Economics Commons^™

From Economic Miracle To Developmental Basket Case: The Political Economy Of Puerto Rico’S Operation Bootstrap, Kevyn J. Piña

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This study investigates why Operation Bootstrap, which once brought industrialization to Puerto Rico and was deemed successful, did not become a sustainable social and economic strategy. The study delves into how Puerto Rico's colonial position affected this shift from success to failure. Although Operation Bootstrap initially prospered due to American funding and technological advancements, Puerto Rico's colonial status ultimately impeded progress. A review of Puerto Rico's history with the United States, including issues of debt and economic development, reveals that the island's colonial past has made it challenging to address concerns related to economic advancement. This essay explores the relationship …

Freedom To Choose: The Economic Impact Of Reduced Abortion Access On Women’S Labor Market Outcomes, Zaara A. Masud

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This project aims to look at the economic impact of a reduction in abortion access on women's labor market outcomes. To do this, I use Sen and Nussbaum's capabilities approach to analyze the different capabilities that would be impacted and find that women's educational attainment, income, and labor force participation rates are all lower without access to abortion.

Don’T Talk To Me Until I’Ve Had My Coffee: An Analysis Of Colombia’S Changing Coffee And Agricultural Sector In The Face Of Climate Change, Nita Vemuri

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Abstract

“With each year that passes, Atlantic and Pacific cyclone generating areas have experienced higher sea surface temperatures and increases in the intensity and duration of tropical storms.” (Sherbinin et al., 2007) While climate change remains a myth to some, it has become a reality for many, especially those whose livelihoods depend on climate-vulnerable fields and occupations. Latin American countries are especially subjected to climate change consequences because of their vast agricultural sectors and their reliance on ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) patterns, “There is a clear relationship …

French Bilateral Aid To Mali: Examining The Donor-Recipient Relationship’S Effect On Development, Hazel R. Carson

Senior Projects Spring 2022

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

The State Of Crypto: How Blockchain Changes The Private Money Debate And The Innovation Of Digital Value, Patrick Devine

Senior Projects Spring 2022

This paper seeks to explore how cryptocurrencies improve on past issues with private currencies and assess where they fit within the broader economic and regulatory context. This paper finds that blockchain technology provides a solid foundation for cryptocurrencies to improve on many of the past issues associated with private currencies, but concludes that, given the infancy of the industry and the lack of an established regulatory framework, we cannot confirm that they are truly infallible, nor that they provide a clear answer to the debate over whether private currencies actually improve the financial system as laid out by Hayek, Ingham, …

Price Is What You Pay: An Analysis Of Government Pricing Power, Denton Penn Lane

Senior Projects Spring 2022

Marketplaces for goods and services are defined by the existence of prices. In a market economy, the price is an important determinant for production and consumption. We analyze theories describing how private firms price their goods and how government activity affects those prices. This description of government pricing powers is done through the lens of Modern Money Theory so as to provide a detailed view of the current monetary system. Through exploring a series of fiscal policy options, this paper has shown government pricing power to be present and undertheorized. The resulting discussion is aimed at providing theoretical background for …

Russian Climate Politics In 2019: Concessions And Trade Offs, Nikita O. Minin

Senior Projects Spring 2019

In the paper of this project the Russia’s political justifications for the signing of the Kyoto Protocol and the refusal to sign the Paris Accord are analyzed. Russia’s current adaptive strategies and trajectory towards creating a potentially devastating future for the planet are assessed in terms of their economic justifications. Overall this paper argues that the Paris Accord needs to be amended to be economically and politically fair for all signing countries. Currently Russia could lose GDP if they signed the accord, and this is presented as the primary reason for Russia’s refusal to sign. The thesis of the paper …

Is Dependence On Property Tax Funding Stifling Academic Achievement? Evidence From Public High Schools In New York, Nathan Sean Reece

Senior Projects Spring 2015

The United States has historically demonstrated a fervent interest in its public education system. Performance concerns have inundated the system for years, prompting overarching policy reforms that have received vast criticisms. This paper aims to highlight the link between these performance deficiencies and the nature in which public education in funded in the United States, and in the process of doing so argues that this system is outdated and needs to be changed. Our results indicate that a strong relationship exists between school districts that rely more heavily on property tax revenue and academic achievement in the form of graduation …