Business Commons^™

Made In China: Decline Of Unions And Stagnant Wages In The U.S., Witt Harberts

Honors Program Theses

All of this research is connected by a dedication to better understand or solve the wealth and income inequality that has been prevalent in every country. I intend to add to this research by examining the relationship between unions and wages, which plays into the bigger conversation about wealth and income inequality. To summarize, the questions are, is there a correlation between the decline in union membership and the stagnation of wages? If so, has it played a role in the rise in income and wealth inequality in the U.S.?

Determinants Of Long-Term Care Insurance: Are Spouses Substitutes?, Jacob Harold-Matthew Haag

Honors Program Theses

As the U.S. population continues to age due to medical advancements and the aging of the largest generation in the history of the U.S. (baby boomers), the number of people in long-term care facilities has increased significantly; however, the percentage of people with long-term care insurance is small. Research conducted in the early 2000s focused on factors such as availability of children, risk aversion, health status, age, having Medicaid, and other variables that describe personal attributes to explain why the market is so small. This paper will use recent data from the Health and Retirement Study to determine whether or …

An Empirical Analysis On Major League Soccer Player Earnings, Aaron Michael Anderson Iehl

Honors Program Theses

Application of economic and statistical techniques to the sports world has been on the rise for some time. The major sports in the United States (football, basketball, baseball, and hockey) have been thoroughly studied. However, professional soccer in the United States has emerged as a strong sports market in the last 20 years. This paper applies a statistical technique used by Lucifora and Simmons (2003) on an Italian professional soccer league to examine determinants of professional soccer player wages and assess the overall value added. The model is applied to Major League Soccer to determine how the different league structure …

Frauds In K-12 School Districts, Cassandra Lorraine Zinnel

Honors Program Theses

When a child is dropped off at school, thinking a fraud could happen would be the farthest thing from one’s mind. This paper will be examining school frauds happening in five different states to see any trends within the data. The investigated trends included how the frauds were discovered, how the patterns of cases looked in the last 15 years, and which controls were defective that allowed the fraud to occur. The paper analyzes the state auditor reports from several states dealing with school frauds. This paper will demonstrate an understanding of why school frauds happen and why they happen …

Foreign-Born Workers' Effect On Agricultural Industry In Iowa, Hannah Mcdevitt

Honors Program Theses

It is no secret that Iowa’s reputation relies heavily on farms. Several years ago, a woman from California actually asked me if I ride my tractor to school. I wish I could tell you that was just a fun hook to get you interested in my paper, but it happened. Farming is a part of Iowa’s culture and an essential piece of the state’s economy. Iowa is one of the main pork, corn, and soybean producers in the United States, and its farming roots extend deep into the state’s rich soil.

Vinyl Advertisement In The Uni Bookstore Windows, Emma Wilker

Honors Program Theses

At my initial meeting with my client representative we discussed his interest in a perforated vinyl advertisement. We met at the UNI Bookstore so I could see these windows in person. The UNI Bookstore windows are divided into sections by thick bars. There are equalsized divisions vertically while horizontally they are divided into three sections: a large middle section and smaller top and bottom sections. He envisioned perforated vinyl on the middle sections of the windows, possibly all of the north facing windows and half of the east facing ones.

The Effects Of Casinos On Unemployment: A County Level Analysis, Sally Anne St. Clair Kron

Honors Program Theses

The gambling industry in the United States has experienced significant growth over the past thirty years. As the industry continues to expand, legislators must consider the pros and cons that accompany the industry expansion. This paper examines if the social and economic benefits from the casino industry outweigh the social and economic costs of gambling with a specific focus on the effects on unemployment. The gaming industry creates tax revenue, employment, and entertainment for the community. But it also has a regressive tax structure and creates problems like pathological gambling. This paper analyzes this tradeoff and uses Ordinary Least Squares …

Work-Related Outcomes And Organizational Commitment, Mushaun Miller

Honors Program Theses

The modern workplace encompasses a multi-generational and diverse workforce. Now more than ever, workplaces include those of various ages, backgrounds, races, and more. It is important for an organization to manage the differences among its employees in order to influence personal and organizational outcomes. After all, work-related personal outcomes allow the employee to evaluate the organization and find his/her place within it- which influences commitment to an organization. Organizational commitment is a crucial goal due to its ability to reduce various dysfunctional behaviors such as absenteeism or turnover. High organizational commitment also leads to various positive outcomes including stronger customer …

Biotech Fever: Market Overreaction To Fda Clinical Trials, Ethan J. Hugstad

Honors Program Theses

Picture this: someone buys the stock of a firm that is about to announce the results of a drug’s FDA clinical trial the next day. They go to bed that night, imagining the potential of their newly owned business to finally cure a disease that has impacted so many families. They wake up the next morning to find that the firm has lost half of its market value because the drug failed. This is the stark reality that many small investors face: the unpredictability of price movements in response to nonfinancial information being released to the public.

