Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Regional Economics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Regional Economics

An Optimal Depletion Cge Model: A Systematic Framework For Energy-Economy Analysis In Resource-Based Economies, Hodjat Ghadimi Jan 2006

An Optimal Depletion Cge Model: A Systematic Framework For Energy-Economy Analysis In Resource-Based Economies, Hodjat Ghadimi

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

Numerical economic models of energy fall into two general categories: models analyzing within energy sector issues and models examining the interaction between the energy sector and the rest of the economy. The first category are mostly partial equilibrium models with a very detailed and disaggregated representation of the energy sector. Although very useful for sector planning purposes this class of models essentially neglect the interdependence of the energy sector and the rest of the economy. The second category, appropriately called energy-economy interaction models, are multisectoral and general equilibrium models focusing on the relationship between the energy sector and the rest …


County-Level Determinants Of Local Public Services In Appalachia: A Multivariate Spatial Autoregressive Model Approach, Gebremeskel H. Gebremariam, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Peter V. Schaeffer Jan 2006

County-Level Determinants Of Local Public Services In Appalachia: A Multivariate Spatial Autoregressive Model Approach, Gebremeskel H. Gebremariam, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Peter V. Schaeffer

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A multivariate spatial autoregressive model of local public expenditure determination with autoregressive disturbance is developed and estimated in this paper. The empirical model is developed on the principles of utility maximization of a strictly quasi concave community utility function. The existence of spatial interdependence is tested using Moran’s I statistic and Lagrange Multiplier test statistics for both the spatial error and spatial lag models. The full model is estimated by efficient GMM following Kelejian and Prucha’s (1998) approach using county-level data from 418 Appalachian counties. The results indicate the existence of significant spillover effects among local governments with respect to …


A Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Tatiana Borisova Jan 2006

A Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Tatiana Borisova

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A spatial panel data analysis at the county level examines how individual food consumption, recreational, and lifestyle choices ― against a backdrop of changing demographic, built environment, and policy factors ― leads to obesity. Results suggest that obesity tends to be spatially autocorrelated; in addition to hereditary factors and lifestyle choices, it is also caused by sprawl and lack of land use planning. Policy measures which stimulate educational attainment, poverty alleviation, and promotion of better land use planning and best consumption practices (BCPs) could both reduce obesity and result in sustainable development of regions where obesity is prevalent and the …


The Interaction Between Individuals’ Destination Choice And Occupational Choice: A Simultaneous Equation Approach, Christiadi, Brian Cushing Jan 2006

The Interaction Between Individuals’ Destination Choice And Occupational Choice: A Simultaneous Equation Approach, Christiadi, Brian Cushing

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

This study examines the relationship between an individual’s occupation choice and destination choice. It portrays the relationship as an interaction between the supply of occupational skills by individuals and demand by different labor market regions. The analysis applies a two-equation simultaneous system: (1) a multinomial logit model of occupational choice and (2) a conditional logit model of state destination choice. The unusual merger of multinomial logit and conditional logit models in a simultaneous equation framework requires derivation of a unique variancecovariance matrix. The results indicate strong association between supply of (migration) and demand for (industry mix) an individual’s occupational skills. …


A Dynamic Cge Analysis Of Exhaustible Resources: The Case Of An Oil Exporting Developing Country, Hodjat Ghadimi Jan 2006

A Dynamic Cge Analysis Of Exhaustible Resources: The Case Of An Oil Exporting Developing Country, Hodjat Ghadimi

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

An extensive literature concerned with optimal depletion of an exhaustible resource, with only a few exceptions, ignores the economy-wide and sectoral distribution effects of resource depletion. This paper presents a dynamic computable general equilibrium model to link the underlying natural resource base to economic performance. The model consists of an intra-temporal price endogenous model of a market economy, embedded in an inter-temporal optimal growth and development model. It is an optimization model that determines the optimal development path of the economy, hence, the inter-temporal depletion problem subject to workings of a multi-sector market economy. This general equilibrium approach captures the …


The Influence Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Factors On Health And Obesity In Rural Appalachia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Hyungna Oh Jan 2006

