Digital Commons Network^™

The Economics Of Mandatory Biotech Food Labeling In The United States, William J. Gongol

Major Themes in Economics

Almost every developed nation in the world except the United States mandates the labeling of genetically modified foods. Upon examining the costs and benefits of mandatory labeling, it appears that this may not be the most efficient solution to deal with varied consumer preferences. The United States government should instead focus on increased scientific research to deal with the externalities of biotechnology.

Terrorism And Multinational Corporations: International Business Deals With The Costs Of Geopolitical Conflict, John J. Mazzarella

Major Themes in Economics

Long before U.S. Armed Forces were committed to the Global War on Terrorism, multinational corporations were habitually the targets of extremist organizations. The threat of global terrorism has a negative effect on international business and commerce. This paper explores the most significant costs of terrorism on international business and evaluates methods for minimizing the negative economic impact of global terrorism.

The Impact Of Computers And Globalization On U.S. Wage Inequality, Jana Kerkvliet

Major Themes in Economics

The late 1970s and early 1980s was a time of rising wage inequality in the United States, particularly between skilled and unskilled workers. During this time, there was also a dramatic increase in on-the-job computer use. Many economists blamed the increase in computer use for the increase in wage inequality in the United States. That view became known as the skill-biased technological change hypothesis. But there are problems with the hypothesis in nearly every dimension of wage inequality in the U.S. labor market. A better explanation for the increase in wage inequality is the globalization of the U.S. economy.

Language Deficiency And The Occupational Attainment Of Mexican Immigrants, Elizabeth Planas '05

Honors Projects

The number of Mexican immigrants that have entered the U.S. has greatly increased over the past decade. The occupational attainment of these immigrants provides insight into how successful they are in the host country and language deficiency has an effect on this occupational attainment. By controlling for language proficiency, human capital characteristics and other variables from the IPUMS database, this project uses probit analysis to predict the probability that an immigrant will be employed in a favorable occupation in the u.s. Results show that language deficiency reduces the probability of attaining a favorable occupation, but having no English language skills …

Socioeconomic Attainments Of Africans Versus African-Americans In The United States, Azeb Berhane

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Using data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) of the 2000 U.S. census, the socioeconomic attainments of African immigrants was compared to African Americans in the United States. This comparison was made within the context of assimilation perspective, human capital perspective, and the family investment model. Consistent with previous research findings, the current study found that African immigrants have higher educational attainments than African-Americans in the United States. However, when breaking down the African group by country of birth, African-Americans were found to have higher educational attainments than a few African countries. Generally, the results reveal that African …

The Political Economy Of Giving: Legitimacy, Welfare, And The Influence Of Foreign Ngos In China, Nathan Wallace

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Since the death of Mao and the rise of reformers in China, the world has eagerly awaited the results of changes sweeping through the developing nation. Deng Xiaoping and his successors have promised reform, which has come in the form of market liberalization. Now, after 20 years of reform, the Chinese people have seen a boom of economic prosperity. Their nation has joined the WTO and taken a central role in the world economy. Reform has also reduced political oversight of people’s daily lives and allowed the economy and society to exist in a less regulated environment. That being said, …

New Mexico Labor Market Review 03-31-2005, New Mexico Department Of Labor

Historic Publications

The New Mexico Labor Market Review is a monthly publication presenting statistical data and analysis on labor market conditions throughout New Mexico. Issues examine statewide and regional trends in employment, unemployment, labor force estimates, industry activity, wages, occupational demand, and related economic conditions, often accompanied by feature articles on topics affecting the state’s economy. This issue covers February 2005.

The Expansion Of Intellectual Property Rights By International Agreement: A Case Study Comparing Chile And Australia’S Bilateral Fta Negotiations With The U.S., Ralph G. Fischer

ExpressO

This paper attempts to address the ongoing debate regarding the expansion of intellectual property rights (IPRs) through international negotiations. Commentators have described three theories that purport to explain the growing scope of IPRs in international law, as reflected in international agreements: that these agreements reflect coercion by economically powerful nations; that they are the products of lobbying by multinational corporations; and that they represent autonomous, welfare-enhancing instruments that benefit all parties. The article tests these theories by using a case study comparing free trade agreement negotiations that the United States recently concluded with a less developed country, Chile, and with …

Grinding Decline In Springfield: Is The Finance Control Board The Answer?, Robert Forrant

New England Journal of Public Policy

Springfield, Massachusetts, the Bay State’s third largest city, suffered staggering manufacturing job loss over the last thirty years of the twentieth century. In 2004, the financial impact of job loss, coupled with dubious fiscal management, plunged the city into near bankruptcy. In response, state government passed legislation appointing a Finance Control Board to manage city business. Wage freezes for City workers were continued and cuts in numerous essential services occurred to deal with the debt. But the question remains, can a Control Board approach grow a large stock of well-paying jobs — large enough to grow the city’s and the …

Climate Change In Metropolitan Boston, Paul Kirshen, Matthias Ruth, William Anderson

New England Journal of Public Policy

Even though urban infrastructure systems are important and are designed according to socioeconomic and environmental conditions that are very sensitive to climate, there have been few major integrated assessments of the impacts of climate change on metropolitan infrastructure systems and services and possible adaptations. An analysis of the Boston metro area found that adaptation actions taken before full climate-change impacts occur will result in fewer expected negative impacts to the region than waiting for major impacts to occur. Adaptation of infrastructure to climate change must also consider land use management, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, equity, and adaptation actors and institutions. …