English Proficiency And Earnings Of U.S. Immigrants, Toni F. Moeller

Honors Program Theses

Every year thousands of immigrants come to the United States and look to join the labor force. Most of these immigrants have a first language that is not English. This study analyzes how wage income, business and farm income, and investment income are affected by English proficiency in 2004, 2009, and 2014. I use data from the American Community Survey and a log-linear econometric model to explore this relationship. I conclude that wage income and business and farm income had a positive relationship with English proficiency in 2004, 2009, and 2014 whereas investment income only had a significant positive relationship …

The Intercultural Communication Of The Business World: A Review Of The Literature And Application To Colombian And English-Speaking Professionals, Anna Colleen Kelly

Honors Program Theses

This paper studies major works that contribute to the knowledge of the formation of cultural values and how those values are influential in the context of business, especially when it comes to international management. As the world becomes more globalized, business organizations face new challenges as members encounter cross-cultural situations. Experts on international management and leading scholars on culture and business Alfons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner (2012) explained that the “internationalization of business life requires more knowledge of cultural patterns” (p.6). It is no longer sufficient for business people to ignore their own culture, and to understand and accept the …

The Propitious Puzzle For Small Business Owners: Understanding The Section 199a Deduction, Kameron Elizabeth Kehoe

Honors Program Theses

This paper will analyze how the new tax law changes passed by Congress that are effective beginning in the 2018 taxable year, specifically the Section 199A deduction, will impact small businesses. Research will be based on a survey of small business owners and tax professionals in the Cedar Valley area about their knowledge and opinion of the tax law changes. In order to make comparisons between the different businesses, questions will be geared towards how the businesses are planning to calculate the Section 199A deduction and what businesses are planning to do with the extra savings they may have after …

An Analysis Of Equity-Linked Insurance Pricing, Clara C. Ortgies

Honors Program Theses

This comprehensive study of equity-linked insurance options will explore the pricing of certificates of deposit and life insurance options using a present value method. With this study, I will be able to construct and price various equity-linked insurance products, with a focus on life insurance, that insurance companies could then sell to prospective customers. I will use concepts and formulas based in actuarial math, probability theory, and financial engineering in order to construct, price, and analyze new equity-linked insurance products. The fundamental methodology I will use involves applying pricing theory based on the expected value of the insurance payoff present …

Realizing Edgar: Eliminating Information Asymmetries Through Artificial Intelligence Analysis Of Sec Filings, Ryan H. Giarusso

Honors Program Theses

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) maintains a publicly-accessible database of all required filings of all publicly traded companies. Known as EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval), this database contains documents ranging from annual reports of major companies to personal disclosures of senior managers. However, the common user and particularly the retail investor are overwhelmed by the deluge of information, not empowered. EDGAR as it currently functions entrenches the information asymmetry between these retail investors and the large financial institutions with which they often trade. With substantial research staffs and budgets coupled to an industry standard of “playing …

The Impact Of Terrorism On Commercial Office Real Estate In Manhattan, Madeline M. O'Donnell

Honors Program Theses

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (“9/11”) caused major loss of human life, financial resources, and infrastructure. Within hours, over 30 million square feet of real estate in Downtown Manhattan was lost, creating an unprecedented change in supply and demand for real estate in the area. Hundreds of companies were directly affected by the loss of their offices and business fixtures, and were forced to quickly develop plans for how and where to resume work (“A Look at Former World Trade Center Tenants,” 2002). Property owners – many of whom owned the then damaged or nonexistent buildings as ground leases …

