Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:01:54 -0800 (PST) Sun, 11 Jan 1998 22:55:54 -0800 (PST) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 22:55:54 -0800 (PST) To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: Carol Zabin (by way of Michael Eisenscher ) Subject: Job Announcement: LA Research Director Sender: meisenscher@igc.org JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Research Director UCLA-TIDC Subsidy Accountability Project Project Description The Subsidy Accountability Project is a research and organizing project that aims to increase accountability in the awarding of subsidies to private business for economic development. The project is funded by the Ford and Rosenberg Foundation for two years through August of 1999. Part of a national movement for corporate accountability, the project involves a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of local public expenditures for job creation in the Los Angeles region. The intent of the research is to increase public understanding of government subsidies to businesses and propose ways to make this spending more beneficial to workers and poor communities in Los Angeles. This is a joint project of the Tourism Industry Development Council (TIDC) and the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education. TIDC is a labor and community supported non-profit organization that spearheaded the campaign for a Living Wage Ordinance in Los Angeles, which was approved by the LA City Council in 1997. TIDC is dedicated to promoting policies and organizing campaigns that improve working conditions and wages for low-wage workers in the LA region. The UCLA Labor Center carries out research and training for labor unions and supports a vital, progressive trade union movement in the Los Angeles region. Job Description The Research Director will supervise and develop the methodology for an evaluation of the impact of business subsidies in the Los Angeles region. The research team will include a dedicated TIDC staff researcher and a team of UCLA graduate students. The Research Director must be available to work 20 hours a week through August 1999. Research tasks include: Documenting current business incentives in the City of Los Angeles and select neighboring cities. Developing a local economic development budget that makes the information transparent Developing a database documenting business incentives currently used by firms in Los Angeles, with firm level data, that would be accessible to the public. Analyzing the impact of business incentives on jobs, wages and inequality in Los Angeles. Reviewing previous subsidy accountability measures. Timeline The Research Director must be available to work on the project from February 1998 through August 1999. A Preliminary Report on the major findings will be completed in the Fall of 1998 and serve as the basis of a public education campaign in 1998-1999. A Final Product must be completed by August 1999. Qualifications This position calls for the ability to design and carry out a substantial research project and direct graduate students and other research assistants. Graduate study in Economics or quantitative Sociology is highly desirable; an ability to read the academic literature in Urban Economics and carry out simple quantitative modeling is necessary. Grant-writing skills highly desirable. An ability to communicate economic ideas to a broad audience is critical for this position. Knowledge of Los Angeles area city governments is a plus. In addition, the candidate must be able and willing to work closely with community activists and trade unionists. The candidate must orient the research so that it is useful to a political organizing campaign promoting subsidy accountability. Compensation Annual salary of $22,000 to $28,000 for a half time position, depending on experience. Full medical and dental benefits. Contact: Jessica Goodheart, project coordinator Subsidy Accountability Project Tourism Industry Development Council 614 South Spring Street, Suite 1016 Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213) 486-5129, ph (213) 486-9886, fx jessica836@aol.com