Digital Commons Network^™

Medicaid Expansion: Changes In Individual Health Outcomes, Julie Norman

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The Affordable Care Act is one of the biggest changes in the American healthcare system in the 21st century. One element of the ACA is medicaid expansion, which opened up federal funding for states to cover any individual earning below 138% of the federal poverty line. 21 states expanded medicaid in 2014 while 12 haven’t expanded. This paper utilizes the disparity for a natural experiment to determine the efficacy of the program. Outcome variables of interest include measurements of individual health, health access and utilization, and premature death rates. The results indicate positive, but small improvements due to the policy, …

Evaluating Short Term Effects Of Opportunity Zone Designation, Sarah M. Bennett

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included a substantial economic development effort known as Opportunity Zones. These Zones cover 12% of the census tracts in the United States and are estimated to cost $1.6 billion in lost capital gains tax revenue. Our paper seeks to find whether this program has had an impact four years after going into effect, using an econometric analysis on changes in housing prices.

Renewable Portfolio Standards And Environmental Goals, Josh T. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are one of the most common state policies meant to encourage clean energy use. They require that utilities purchase electricity from certain qualifying electricity generators, usually with no reference to the cost of that electricity. AlthoughRPS are meant to clean up electricity generation through using clean energy sources instead of fossil fuels, they may not do so effectively. Further, some energy companies may lobby state legislators to include their energy sources regardless of their actual environmental benefit. The actual relationship between enacting an RPS and a state’s emissions from energy production is unclear. I explore RPS …

Implementing The Heston Option Pricing Model In Object-Oriented Cython, Brandon Hardin

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The 1973 Black-Scholes model, a revolutionary option pricing formula whose price is 'relatively close to observed prices, makes an assumption that the volatility is constant and thus, deterministic. This causes some inefficiencies and patterns in the pricing of options due to the model providing evidence of the volatility smile' of the volatility. Many scholars have suggested that the volatility should be modelled by a stochastic process and the (1993) Heston Model is one of many proposed solutions to remedy this problem. The Heston Model allows for the 'smile' by defining the volatility as a stochastic process. This thesis considers a …

Essays On The Economics Of Energy And Transportation, Ryan N. Barnes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is responsible for planning, operating, and maintaining a highway network consisting of over 18,500 lane-miles of highway. In recent years the growing uncertainty about oil prices and availability has made long-range transportation planning even more challenging. Rather than relying on trend extrapolation, this study uses market mechanisms to shed light on key long-range transportation planning assumptions. In particular, this study was conducted to help WSDOT assess the likelihood that natural gas will substitute for petroleum fuels and estimate the impacts that changes in fuel prices will have on natural gas vehicle demand, fuel …

Optimization Of Roadway Electrification Integrating Wireless Power Transfer: Technoeconomic Assessment And Lifecycle Analysis, Braden J. Limb

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Electric vehicles are the main technology currently being pursued to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation sector. These vehicles provide both reduced greenhouse gas emissions and decreased operating costs when compared to conventional internal combustion vehicles, while providing the flexibility to use both renewable and fossil energy. However, these vehicles have seen limited consumer adoption due to their large purchase prices and limited driving range. Both purchase price and driving range are related to the large onboard battery systems required for electric vehicle travel.

One solution to decrease dependence on large battery systems has focused on charging vehicles …

Europa's Bane Ethnic Conflict And Economics On The Czechoslovak Path From Nationalism To Communism, 1848-1948, Mathias Fuelling

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ethnic conflict and its relationship with economics is a difficult subject to understand, both for moral and historical reasons. This thesis was written with a mind to the effects of these forces on the functioning of political systems. Through study of the Habsburg empire it was discovered that industrialization and competition over economic opportunities drove speakers of different languages to establish themselves as distinct ethnic communities who held conflict between each other as a virtue. This conflict and the creation of a nationalist narrative by communities of Czechs and Germans contributed to the breakup of the Habsburg empire. Conceptions of …

Transportation Economics And Energy, Ali Soltani Sobh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Transportation is one of the major energy consuming sectors in the United States. The continued growth in fuel consumption not only increases dependency on foreign oil but also causes environmental issues due to the emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG). High gasoline consumption in the US transportation sector not only raises concerns regarding national energy security, but also poses many questions regarding the resulting environmental impacts of greenhouse gases emissions. Improvement in automobile fuel economy, increase the use of natural gas vehicles and electric vehicles have been proven to be as the policies in controlling oil demand and GHG emissions in …

