Labor Economics Commons^™

Pollution Abatement Costs: Hurting Or Helping Productivity?, Jacqueline M. Volkman

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This paper analyzes the effect that regulatory inputs or expenditures for labor, materials, and capital have on productivity for three industries (blast furnaces and steel mills, alkalies and chlorine, and petroleum refining). Data is examined from 1973 to 1994 and the growth rate of total factor productivity (TFP) is considered. The pattern of pollution abatement expenditures for three media, water, air, and solid wastes, is also examined graphically. In addition, the measurement for TFP is adjusted to net out regulatory inputs for labor, materials, and capital. A comparison between the original and adjusted measurement of TFP is made for each …

Discrimination Against Canadian Colours, Veevek Thankey

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

Canada is a nation of immigrants. Decades of open and compassionate immigration policies have earned Canada a solid reputation abroad in this regard. However, as long as there has been immigration in this country, concerns have existed over the impact of immigration on the labour market and, more importantly, the role that discrimination plays regarding income differentials. This paper will analyze the earning differentials of immigrants, which shall be defined as ethnic minorities.

English Language Proficiency And Wage Rates Of Mexican Immigrants, Jeremy Sandford

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This paper studies the effect of English language deficiency on the wage rates of Mexican immigrants. Using a sample of 81,059 labor market male Mexican Immigrants taken from Census PUMS data, I find that the direct effect of English language deficiency on earnings is virtually nonexistent for immigrants with low education and experience levels. The results show that only immigrants with at least a high school education or some US labor market experience will make less than their immigrant counterparts who speak English very well. The cost of language deficiency to those with some education or experience, however, is large. …

The Economics Of Dowry: Causes And Effects Of An Indian Tradition, Tonushree Jaggi

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

I argue that dowries exist because of a combination of two reasons. First, there is an excess supply of women in the Indian marriage market that results in the use of dowry as an equilibrating mechanism. Secondly, a differential in the patterns of human capital accumulation of men and women have led to a larger positive benefit from marriage for women than for men, the net difference of which is theoretically equivalent to the amount of the dowry. Both these explanations for the existence of dowry are fundamentally grounded in the powerful social and cultural ideologies of marriage held by …

The Great Divide: A Comparison Of Kentucky And Ohio Counties Along The Ohio River (1840-1860), Jennie Berry

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This paper operates under an opposite assumption and, instead, argues that the Kentucky-Ohio border is an ideal test case for the null hypothesis that the institution of slavery per se had no significant economic effects. Kentucky and Ohio counties tracing the Ohio River are composed of the same soil and face similar weather conditions (Blanford, 2001; Barnhisel, 2001; Foster, 2001). Both regions likewise claim the same geographical access to outside markets.

The Role Of Human Capital In Wealth Accumulation, Thomas Scheiding

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

After an introduction to the fundamental elements of human capital theory, I will define the characteristics of general and specific human capital, and show who pays for and yields the benefits from investment in each component. I will then proceed to explain why understanding the magnitude of the rate of return in terms of wealth is imperative, both theoretically and practically. After I develop testable hypotheses, I will introduce the data set to be used, and present my model. Finally, I present the regression results, and provide a direction for future research in this area.

The Phillips Curve In The 1990s, Hayden Smith

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This paper will explore whether or not the Phillips curve relationship exists for the 1990s. I will attempt to estimate a Phillips curve for the past decade using data for the United States. In section two, I will explain the theory behind the Phillips curve and how the theory has evolved. In section three, I will present a literature review discussing previous research and results. Section four will present my empirical model and data. In section 5, I will present my results and discuss econometric problems such as serial correlation that may lead to biased estimates. In section six I …

How Do Varying Investments In Human Capital Differentially Effect Men's And Women's Income?, Dieter Haager

