000 and 2009, this paper assesses how rapidly support for same-sex marriage has increased in the past decade; whether cohort replacement, other population changes, or individual attitude explains the rising support; and...

Using a 1% sample of personnel records for full-time, white-collar workers in the federal domestic agencies, I document how levels of education, experience, and age have risen over the past one-third century. The changing mix of occupations – clerical jobs fell by three-fourths and...

Since the early days of the gay liberation movement, activists have argued that coming out to heterosexuals would increase acceptance of homosexuality and support for gay rights. Though the empirical research has generally supported this hypothesis, it has not adequately controlled for...

Using a one percent sample of federal personnel records for 1983 through 2003, we compare the career success of employees with master's degrees in public administration to those of employees with bachelor's degrees or graduate degrees in other fields - especially law, business administration,...