Economics Commons^™

Selection Bias In College Admissions Test Scores, Jesse Rothstein, Melissa Clark, Diane Schanzenbach

Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach

Data from college admissions tests can provide a valuable measure of student achievement, but the non-representativeness of test-takers is an important concern. We examine selectivity bias in both state-level and school-level SAT and ACT averages. The degree of selectivity may differ importantly across and within schools, and across and within states. To identify within-state selectivity, we use a control function approach that conditions on scores from a representative test. Estimates indicate strong selectivity of test-takers in "ACT states," where most college- bound students take the ACT, and much less selectivity in SAT states. To identify within- and between-school selectivity, we …

Clusters And Strategy In Regional Economic Development, Edward Feser

Edward J Feser

Many economic development practitioners view cluster theory and analysis as constituting a general approach to strategy making in economic development, which may lead them to prioritize policy and planning interventions that cannot address the actual development challenges in their cities and regions. This paper discusses the distinction between strategy formation and strategic planning, where the latter is the programming of development strategies that are identified through a blend of experience, intuition, and analysis. Cluster theories and analytical tools can provide useful informational inputs into a strategy making effort and they can also be helpful for programming specific interventions (i.e., strategic …

State Finance In Times Of Crisis, Brian Galle, Jonathan Klick

All Faculty Scholarship

As recent events illustrate, state finances are pro-cyclical: during recessions, state revenues crash, worsening the effects of economic downturns. This problem is well-known, yet persistent. We argue here that, in light of predictable federalism and political economy dynamics, states will be unable to change this situation on their own. Additionally, we note that many possible federal remedies may result in worse problems, such as creating moral hazard that would induce states to take on excessively risky policy, both fiscal and otherwise. Thus, we argue that policy makers should consider so-called “automatic” stabilizers, such as are found in the federal tax …

Spanning Policy Silos In Urban Development And Environmental Management: When Global Cities Are Coastal Cities Too, Herman L. Boschken

Herman L. Boschken

No abstract provided.

Spanning Policy Silos In Urban Development And Environmental Management: When Global Cities Are Coastal Cities Too, Herman L. Boschken

Faculty Publications, School of Management

No abstract provided.

Subnational Credit Rating: A Comparative Review, Lili Liu, Kim Song Tan

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper surveys methodological issues in subnational credit ratings and highlights key challenges for developing countries. Subnational borrowing from capital markets has been on the rise owing to fiscal decentralization and demand for infrastructure investments. A prerequisite for accessing capital markets, subnational credit ratings have also emerged as a part of broader reform for fiscal sustainability. They facilitate a more transparent budgetary and financial management system. The global financial crisis makes subnational credit ratings more relevant, as they contribute to fiscal risk evaluations and fiscal adjustment. In addition to subnationals’ own credit strength, the creditworthiness of the sovereign and the …

The Legal Origins Theory In Crisis, Lisa Fairfax

All Faculty Scholarship

The Legal Origins Theory purports to predict how countries respond to economic and social problems. Specifically, the legal origins of the United States should strongly influence the manner it approaches economic problems and its approach should be distinct from the response of civil law countries. If the theory is accurate, America's legal tradition should have a profound impact on its response to the crisis. This Article seeks to test the boundaries of the theory by assessing whether it could have predicted the manner the U.S. responded to the current economic crisis. After analyzing the U.S. response to the crisis, this …

The Effects Of Tort Reform On Medical Malpractice Insurers’ Ultimate Losses, Patricia Born, W. Kip Viscusi, Tom Baker

All Faculty Scholarship

Whereas the literature evaluating the effect of tort reforms has focused on reported incurred losses, this paper examines the long run effects using a comprehensive sample by state of individual firms writing medical malpractice insurance from 1984-2003. The long run effects of reforms are greater than insurers' expected effects, as five year developed losses and ten year developed losses are below the initially reported incurred losses for those years following reform measures. The quantile regressions show the greatest effects of joint and several liability limits, noneconomic damages caps, and punitive damages reforms for the firms that are at the high …

Women Head Of The Village Councils And Water Borne Diseases, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper examines the relation between prevalence of water- borne diseases and gender of the head of the village councils by exploiting a `natural experiment' in local governance in India. A constitutional amendment in early 1990s ensured that only women could be the head in at least one- third of the village councils selected randomly. Utilizing a unique sample survey, we show that having a woman as the council head seems to have no effect on prevalence of water borne diseases. But if we look into the sub- categories of women council heads, we find that women council heads from …

Women Head Of The Village Councils And Water Borne Diseases, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper examines the relation between prevalence of water- borne diseases and gender of the head of the village councils by exploiting a `natural experiment' in local governance in India. A constitutional amendment in early 1990s ensured that only women could be the head in at least one- third of the village councils selected randomly. Utilizing a unique sample survey, we show that having a woman as the council head seems to have no effect on the prevalence of water borne diseases. But if we look into the sub- categories of the women council heads, we find that the women …

Female Heads Of The Village Councils And Water Borne Diseases, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper examines the relation between prevalence of water- borne diseases and gender of the head of the village councils by exploiting a `natural experiment' in local governance in India. A constitutional amendment in early 1990s ensured that only women could be the head in at least one- third of the village councils selected randomly. Utilizing a unique sample survey, we show that having a woman as the council head seems to have no effect on the prevalence of water borne diseases. But if we look into the sub- categories of the female council heads, we find that the female …

Women Head Of The Village Councils And Water Borne Diseases, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper examines the relation between prevalence of water- borne diseases and gender of the head of the village councils by exploiting a `natural experiment' in local governance in India. A constitutional amendment in early 1990s ensured that only women could be the head in at least one- third of the village councils selected randomly. Utilizing a unique sample survey, we show that having a woman as the council head seems to have no effect on the prevalence of water borne diseases. But if we look into the sub- categories of the women council heads, we find that the women …

Women Head Of The Village Councils And Water Borne Diseases, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper examines the relation between prevalence of water- borne diseases and gender of the head of the village councils by exploiting a `natural experiment' in local governance in India. A constitutional amendment in early 1990s ensured that only women could be the head in at least one- third of the village councils selected randomly. Utilizing a unique sample survey, we show that having a woman as the council head seems to have no effect on the prevalence of water borne diseases. But if we look into the sub- categories of the women council heads, we find that the women …

Diasporas And Development: Perspectives On Definitions And Contributions, Piyasiri Wickramasekara

PIYASIRI WICKRAMASEKARA

The paper addresses an important aspect of the current migration and development debate - the role of diasporas and transnational communities as contributors to the development of their origin countries. He shows that diaspora definitions, estimates of diaspora numbers and conceptualising their contributions are very much inter-related.

In the first section, the author reviews different definitions of diasporas and transnational communities. He then provides some statistical information and estimates available on diaspora communities in different regions of the world with some discussion of their profiles. The diversity of the diaspora is examined in terms of age and skill profiles, length …

Determinants Of Loan Repayment Performance In Microcredit Institutions: Evidence From Tanzania, Abel A. Kinyondo, Nathan Okurut

Abel Alfred Kinyondo

This study investigated the key factors that influence loan repayment performance among group clients of microcredit institutions (MFIs) in Tanzania. This was motivated by the fact that sustainability of MFIs is critical for poverty reduction among the poor through sustainable access to credit. Sustainability of microcredit institutions is greatly influenced by the loan repayment performance of their clients. High repayment rates enable MFIs to recover interest income and minimize loan losses which enhance profits. In turn, these profits enhance the capital base which enables microcredit institutions to increase their outreach and reduce their dependence on donors. The study was based …