Three Essays On The Economics Of Controlling Invasive Species, Yanxu Liu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Invasive species have caused notable economic damages in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and other industries over the past several decades. Invasive species control must therefore be designed to prevent the both the introduction and spread of invasive species. This dissertation examines the efficiency and efficacy of tariffs and inspections as a joint control mechanism at a home (i.e., importing) country's border. I find that a traditional tariff can be optimal in the short run when the invasive species level is directly related to a foreign (i.e., exporting) country's shipment size. However, in the long run a traditional tariff results in a …

Structural Change Of The Western United States Alfalfa Hay Market And Its Effect On The Western United States Dairy Industry, Joseph Patrick Cann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Alfalfa is the fourth largest commodity grown in the Western U.S., representing 20% of the crop acreage over the past twenty years. In the last five years alfalfa hay price has doubled from what it was previously, indicating a possible structural change in the market. This research project was completed to test for this structural change using econometric analysis of the important demand components of alfalfa price. In addition to this, simulations of an average Utah dairy were completed to examine which ratio of forage crops provided the highest economic return to the operation.

To analyze the structural change of …

Treasure In Heaven: Economics And Christian Monasticism In Late Antiquity, Benjamin Wade Harman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the 3rd century CE a new variety of Christian practice emerged to popularity that took a marked turn from traditional practice. It was an ascetic movement that led many people to deny themselves bodily pleasures, and even some to self-inflict pain. There were some who chose to live a solitary life in the desert or in caves, and others lived in monasteries or isolated on top of stone pillars. This movement encouraged individuals to sell all of their belongings and rely on others' charity, or even God's grace, to survive. While asceticism had previously existed in other cultures and …

The Effect Of Kurtosis On The Cross-Section Of Stock Returns, Abdullah Al Masud

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

In this study, I show an effect of the statistical fourth moment on stock returns. In the mean-variance framework, rational investors follow two strategies: optimize the mean{variance of return and diversify the portfolio. Regarding the first approach, investors intend to generate the maximum level of return while facing a constant level of risk (or, the standard deviation) of return. It is possible that firm specific risk can be concentrated in the portfolio. However, diversification of the assets can eliminate that (idiosyncratic) risk from the portfolio. After a long period of time, in a diversified portfolio the shape of the return …

Treatment Of Saltcedar (Tamarix Spp.): Economics And Feasibility, Christopher L. Thompson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The invasive species Saltcedar is affecting water and land resources throughout the western states of America. Because of great water use capabilities and other ecosystem detriments, Saltcedar has been targeted for treatment.

For successful management of Saltcedar, individual landowners need to be aware of the costs and benefits of treating Saltcedar. Eleven of the most commonly reported treatment methods were evaluated for firm level economic feasibility. Evaluated on the basis of treatment cost, treatment effectiveness, Saltcedar water-use, and re-vegetation water-use, a production plan of ten years was created for each treatment method. Some treatment methods required re-treatment and were evaluated …

A Critical Analysis Of The Cooperatives Working Together Program, Spencer N. Parkinson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study analyzes the effectiveness of the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program. This program is believed to have improved the farm-level price of milk since it began in July 2003. To date, no publicly available analysis addressing this question has been conducted. Total milk removed by the program was determined and expressed as a percentage of total milk produced nationally during the same time frame. Elasticity measures from prior studies were adapted to determine the impact of the program. This analysis suggests the program has had a significantly positive effect on the price of milk. Issues dealing with future action …

Three Essays On Stock Market Volatility, Qianru Li

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Volatility is inherently unobservable, and thus the selection of models and their definition is crucial in financial research. This dissertation attempts to check the role of investor sentiment and forecast Value-at-Risk (VaR) of the stock market using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. In the first essay, based on daily return data of three stock indices and four individual stocks from January 1988 to December 2006, the role of day-of-the-week, as well as investor sentiment, is examined using two approaches: linear regression to test investor sentiment effect on stock returns and Logit regression to test the investor sentiment effect on market …

The Efficient-Market Hypothesis During A Recession, Jill Marie Williams

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The phrase, "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" may make a portfolio manager shudder. I first learned about this theory while reading a book of the same name by Burton G. Malkiel. I saw the last four years crashing down around me as I read about the competition I would be facing upon graduation–a blindfolded chimpanzee.

