Date of Conferral

12-23-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Raj Singh

Abstract

The background of this study established context describing the 2018 implementation of Proposition 12 in California, a law intended to improve animal welfare standards. The central problem identified the law’s unintended effects on multiple stakeholders, which prior literature suggested could include increased production costs and limit consumer access. However, existing studies have focused on theoretical and economic projections, leaving gaps in understanding secondary data research and practical impacts on farmers and low-income consumers. The purpose of the study was to examine unforeseen consequences of Proposition 12, with attention to its direct and indirect impacts on animal welfare, farmers, and low-income consumers. Two research questions guided the inquiry: (1) How did Proposition 12 affect animal welfare, farmers, and low-income consumers in California? (2) What unintended consequences emerged as a result of the law’s implementation? The conceptual framework was based on Merton’s law of unintended consequences, a theoretical lens for analyzing the findings and understanding broader policy implications. The methodology employed a qualitative approach, and secondary data from archived policy documents and reports, with thematic analysis used to interpret the data. Key findings summarized that, while Proposition 12 led to meaningful improvements in animal welfare, it resulted in significant economic challenges for farmers and reduced access to affordable animal products for low-income consumers, echoing concerns noted in previous scholarship. The implications for social change links the study’s outcomes to Walden University’s mission fostering positive change through evidence-based policy.

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