The Influence Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Factors On Health And Obesity In Rural Appalachia, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Hyungna Oh

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A recursive system of ordered self assessed health (SAH) and a binary indicator of obesity were used to investigate the impact of socioeconomic and environmental factors on health and obesity in the predominantly rural Appalachian state of West Virginia. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data together with county specific socioeconomic and built environment indicators were used in estimation. Results indicate that an individual’s risk of being obese increases at a decreasing rate with per capita income and age. Marginal impacts show that as the level of education attainment increases, the probability of being obese decreases by 3%. Physical inactivity …


An Evaluation Of Method For Constructing Commodity By Industry Flow Matrices, Walter R. Schwarm, Yasuhide Okuyama, Randall Jackson Jan 2006

An Evaluation Of Method For Constructing Commodity By Industry Flow Matrices, Walter R. Schwarm, Yasuhide Okuyama, Randall Jackson

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The lack of consistent, reliable data on interregional trade and interindustry transactions hampers complete analysis of regional models. This study implements and tests interindustry transaction flows in a national system of economic regions derived from an interregional accounting framework and initial information on interregional shipments. The method used to construct an interregional Commodity by Industry Flow matrix for the United States involves the construction of single-state SAMs. The interregional flows connecting states are estimated using a method based on the Commodity Flow Survey data published by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which adjusts the estimated interregional SAM to insure the …


Resource Inventory And Assessment: Vision Shared Focus Team On Technology-Based Economic Development, Randall Jackson, Walter R. Schwarm, Russ Lorince, The Focus Team Jan 2006

Resource Inventory And Assessment: Vision Shared Focus Team On Technology-Based Economic Development, Randall Jackson, Walter R. Schwarm, Russ Lorince, The Focus Team

Regional Research Institute Technical Documents

West Virginia's overall competitive position in the area of technology-based economic development is characterized as mixed. While the state does have significant technology assets including federal research laboratories, universities and selected firms, these assets fail to produce substantial spillover benefits to the local population and state as a whole. While West Virginia has a relatively strong technological base, a number of factors serve to inhibit economic growth and technology transference.


The Impact Of County Level Factors On Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Cheryl Brown, Gerard D'Souza, Tatiana Borisova Jan 2006

The Impact Of County Level Factors On Obesity In West Virginia, Anura Amarasinghe, Cheryl Brown, Gerard D'Souza, Tatiana Borisova

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A panel estimation of county prevalence of obesity indicates that while the percentage of the population with a completed college degree and the number of food stores available per thousand population are negatively and significantly correlated to county obesity rates, mean commuting time, average annual wage and the total number of business establishments per thousand population positively and significantly contribute to obesity. Educational attainment that raises both human and social capital, as well as changes in the built environment can play a vital role in controlling obesity in West Virginia (WV).


Identifying Spatial Clusters Within U.S. Organic Agriculture, Cheryl Brown, Daniel Eades Jan 2006

Identifying Spatial Clusters Within U.S. Organic Agriculture, Cheryl Brown, Daniel Eades

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

The market for organically produced products has experienced rapid growth in recent decades; however, this growth has not been distributed evenly across the country instead concentrating in certain regions. Employing measures of spatial concentration and association we identify those counties in which organic production is clustered or represents a proportion of the agricultural economy greater than what would be expected by national trends. Results show that spatial clustering of organic agriculture does exist based on data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture on organic farms, acreage, and value of sales. Counties with the largest location quotients for organic production were …


Modeling Small Business Growth, Migration Behavior, And Household Income In Appalachia: A Spatial Simultaneous Equations Approach, Gebremeskel H. Gebremariam, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Peter V. Schaeffer Jan 2006

Modeling Small Business Growth, Migration Behavior, And Household Income In Appalachia: A Spatial Simultaneous Equations Approach, Gebremeskel H. Gebremariam, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Peter V. Schaeffer

