I am a Ph.D Candidate in the Sociology Department at Vanderbilt. My research interests include social stratification, sociology of labor markets, work and occupations, labor movements, environmental sociology, and research methods. Broadly speaking, I am interested in how a range of social relations—including racial relations, employment relations, state regulatory capacity and social movements—combine in the economy, polity, and in urban spaces to influence processes of social stratification. Supervisors: Larry W. Isaac, David J. Hess, and Daniel B. Cornfield
: The period that spanned the Gilded Age to the onset of the Great Depression saw the rise and re... more : The period that spanned the Gilded Age to the onset of the Great Depression saw the rise and relative decline of the U.S labor movement. The salient events of labor movements over these years undoubtedly shaped public perception about labor issues, and some scholars have been attempting to unpack the mechanisms through which depictions and characterizations of the “labor problem” were produced in authoritative venues that could have shaped the future of the movement. This study goes beyond the standard practice of explaining news report volume to feature the political valance of the reports on the labor problem over a 63-year time period. The aforementioned period also saw significant changes in news reporting practices, with the rise of objective informational writing and the embrace of journalism as a profession. The change within journalism itself could potentially shape the depiction of the labor problem, yet such change has been overlooked by existing literature pertaining to the topic. This research makes a theoretical case for integrating social processes central to the labor movement and journalism from 1870-1932 and explains patterns in the cultural production of the labor problem in the New York Times by analyzing these two tracks of history in conjunction using both qualitative and quantitative data.
We develop a novel, mixed methods approach to examine the relationship between political ideology... more We develop a novel, mixed methods approach to examine the relationship between political ideology and support for renewable energy and energy efficiency (REEE) policies. Through qualitative analysis of interviews with state-government legislators in the U.S., we show that when legislators evaluate and justify their support for and opposition to different types of renewable energy and energy efficiency (REEE) policies, they distinguish bills based on frames that are related to ideological differences (e.g., tax decreases, government efficiency, regulation, mandates, government spending). In turn the qualitative distinctions among bills are associated with quantitative differences in levels of support and success for the policies. Using data from a longitudinal analysis of 188 major state-government laws passed from 2004 to 2014 and a cross-sectional set of 709 passed and unpassed laws from 2011 to 2012, we show that REEE policies configured as mandates (e.g., renewable portfolio standards) have consistently lower levels of support than for similar REEE policies configured as tax reductions, reduction of government waste by increasing building efficiency, authorization of local government action, and regulatory reduction. Thus, via both quantitative and qualitative analysis, we show that there are important ideology-associated differences in REEE policy that point to opportunities for more successful policy design.
Research building on political economy and ecological modernization theories has paid increasing ... more Research building on political economy and ecological modernization theories has paid increasing attention to the conditions that affect the prospects for environmental reform. Much work focuses on variation among political units in support of a single type of energy policy, whereas we examine within-state variation in support of a wide range of energy reform policies. Applying multilevel analyses to the 2011-2012 legislative session in California, we identify bill characteristics associated with divisions between Republicans and Democrats. Expanding the size or scope of government (through spending, government commissions, and business regulations) reduces support for energy reform among Republicans, whereas promoting transparency and other ‘good government’ initiatives reduces support among Democrats. In contrast with the standard view that Republicans oppose almost all energy reforms proposed by Democrats, we identify bill characteristics that increase the likelihood of support from both parties, namely tax reductions and credits, including for bills that promote renewable energy.
In the U.S., policies with a goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable... more In the U.S., policies with a goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy have become an area of intense disagreements among elected political officials. Consequently, there is a need for research that can help guide practitioners and advocates of sustainability transitions toward types of policy initiatives that are less likely to trigger political opposition. This study assesses one type of policy where such opposition may be less heated: economic development targets for industrial sectors in U.S. state governments support for a state’s renewable energy and clean technology industrial sector. A review of state government plans and strategy statements shows that although some differences by political party on this issue still exists, there are states with Republican governors with support for targeted economic development strategies that include their state’s renewable energy and clean technology sector. However, there is some ideological opposition to sectoral targeting in general, and a qualitative comparative analysis indicates that in states with strong fossil-fuel employment and with Republican governors, support for the renewable energy and clean technology sector in the plans is weaker.
