THE NET FISCAL IMPACT OF SELECTED FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMS*

This paper examines the net fiscal benefits of various federal grants and taxes paid to finance them. Net, effective tax rates are calculated for all county areas in the U.S. for seven measured grant programs, and the distributions of such tax rates are examined in conjunction with the median family incomes of the county areas. Inferences about the progressivity (or regressivity) of the grant programs are made, as well as inferences about the horizontal equity of the grant programs through the use of a new class of index numbers. It was found that more progressive grant formulas, which provide greater rates of subsidy to areas with lower median family incomes, also tend to be less horizontally equitable.     

SEASONAL and ANNUAL VARIATIONS IN ICE COVER IN BAFFIN BAY and NORTHERN DAVIS STRAIT

The sea ice cover in Baffin Bay and northern Davis Strait is at a maximum in March and at a minimum in September. It depletes rapidly in July and August and grows rapidly during October and November. More annual variations were noticed during periods of ice cover depletion than during ice cover growth periods. The paper presents a sea ice forecast model which is based on annual ice cover depletion and growth data 1968-79 and which should be useful for planning navigation and drilling operations.
Le couvert de glace dans la baie de Baffin et le nord du détroit de Davis atteint son maximum en mars et est réduit à son minimum en septembre. II régresse rapidement en juillet et en aot et crot rapidement en octobre et en novembre. Plus de variations annuelles ont été observées pour les périodes de diminution du couvert de glace que pour les periodes de croissance de ce dernier. Cet article présente un modèle de prévision du couvert de glace lequel est basé sur les donnees relatives à la croissance et à la régression du couvert de glace pour la période 1968-79. Ce modèle devrait ětre utile dans la planification de la navigation et des opérations de forage.