The random walk theorizes that the stock market is so efficient that a blindfolded chimpanzee can throw darts at the Wall Street Journal to select a portfolio of stocks that will perform equally as well as those managed by the experts. Unfortunately for the …

Scale Economies In Public Education: Evidence From School Level Data, Ryan C. Bosworth

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The structure of school finance regimes in the United States has been a subject of much political and legal debate over the past three decades. Court rulings have required many states to restructure school financing methods in order to pursue some concept of equality. Achieving equality of spending is, of course, a simple matter. Developing a funding mechanism that provides for equality of educational opportunity. however, is difficult since such a system, by definition, must allow for cost differences across schools and districts.

The Soviet Union And The Gatt: An Impossible Combination?, Gregory L. Waddoups

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In considering the relationship between the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs and any given state, one must examine not only the economic reasons for acceptance and participation, but also the political. This is especially true when dealing with the Soviet Union. In researching this topic, I have found that economics and politics are deeply interwoven into the fabric of international dealings with the Soviets on any level and at any given time.

Soviet participation in the GATT goes back to the very beginnings of the Bretton Woods institutions and of the International Trade Organization. While this participation runs contrary …

Slow Rate Sand Filtration With And Without Clinoptilolite: A Comparison Of Water Quality And Filtration Economics, Gordon P. Foreman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Slow rate sand filtration (SSF) amended with a 20 cm surface layer of clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite, was compared to SSF with no amendment in a field scale SSF facility treating 85 m³/d of water. Parameters examined included turbidity, coliforms, and ammonium removal. The control filter with sand and the experimental filter amended with the zeolite were also compared with respect to duration of filter cycle, cold weather operation, and economics.

Amended and unamended filters were approximately equivalent with respect to ammonium and coliform removal at 10° C. The zeolite amended cell was superior to the unamended cell …

Comparison Of Skim Milk Starter, Whey Base Starter And A Direct Set Method On The Yield, Quality And Economics Of Cottage Cheese Production, Wayne G. Geilman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three different methods of acidifying skim milk(milk starter, whey base starter and direct acid set) for making cottage cheese were evaluated for their effect on yield, quality and acidification cost. Cultured cottage cheese was produced with milk starter and pH controlled whey-base starter by the short set method. Five percent milk starter and 2.4% whey base starter were approximately equivalent in activity and gave average setting times of 234 to 255 minutes. Direct acid set cottage cheese was made by the Vitex/American method. The setting time required for direct acid set cottage cheese was 158 minutes. Yields of cottage cheese …

Determination Of The Temperature Response Curves For Abscisic Acid And Its Derivatives In Economically Important Horticultural Crops, Jaleh Daie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Part I

Four-week old tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings were exposed to different constant temperatures of 15, 25, 35, or 45 C. To determine the effect of temperature on Abscisic Acid (ABA) young and old leaves were harvested at 0, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h and free, hydrolyzable and total ABA were measured using gas liquid chromatographic methods. Temperature had a significant effect on free, hydrolyzable and total ABA in both young and old leaves. Time had a significant effect as a cubic function on all ABA measurements in old leaves but in young leaves a significant effect …

An Evaluation Of Two Types Of Summer Home Economics Programs Conducted In Box Elder County, Utah, Kathryn Cannon Jensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A follow-up study, involving students, parents, and teachers that participated in two types of summer home economics programs in Box Elder County during the summer of 1979, was conducted during August, 1979 to collect data relative to the following objectives: (1) to obtain demographic data as to age, sex, and participation in the program; (2) to obtain the subjects feelings about the program; and (3) to gather opinions and suggestions from the respondents about the programs.

Analysis of the data revealed (1) there were more students enrolled in the In-School program than the Home-Visit program. There were more females than …

The Economics Of Fertility In Utah, Carl E. Enomoto

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purposes of this thesis are to determine the economic forces influencing birth rates in Utah and to compare their influences with those found in similar studies for the United States. To do this, an economic model describing fertility behavior was used. Data for the model was collected primarily from Census Bureau reports for the year 1970.