Environmental Innovations and Societal Transitions 12(1): 31-46
Prepublication version available at www.davidjhess.net. A qualitative comparative analysis was un... more Prepublication version available at www.davidjhess.net. A qualitative comparative analysis was undertaken of 18 Asian countries to determine factors that influence the pace of their sustainability transitions toward increased renewable energy for electricity. We develop a policy index based on renewable electricity targets, feed-in tariffs, and emissions trading schemes in these countries. Countries with a relatively low level of current renewable electricity generation but with relatively high scores on the policy index are wealthier and more democratic. Likewise, countries with a relatively high level of renewable electricity generation and with lagging renewable electricity policy tend to be poorer, more authoritarian, and endowed with higher levels of fossil-fuel resources. Thus, our analysis points to factors other than GDP per capita that could explain the relative stasis or progress of a country toward a sustainable energy transition. Implications for the literature on the political and societal (or “landscape”) dimensions of sustainability transitions are discussed.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2014
Pre-publication full-text version is available at http://www.davidjhess.net/all-research.html. A... more Pre-publication full-text version is available at http://www.davidjhess.net/all-research.html. A qualitative comparative analysis was undertaken of 18 Asian countries to determine factors that influence the pace of their sustainability transitions toward increased renewable energy for electricity. We develop a policy index based on renewable electricity targets, feed-in tariffs, and emissions trading schemes in these countries. Countries with a relatively low level of current renewable electricity generation but with relatively high scores on the policy index are wealthier and more democratic. Likewise, countries with a relatively high level of renewable electricity generation and with lagging renewable electricity policy tend to be poorer, more authoritarian, and endowed with higher levels of fossil-fuel resources. Thus, our analysis points to factors other than GDP per capita that could explain the relative stasis or progress of a country toward a sustainable energy transition. Implications for the literature on the political and societal (or “landscape”) dimensions of sustainability transitions are discussed.
Available open-access at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09644016.2014.973222. Resear... more Available open-access at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09644016.2014.973222. Research building on political economy and ecological modernization theories has paid increasing attention to the conditions that affect the prospects for environmental reform. Much work focuses on variation among political units in support of a single type of energy policy, whereas we examine within-state variation in support of a wide range of energy reform policies. Applying multilevel analyses to the 2011-2012 legislative session in California, we identify bill characteristics associated with divisions between Republicans and Democrats. Expanding the size or scope of government (through spending, government commissions, and business regulations) reduces support for energy reform among Republicans, whereas promoting transparency and other ‘good government’ initiatives reduces support among Democrats. In contrast with the standard view that Republicans oppose almost all energy reforms proposed by Democrats, we identify bill characteristics that increase the likelihood of support from both parties, namely tax reductions and credits, including for bills that promote renewable energy.
Available open-access at http://sspp.proquest.com/static_content/vol11iss1/1404-006.hess.pdf. Bec... more Available open-access at http://sspp.proquest.com/static_content/vol11iss1/1404-006.hess.pdf. Because elected officials and voting publics in the United States have disagreed with policies to decrease greenhouse-gas emissions and increase renewable energy, research is needed to help guide practitioners toward policy initiatives that are less likely to trigger opposition. This study assesses one type of policy for which disagreements may be less heated: economic development targets for industrial sectors in U.S. state governments that support the renewable energy and clean technology (RE&CT) industrial sector. A review of state-government plans and strategy statements shows that support for plans with a sectoral strategy does not divide strongly along party lines, and likewise there are Republican governors who support plans for targeted economic development strategies that include their state’s RE&CT sector. However, there is some ideological opposition to sectoral targeting in general, and a qualitative comparative analysis indicates that in states with both strong fossil-fuel employment and Republican governors, support is weaker for the RE&CT sector in the plans. Overall, whereas opportunities for political compromise are blocked in many policy arenas for renewable energy and greenhouse gas regulation, the arena of green economic development appears to offer modest opportunities.
