Since the first U.S. state adopted the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit in the early 1980s, the policy has spread to most of the other states. The diffusion continues with numerous modifications and enhancements to the basic R&D tax credit. This study examines the diffusion of the R&D investment tax credit using event history analysis supported by qualitative research. The conclusions of the research are that the R&D tax credit is an economic development approach associated with an existing manufacturing base and implementation is aided by political factors. Adjacent state competition does not appear to lead toward adoption. Applying these findings to the current literature on the effectiveness of the state R&D tax credits highlights the need for thorough policy evaluation before the adoption of tax credits as part of an economic development program.

This study uses an event history analysis to examine the factors that lead to the adoption of casino gambling among 13 nations around the world. Specifically, measures of fiscal stress, economic development, tourism, religiosity, and income levels are tested for their relationship to national decisions to legalize casino gambling. This study found that economic development needs, as measured by general unemployment rates, were associated with the casino legalization decisions of national governments. Higher unemployment rates were more likely in the years that nations legalized casino gambling. Religiosity, measured by frequency of church attendance, was also found to be a significant barrier in legalization decisions. Measures of fiscal stress, tourism, and income levels were not found to have significant relationships with the legalization decisions. This is interesting because these factors are often cited in case studies, media reports, and the statements of politicians during legalization processes. This study points to the need for further research in several areas. Further exploration of potential explanatory variables and more appropriate measures of currently theorized factors is warranted. Another area for further research is the seeming contradictory findings of multiple statistical analyses and multiple anecdotal findings of the impacts of fiscal stress on the casino legalization decision.

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ESA and the European Industry are supplying the European Service Module for Orion. An overview of the system and subsystem configuration of the Orion European Service Module (ESM) as designed and built for the EM-1 mission is provided as well as an outline of its development, assembly, integration and verification process performed by ESA and NASA in coordination with their respective Industrial prime contractors, Airbus Defence and Space and Lockheed Martin.

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