Ad Astra Institute Publications

• Health Insurance Survey Summary Analysis (prepared for Kansas Health Consumer Coalition and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund - May 2008)

In May 2008, a scientific survey of 503 likely Kansas voters by AAI found that  67% of likely Kansas voters support providing health care coverage to everyone. Moreover 63% would support a tax‑funded health insurance program covering all Americans without private insurance company involvement, if it endorsed high quality medical care and free choice among doctors.


• Health Insurance Language Development: Focus Group Research Final Report (prepared for Kansas Health Consumer Coalition and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund - January 2008)
  
  

Six focus groups were conducted by AAI in January 2008 with likely Kansas voters under 65 who were viewed as politically undecided on health care coverage issues. Many participants felt "frustrated" over the cost of their health insurance coverage. Most participants agreed that everyone should have coverage. Most participants expressed a high level of dissatisfaction with existing medical insurance and payment systems and were open to strong corrective action on the part of government. However they were uncertain as to what form that action should take and were not well informed about the proposals currently being discussed by political candidates.

• Impacts of Minimum Wage Increases in Kansas: A Background Report (prepared for Kansas Action Network - December 2007)

This 2007 AAI report was released prior to the recent increases in both the Kansas and the Federal minimum wages. This report suggested that the economic impact of minimum wage increases in Kansas would likely be positive on average for Kansas workers, businesses, employment and economic development. This report estimated the number of Kansas workers that were likely affected by increases in the minimum wage, summarized theories of economic impact and reviewed actual effects of minimum wage increases in other states and cities. The Kansas minimum wage—then $2.65 per hour, raised to $7.25 starting January 1, 2009—applies to workers in job categories not protected by the Federal minimum wage—which was then $5.85, now $7.25. The study documents this under-examined category of workers at the lowest end of the wage spectrum.

• Attracting and Retaining National Corporate Headquarters in Kansas (prepared for Kansas, Inc. - November 2006)

Attracting new corporate headquarters is a real economic development coup--but can public policy make a difference? A major study performed by Ad Astra for Kansas, Inc. shows that Kansas is doing much better than might be expected, and suggests that major policy changes are not warranted.