Credit Cards: Average Monthly Unpaid Balance As Related To Certain Socio-Economic Factors, Marsha Gaye Maughan Cooper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of relationship between selected socio-economic factors and the average monthly unpaid credit card balance subject to a finance charge. The socio-economic factors chosen were: 1) family and per capita income; 2) education of husband; 3) education of wife; 4) gainful employment of wife; 5) amount of savings; and 6) number of children.

The sample consisted of 80 couples, married in the year 1971, currently residing in the Logan, Utah, area.

A questionnaire was used to measure the six variables. The statistical tests used were the chi square and the gamma …

Economics Of Land Use Planning: A Case Study Of Annexation In Heber Valley, Utah, Lyle C. Summers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Some theories and methodologies applicable to land use planning problems were reviewed along with the history of land use and land use legislation in the United States and Utah. This review served to point out that federal land use policy is moving away from the incentive approach to controlling land use and toward a more mandatory approach aimed at giving increased emphasis to environmental quality and less to economic efficiency.

A model for conceptualizing and analyzing annexation problems was developed and applied to a problem in Heber City, Wasatch County, Utah. The analysis demonstrated that annexation is feasible by showing …

Economics Of Land Use Planning--Utah Recreational Subdivisions, 1962-72, Donald William (Sandy) Mac Pherson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Economic and environmental inventory and evaluation were made of Utah recreational subdivisions filed with the state from 1962 through 1972. Major data were collected from standard subdivision questionnaires, filed by developers with Utah Real Estate Division, Department of Business Regulation. Study included 62,716 lots, 238,004 acres, and a value, in terms of developers' projected gross sales, of $211,836,550 in 1972 dollars.

Description of Utah recreational urbanization included: community services such as water supply and sanitation, drainage and flooding, fire protection, roads, and schools; developer sales inducements, improvement costs, and selling costs; subdivision layout characteristics, locations, magnitude, value, and buildout rates; …

An Economic Analysis Of Inter-County Variation In Residence Patterns Of Farm Families In Utah, Kansas, California, Iowa, And Texas 1964, Leroy V. Clifford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was undertaken to determine which factors, if any, are responsible for inter-county variation in the percent of farm operators residing off the farm in California, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Utah.

These states were selected for this study because of their wide representation of the various types of agricultural and sectional differences. These states vary significantly in type of farm, tenure conditions, off-farm employment opportunities, cultural patterns, remoteness of farms from town, and other variables.

Forward step-wise regression analysis was utilized in each of the states to correlate percent of farm operators residing off the farm with type of …

A Forecast Of Iranian Demand For Agricultural Food Products, Ivan F. Beutler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Domestic demand for Iranian agricultural food commodities was projected for 1970, 1975 and 1980. Demand for particular commodities was projected separately for Tehran (the capital city), urban Iran and rural Iran.

Income and population growth were the most significant explanatory variables in this long term projection.

Two cross-sectional family budget surveys, taken six years apart, provided consumption data for Tehran and urban Iran. A series of family budget studies provided Engel curve data for rural Iran.

The income effect was estimated for each food item by least squares regression analysis. The resulting income elasticities were found to be significantly different …

Attitudes Of Selected College Professors And College Students In Utah Toward Labor Unions, Dwain Dee Stephenson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The attitudes of selected university professors and students in Utah toward labor unions were obtained through the medium of a questionnaire.

Most students and professors favored anti-trust laws for unions, were against the abolishment of the right-to-work law, and were evenly divided in their feelings concerning the settlement of strikes by compulsory arbitration.

A majority of students and professors were against an increase in overtime pay and a shorter work week. Students favored and professors opposed a raise in the minimum wage.

Professors and students anticipated growth in union membership as a percentage of the labor force.

Except for professors …

An Economic Evaluation Of The Product Sugar With Special Emphasis On The Abnormal Sugar Market Of 1963-1964, Merlin J. Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The product sugar is studied in detail with special emphasis on supply and demand factors, in an attempt to better understand the abnormal sugar market of 1963-1964.

The unusual market fluctuations of that period appear to have been initiated by a statistical imbalance in world supply and demand of sugar.

The extent of price fluctuations in the United States during 1963-1964 were accentuated by the inability of current sugar legislation to shield the U. S. market from the world market, and by the openly aggressive purchasing policies followed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture which further aggravated an already …