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Tobacco Settlement Distribution Simulation

Linda Blessing and Bette F. DeGraw (Arizona State University)

November 2010

Summary:

A state has received a major settlement against a tobacco company that will yield $2.5 billion over the next 25 years, or roughly $100 million per year. How will this money be allocated?  In this simulation public servants negotiate in a network comprised of other public organizations, concerned taxpayers, policy advocates, and elected officials. The challenges include seeing the forest AND the trees, balancing advocacy and inquiry, being both participative and authoritative, and working with both common and diverse goals.