The Business Of Fraud, Jessica Marie Berkshire

Honors Program Theses

This paper will focus on fraud within companies in order to discover overarching themes of why, when, and where corporate fraud occurs. Fraud has significant financial, economic, and social implications that negatively impact a company’s business standing. Research will be based on recent frauds that have been tried through the United States Attorney’s office. Correlations will be drawn regarding the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s (COSO) framework, which is a foundation for companies who want to improve their internal controls. Based on the comparisons between the COSO framework and recent fraud activity, individual COSO principles can be …

Organizational Culture: An Analysis Of The Aggregate Impact On Financial Performance, Arijan Alagic

Honors Program Theses

Strong organizational culture, although an intangible asset, can produce tangible gains for businesses in the form of stock returns. This study uses Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work for in America to identify companies with strong organizational culture. Of those 100, I used the stock performance of 20 public companies who have (1) been on the list for at least 10 years and (2) have been publicly traded for at least 10 years. Each of the companies is assigned a matching industry sector and the returns are compared to the overall stock market, represented by the S&P 500. From …

The Professional Development Of Students Through Global Experiences, Myle Duong

Honors Program Theses

As globalization increases from advancing technologies and innovation, more businesses are entering the international market. With this, comes a demand for a culturally competent workforce. To possess cross cultural skills, college students must develop Cultural Intelligence. According to the Cultural Intelligence Center, Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is defined as the ability to relate and work effectively in culturally diverse situations. Research shows that college students who go abroad have a higher probability of standing out to employers due to the knowledge and risks associated with going global, and make further efforts to immerse themselves in cultures (10 Benefits to Studying Abroad). …

Cedar Falls Community Main Street: A Gap Analysis Of Customer & Business Owner Perceptions, Cassie Evers

Honors Program Theses

Cedar Falls, Iowa is a small town of approximately 40,000 people, which has a traditional Main Street district, lined by historic buildings filled with shops, restaurants, offices, and apartments alike (“Current Cedar Falls, Iowa Population, Demographics and Stats”). This main street district is managed by an organization called Community Main Street. Cedar Falls Community Main Street (CMS) has done extensive research to gain an understanding of their market by surveying customers. However, they lack information on their business owners and managers’ opinions. This study focused on surveying area business owners to provide valuable information about business leaders’ opinions to Community …

The Secondary Interview : Ethical Concerns Regarding Social Media Scanning In The Commercial Hiring Process, Christopher Pollpeter

Honors Program Theses

As more and more of our daily lives take place online, it is becoming critical for our society to decide how we deal with ethical issues in an online context. The study of ethics has existed for millennia, but only recently have two people on opposite ends of the globe been able to communicate and collaborate on a project in real time. One of the most prominent places this change has affected the daily lives of Americans is in the world of business.

Relevant Decision Criteria And Their Level Of Importance In Consumers' Choice Of Hospital, Jordan Brelje

Honors Program Theses

As the health care industry becomes increasingly consumer-driven, it is crucial for hospitals to understand the considerations involved in their patients’ choice of health care institution. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors which most heavily influence consumers’ choice of hospital, as well as to make recommendations to health care marketers based upon the conclusions reached. This study also hoped to provide beneficial insights to public policy makers who desire to give consumers more control in the health care decision-making process. Very little research has been performed in recent years as to consumers’ choice of hospital decision …

Perspectives On Why The Glass Ceiling Still Exists For Women In Advertising And Media And Tools To Help Shatter It, Olivia Hottle Mossman

Honors Program Theses

This ethnographic study provides current insights into the barriers women experience as they seek executive positions in the media and advertising industries—careers largely held by men. Interviews with women who currently or have previously held management roles in media and advertising companies are analyzed and presented. The knowledge gained from these interviews raises awareness of the lack of women’s voices on the media channels that influence a society’s perception of what is socially and culturally acceptable. This research also counteracts an absence of recent research regarding this topic. As the study evolved, it looked more at the relationships between women …

The Impact Of Hyped Ipo's On The Market, Elias Escobedo

Honors Program Theses

Increasingly, finance researchers are including irrationality into their understanding of the stock market, including emotions (Tetlock, 2007) or misunderstanding of available information (Huberman & Regev, 2007). The popularity of the recent Alibaba IPO demonstrates that investors can get excited.1 Is excitement an important determinant of the behavior of stock market investors? Empirical evidence suggests that investors “herd” into similar stocks (Wermers, 1999) and may experience common feelings of optimism and pessimism (Tetlock, 2007). If investor’s emotions correlate, what about excitement? Can the excitement for a particular stock spill over into the excitement of other stocks?