: The period that spanned the Gilded Age to the onset of the Great Depression saw the rise and re... more : The period that spanned the Gilded Age to the onset of the Great Depression saw the rise and relative decline of the U.S labor movement. The salient events of labor movements over these years undoubtedly shaped public perception about labor issues, and some scholars have been attempting to unpack the mechanisms through which depictions and characterizations of the “labor problem” were produced in authoritative venues that could have shaped the future of the movement. This study goes beyond the standard practice of explaining news report volume to feature the political valance of the reports on the labor problem over a 63-year time period. The aforementioned period also saw significant changes in news reporting practices, with the rise of objective informational writing and the embrace of journalism as a profession. The change within journalism itself could potentially shape the depiction of the labor problem, yet such change has been overlooked by existing literature pertaining to the topic. This research makes a theoretical case for integrating social processes central to the labor movement and journalism from 1870-1932 and explains patterns in the cultural production of the labor problem in the New York Times by analyzing these two tracks of history in conjunction using both qualitative and quantitative data.
We develop a novel, mixed methods approach to examine the relationship between political ideology... more We develop a novel, mixed methods approach to examine the relationship between political ideology and support for renewable energy and energy efficiency (REEE) policies. Through qualitative analysis of interviews with state-government legislators in the U.S., we show that when legislators evaluate and justify their support for and opposition to different types of renewable energy and energy efficiency (REEE) policies, they distinguish bills based on frames that are related to ideological differences (e.g., tax decreases, government efficiency, regulation, mandates, government spending). In turn the qualitative distinctions among bills are associated with quantitative differences in levels of support and success for the policies. Using data from a longitudinal analysis of 188 major state-government laws passed from 2004 to 2014 and a cross-sectional set of 709 passed and unpassed laws from 2011 to 2012, we show that REEE policies configured as mandates (e.g., renewable portfolio standards) have consistently lower levels of support than for similar REEE policies configured as tax reductions, reduction of government waste by increasing building efficiency, authorization of local government action, and regulatory reduction. Thus, via both quantitative and qualitative analysis, we show that there are important ideology-associated differences in REEE policy that point to opportunities for more successful policy design.
Research building on political economy and ecological modernization theories has paid increasing ... more Research building on political economy and ecological modernization theories has paid increasing attention to the conditions that affect the prospects for environmental reform. Much work focuses on variation among political units in support of a single type of energy policy, whereas we examine within-state variation in support of a wide range of energy reform policies. Applying multilevel analyses to the 2011-2012 legislative session in California, we identify bill characteristics associated with divisions between Republicans and Democrats. Expanding the size or scope of government (through spending, government commissions, and business regulations) reduces support for energy reform among Republicans, whereas promoting transparency and other ‘good government’ initiatives reduces support among Democrats. In contrast with the standard view that Republicans oppose almost all energy reforms proposed by Democrats, we identify bill characteristics that increase the likelihood of support from both parties, namely tax reductions and credits, including for bills that promote renewable energy.
In the U.S., policies with a goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable... more In the U.S., policies with a goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy have become an area of intense disagreements among elected political officials. Consequently, there is a need for research that can help guide practitioners and advocates of sustainability transitions toward types of policy initiatives that are less likely to trigger political opposition. This study assesses one type of policy where such opposition may be less heated: economic development targets for industrial sectors in U.S. state governments support for a state’s renewable energy and clean technology industrial sector. A review of state government plans and strategy statements shows that although some differences by political party on this issue still exists, there are states with Republican governors with support for targeted economic development strategies that include their state’s renewable energy and clean technology sector. However, there is some ideological opposition to sectoral targeting in general, and a qualitative comparative analysis indicates that in states with strong fossil-fuel employment and with Republican governors, support for the renewable energy and clean technology sector in the plans is weaker.