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

The purpose of my research is to determine if equally qualified college-educated men receive more compensation than college-educated women do after several years of experience in the labor force. The empirical model will include several variables to account for investments in human capital, which will help to establish if the individuals are equally qualified. The variables include controls for education, mobility, migration and area of residence. I am specifically looking to analyze the effects of human capital investment on income. I will also be paying particular attention to the depreciation of human capital, which may occur as a result of …

How Wages Are Set: Uncertain Political Marginal Productivity: Price Theory, Wage Theory, Agency Theory, And The Theory Of The Firm, Thomas C. Lane

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

In this paper, I will derive a new model of wage prices by starting with price theory and wage theory and then blending in the cost factors uncovered by agency theory and the theory of the firm, and Alchian's work on economic uncertainty. The final result is still theoretical and cannot be used to predict a specific workers wage, but is nevertheless more complete and realistic in detailing the process of wage determination.

The Gender Wage Gap In The Economics Profession A Search In The Return To Marriage And Fertility Of Ph.D. Economists, Weiyi Shi

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

Previous researchers have found that after controlling for various determinants of economists’ earnings, there still remains an unexplained residual wage gap across genders in the economics profession. This study uses 1990 Census data to examine the return to marriage and fertility of male and female Ph.D. economists in an attempt to explain in part the residual gender wage gap in the profession. Marital status is found to have no impact on male or female economists’ earnings. Fertility does not affect male economists' earnings, but is negatively correlated with female economists' earnings. I conclude that the different returns to fertility across …

The Effects On Labor Of Post-Industrial Globalization: A Comparison Of Marxist And Non-Marxist Paradigms, Louis Hyman

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

In this paper I will be examining the changes in labor conditions that have occurred during the last ten years, how they are intimately linked to new notions of information technology and the rise of a global economic perspective. I will compare the [Marxist and non-Marxist] trains of thought as well, and attempt to provide a notion of where I believe them to be sufficient and lacking. If these new notions of globalized post-industrial labor resolve the antagonism between Labor and Capital, they would signal a critical shift in the socioeconomic dynamics of the world, similar in importance to the …

Gender Differences In The Causes Of Non-Completion Rates Among Oregon Apprentices: A Case Study Of The Metro Electrical Jtpc, Portland, Oregon, Kerstin Rock

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This paper will address the question of why women drop out of apprenticeship programs at a higher frequency than men. I will examine if there are in fact substantial differences in human capital and social characteristics between female and male apprentices and whether the influence of these characteristics on the probability of finishing depends on the sex of the apprentice. I hypothesize that the reasons apprentices quit prematurely will differ significantly between sexes, especially in reference to educational background, experience, and family situation.

Free Agents, Fire Sales, And Fungoes: An Econometric Examination Of Team Success In Major League Baseball, Corey R. Maynard

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This paper explores what good organizational strategies baseball teams use to put themselves into the group of those that win more often than they lose, and conversely, what poor strategies cause teams to fall into the group of those who lose more than they win.

The Minimum Wage In America Will Current Legislation Really Help The Working Poor?, Douglas A. Noe

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This same incentive is not present for players either already tied up in long-term contracts or those without enough major league service time to qualify for free-agent status. Were Finley's plan adopted, this incentive would be present for all players in all seasons, instead of just the few hoping for lucrative contracts at the end of the year. While the competitive balance (and aggregate statistics) may not be effected, if work effort is indeed endogenous, overall effort (and "hustle") would likely be increased, and a finer product would be put on the field, potentially increasing attendance and thus revenues. Thus, …

Cultural Wage Differentials Among United States Immigrants, Bill Takahashi

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

This project will attempt to take a modern snapshot of the ongoing process of immigration and cultural diversification, examine the problem of immigrant adaptation into the American way of life and explore which groups, if any, have an advantage when it comes to integrating into American society. More specifically this paper will address the question: What is the role of cultural factors in determining the standard of living of immigrants.

Editor's Note: Figures are missing from this article. We apologize for the inconvenience.