To analyze the impact excitement …

Gender Differences In Pay Expectations At Three Career Stages, Elijah Rogeay Seay

Honors Program Theses

Major and Konar (1984) found a difference between genders in pay expectations, but no difference in the perceived fairness of expected pay. In my study, I evaluated pay expectation differences in gender at three career stages. In previous studies, researchers have only looked at what individuals earn at the beginning and peak of their careers. I specifically examined both men and women and asked them to indicate their expected pay at the beginning, middle and end of their careers. In this study the main effect for gender was significant such that males had higher pay expectations than females. In addition, …

Public Accounting Recruiting: Implications Of The Antecedents And Consequences Of Organizational Identity On Hiring, Ariana Marie Aquilani

Honors Program Theses

Unfortunately, the industry of public accounting has been plagued with a high turnover rate. Recent studies show that around fifteen percent of staff leave the industry each year with a large portion of these professionals only having spent between three and five years in the profession (Platt Consulting Group, 2013). This problem leads to a constant demand for new hires in public accounting firms, especially recent college graduates entering the job market. As a result, the recruiting process has become the primary way of attracting these new hires in order to continue to replace staff moving to new positions outside …

Tribal And Commercial Casinos In The Midwestern United States: Effect On County Unemployment, Amber Irlmeier

Honors Program Theses

The subject of casinos is constantly surrounded by debate. The proponents of casinos frequently say that casinos bring jobs, and therefore, they will reduce the unemployment rate. This study quantitatively analyzes this claim. Furthermore, previous research looked at either tribal or commercial casinos. This study looks at both tribal and commercial casinos so a comparison can be made between the impacts of the two types of casinos. The sample analyzed is a set of commercial and tribal casinos in eight Midwestern states. The findings are that a commercial casino entering a county is significantly negatively correlated with the unemployment rate, …

Ethics And Executive Compensation, Brittany Silvey

Honors Program Theses

To investigate the ethics behind compensation plan calculations, to determine if unaudited measures are being used in publicly traded companies, and how often unaudited measures are being used I considered twenty-six companies from a variety of industries. These included technology, agriculture, retail, finance and insurance, health care, natural resources, and others. Industry leading companies were selected to be studied as well as some of personal interest. Companies that have been speculated by financial analysts, recent published articles, or studies as companies that have unethical compensation plans and have used unethical accounting practices in determining executive compensation were also considered. These …

Management Information Systems: An Information Portal For A Major With Limitless Interpretations, Benjamin Richard Lahue

Honors Program Theses

Management Information Systems often referred to as MIS is the people-oriented use of computers in business. MIS is both a field of study and a career path. It combines the foundations of computing, analysis, and business in to one field of study. MIS is a major that is growing in popularity; however, it is still unknown to many undergraduates. This thesis includes both research and creative aspects. The information gathered by research was used to generate the requirements for an information portal relating to the MIS program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). A portal is a one stop …

The Federal Estate Tax: A Comprehensive Look At The Effects On American Farming And Ranching Businesses, Taylor G. Johnson

Honors Program Theses

One central divide that has emerged on the federal estate tax issue is whether or not it adversely affects farming and ranching businesses in America. An adverse effect on a farming and ranching business would be if business assets would need to be sold in order to pay the federal estate tax. There are opinions on both sides of this issue. Thus, the first research question to answer will be:

i. Does the federal estate tax have adverse consequences on farming and ranching businesses in America?

After a conclusion is drawn on whether or not there are adverse effects from …

Integrated Marketing Communications Plan For Hospiceadeasy, Megan Elizabeth Horn

Honors Program Theses

HospiceADEASY is an online store where hospices can purchase high-quality, pre-produced, customizable hospice promotional materials. Available materials include billboards, brochures, e-marketing materials, print advertisements, 30-second radio ads and 30-second TV ads. HospiceADEASY is operated by ME&V, a full-service marketing, advertising and fundraising agency. ME&V has a wealth of experience in hospice marketing, fundraising, higher education marketing, healthcare marketing and more. This plan sets out the steps HospiceADEASY should take to increase its sales and reach a wider audience. It covers all the bases from traditional direct mail advertising to new forms of online communications and can be implemented, in full …