Environmental Innovations and Societal Transitions 12(1): 31-46
Prepublication version available at www.davidjhess.net. A qualitative comparative analysis was un... more Prepublication version available at www.davidjhess.net. A qualitative comparative analysis was undertaken of 18 Asian countries to determine factors that influence the pace of their sustainability transitions toward increased renewable energy for electricity. We develop a policy index based on renewable electricity targets, feed-in tariffs, and emissions trading schemes in these countries. Countries with a relatively low level of current renewable electricity generation but with relatively high scores on the policy index are wealthier and more democratic. Likewise, countries with a relatively high level of renewable electricity generation and with lagging renewable electricity policy tend to be poorer, more authoritarian, and endowed with higher levels of fossil-fuel resources. Thus, our analysis points to factors other than GDP per capita that could explain the relative stasis or progress of a country toward a sustainable energy transition. Implications for the literature on the political and societal (or “landscape”) dimensions of sustainability transitions are discussed.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2014
Pre-publication full-text version is available at http://www.davidjhess.net/all-research.html. A... more Pre-publication full-text version is available at http://www.davidjhess.net/all-research.html. A qualitative comparative analysis was undertaken of 18 Asian countries to determine factors that influence the pace of their sustainability transitions toward increased renewable energy for electricity. We develop a policy index based on renewable electricity targets, feed-in tariffs, and emissions trading schemes in these countries. Countries with a relatively low level of current renewable electricity generation but with relatively high scores on the policy index are wealthier and more democratic. Likewise, countries with a relatively high level of renewable electricity generation and with lagging renewable electricity policy tend to be poorer, more authoritarian, and endowed with higher levels of fossil-fuel resources. Thus, our analysis points to factors other than GDP per capita that could explain the relative stasis or progress of a country toward a sustainable energy transition. Implications for the literature on the political and societal (or “landscape”) dimensions of sustainability transitions are discussed.
Available open-access at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09644016.2014.973222. Resear... more Available open-access at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09644016.2014.973222. Research building on political economy and ecological modernization theories has paid increasing attention to the conditions that affect the prospects for environmental reform. Much work focuses on variation among political units in support of a single type of energy policy, whereas we examine within-state variation in support of a wide range of energy reform policies. Applying multilevel analyses to the 2011-2012 legislative session in California, we identify bill characteristics associated with divisions between Republicans and Democrats. Expanding the size or scope of government (through spending, government commissions, and business regulations) reduces support for energy reform among Republicans, whereas promoting transparency and other ‘good government’ initiatives reduces support among Democrats. In contrast with the standard view that Republicans oppose almost all energy reforms proposed by Democrats, we identify bill characteristics that increase the likelihood of support from both parties, namely tax reductions and credits, including for bills that promote renewable energy.
Available open-access at http://sspp.proquest.com/static_content/vol11iss1/1404-006.hess.pdf. Bec... more Available open-access at http://sspp.proquest.com/static_content/vol11iss1/1404-006.hess.pdf. Because elected officials and voting publics in the United States have disagreed with policies to decrease greenhouse-gas emissions and increase renewable energy, research is needed to help guide practitioners toward policy initiatives that are less likely to trigger opposition. This study assesses one type of policy for which disagreements may be less heated: economic development targets for industrial sectors in U.S. state governments that support the renewable energy and clean technology (RE&CT) industrial sector. A review of state-government plans and strategy statements shows that support for plans with a sectoral strategy does not divide strongly along party lines, and likewise there are Republican governors who support plans for targeted economic development strategies that include their state’s RE&CT sector. However, there is some ideological opposition to sectoral targeting in general, and a qualitative comparative analysis indicates that in states with both strong fossil-fuel employment and Republican governors, support is weaker for the RE&CT sector in the plans. Overall, whereas opportunities for political compromise are blocked in many policy arenas for renewable energy and greenhouse gas regulation, the arena of green economic development appears to offer modest opportunities.
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