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

In this paper, a spatial simultaneous equations model of business growth, migration behavior and median household income is empirically estimated. The empirical simultaneous model is developed from the equilibrium relationships among these variables where each variable is assumed to adjust to its equilibrium level with a substantial lag through a partial equilibrium adjustment process. We use Generalized Spatial Three-Stage Least Squares estimator to estimate the empirical model using data from 418 Appalachian counties for 1990- 2000. The results suggest the existence of very strong interdependences among business growth, migration behavior and median household income in the form of feed-back simultaneities, …


Quality Of Care In Appalachian Nursing Homes: Doing More With Less?, Mary W. Carter, Shuhui Wang Jan 2006

Quality Of Care In Appalachian Nursing Homes: Doing More With Less?, Mary W. Carter, Shuhui Wang

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

Despite comprising nearly 10% of the nation’s nursing home population, little is known about the quality of care provided by nursing homes located in rural Appalachia. However, anecdotal evidences suggests that the economic disadvantages associated with the Appalachian region may lead to higher concentrations of certain structural and organizational attributes previously shown to affect nursing home quality. In response, this study sought to examine empirically whether nursing homes located in Appalachia differ in the number of deficiency citations received in comparison with nursing homes located elsewhere, and to explore the extent to which factors other than quality of care determine …


Examining And Evaluating Aggregation Scale Effects On Interregional Commodity By Industry Trade Flow Estimates, Walter R. Schwarm, Randall Jackson Jan 2006

Examining And Evaluating Aggregation Scale Effects On Interregional Commodity By Industry Trade Flow Estimates, Walter R. Schwarm, Randall Jackson

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

This study tests the implementation of interindustry transaction flows in a national system of economic regions derived from an interregional accounting framework and initial information on interregional shipments. The interregional flows connecting states are estimated using a method based on the Commodity Flow Survey data published by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which adjusts the estimated interregional SAM to insure the integrity of intraregional and system-wide, national accounts. The resulting US interregional framework describes flows within and among the 51 regions We examine results of a series of trials testing the validity of the resulting interregional trade-flow data versus other …


Participatory Watershed Management For Sustainable Rural Livelihoods In India, Budumuru Yoganand, Tesfa Gebremedhin Jan 2006

Participatory Watershed Management For Sustainable Rural Livelihoods In India, Budumuru Yoganand, Tesfa Gebremedhin

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

International development goals moved beyond increasing food production to include poverty reduction and protecting the environment in a sustainable way. Degradation of natural resources due to exploitation coupled with population pressure in developing countries causing food insecurity and environmental degradation further. Participatory watershed management approach is proposed to address this problem effectively.


Theoretical Perspectives On Industry Clusters, Gashawbeza W. Bekele, Randall Jackson Jan 2006

Theoretical Perspectives On Industry Clusters, Gashawbeza W. Bekele, Randall Jackson

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

The concept of industry clustering has generated much discussion in regional economic development theory and practice in recent years. Yet it is fair to say that an accepted definition or a unified theoretical framework has failed to emerge from the discussion, as the concept often seems to enliven itself under divergent theoretical approaches, including but not limited to work on agglomeration economies, industrial districts, business networks, knowledge spillovers, and regional innovation systems. This paper provides a review of the major theoretical propositions that seek to explain the clustering of economic activity and its presumed link with regional economic development. While …


An Empirical Analysis Of County-Level Determinants Of Small Business Growth And Poverty In Appalachia: A Spatial Simultaneous-Equations Approach, Gebremeskel H. Gebremariam, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Peter V. Schaeffer Jan 2006

An Empirical Analysis Of County-Level Determinants Of Small Business Growth And Poverty In Appalachia: A Spatial Simultaneous-Equations Approach, Gebremeskel H. Gebremariam, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Peter V. Schaeffer

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A spatial simultaneous-equations growth equilibrium model estimated by GS2SLS and GS3SLS estimators is used to determine the interdependence between small business growth and poverty. The parameter estimates are mostly consistent with the theoretical expectations. The coefficients for the endogenous variables of the model are positive and significant indicating strong interdependence (feedback simultaneity) between small business and median household income growth rates. The results also show the presence of spatial autoregressive lag simultaneity and spatial cross-regressive lag simultaneity, with respect to both small business and median household income growth rates, and the existence of spatial correlation in the error terms. In …