Law School Admissions After Grutter: Student Bodies, Pipeline Theory, And The River, Michael A. Olivas

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Water Justice In South Africa: Natural Resources Policy At The Intersection Of Human Rights, Economics, & Political Power, Rose Francis

ExpressO

This paper analyzes water as a social justice issue in South Africa, a nation that has undergone tremendous political and legal transformations over the last fifteen years, but whose population nonetheless continues to suffer from severe inequities in access to freshwater resources. In light of growing water scarcity worldwide, this paper highlights that legal treatment of water resources has significant socioeconomic and distributive justice impacts, even in progressive constitutional democracies that have embraced principles of human rights and international legal norms. The paper explores historical changes in South African water law and evaluates the current political and legal status of …

New Mexico Labor Market Review 03-10-2005, New Mexico Department Of Labor

Historic Publications

The New Mexico Labor Market Review is a monthly publication presenting statistical data and analysis on labor market conditions throughout New Mexico. Issues examine statewide and regional trends in employment, unemployment, labor force estimates, industry activity, wages, occupational demand, and related economic conditions, often accompanied by feature articles on topics affecting the state’s economy. This issue covers January 2005.

Social Security, Generational Justice, And Long-Term Deficits, Neil H. Buchanan

Rutgers Law School (Newark) Faculty Papers

This paper assesses current methods for evaluating the long-term viability and desirability of government activities, especially Social Security and other big-ticket budget items. I reach four conclusions: (1) There are several simple ways to improve the current debate about fiscal policy by adjusting our crude deficit measures, improvements which ought not to be controversial, (2) Separately measuring Social Security’s long-term balance is inappropriate and misleading, (3) The methods available to measure very long-term government financing (Fiscal Gaps and their cousins, Generational Accounts) are of very limited value in setting public policy today, principally because there is no reliable baseline of …

Sustainable External Debt Levels: Estimates For Selected Asian Countries, Roberto S. Mariano, Delano Villanueva

Research Collection School Of Economics

High ratios of external debt to GDP in selected Asian countries have contributed to the initiation, propagation, and severity of the financial and economic crises in recent years, reflecting runaway fiscal deficits and excessive foreign borrowing by the private sector. Applying the formal framework proposed by Villanueva (2003) to a selected group of Asian countries, the research estimates the external debt thresholds beyond which further debt accumulation will have negative effects on growth and will become unsustainable. The framework is an extension of the standard neoclassical growth model that incorporates global capital markets. ‘Sustainability’ is measured in terms of the …

Educational Achievement And The Successful Integration Of Latinos In Nebraska: A Statistical Profile To Inform Policies And Programs - Ollas Report No. 1, Lourdes Gouveia, Mary Ann Powell

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

The unprecedented and continuous growth of the Latino population in Nebraka compels us to engage in institutional changes, comprehensive policy reforms, and innovative programs that enhance the productive integration of this population into our state. As an abundant body of research and informed practices make clear, education is the bedrock of successful integration for current and future generations of Latinos. No longer can a job, obtained without a high school or college education, provide the opportunities it may have once provided to older generations of Americans or, for that matter, first-generation immigrants. The latter tend to measure their socioeconomic success …

The Imperatives Of E-Banking For Monetary Policy In Nigeria., A. Bamidele

Economic and Financial Review

The electronic delivery of banking services is fast gaining wide acceptance in many jurisdictions including Nigeria. The importance of this channel of banking service delivery has been strengthened by advancement in information and communications technology (ICT) that has reshaped global financial architecture. This paper examines the crucial nature of electronic banking (e-banking) to monetary policy implementation in Nigeria and advocated necessary actions for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of monetary policy execution for the achievement of the ultimate target of economic growth and development. It is postulated that, subject to initial conditions and establishment of risk mitigating factors, e-banking is …

The Economic Effects Of Money Laundering On The Nigerian Economy: Some Emerging Issues., U. Kama

Economic and Financial Review

Although the economic effects of money laundering on economic development are difficult to quantify, it is evident that such activity damages the financial institutions which are critical to economic growth. Besides, it reduces productivity in the economy's real sector by diverting resources and encouraging crime and corruption, which slow economic growth. Furthermore, such activity can distort an economy's external sector through international trade and capital flows to the detriment of long-term economic development. This paper attempts to explore the economic effects of this malaise on the Nigerian economy. It observes that if money laundering is not tamed, it has the …

Government Expenditure And Economic Growth In Nigeria: A Disaggregated Approach., N. I. Akpan

Economic and Financial Review

The paper represents part of a larger research agenda to assess how fiscal policy influences economic growth in Nigeria. This paper attempts to assess the impact of government expenditure on economic growth in Nigeria by adopting a disaggregated approach to the study. The essence of the study is to determine the components of government expenditure that enhances growth, identify those that do not, and recommend that they should be cut or reduced to a bare minimum. The paper is broadly consistent with literature and it opens new grounds by focusing on the long-run impact of fiscal policy. The analytical framework …

Evaluating Job Training In Two Chinese Cities, Benu Bidani, Chor-Ching Goh, Niels-Hugo Blunch, Christopher J. O'Leary

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

Recent years have seen a surge in the evidence on the impacts of active labor market programs for numerous countries. However, little evidence has been presented on the effectiveness of such programs in China. Recent economic reforms, associated massive lay-offs, and accompanying public retraining programs make China fertile ground for rigorous impact evaluations. This study evaluates retraining programs for laid-off workers in the cities of Shenyang and Wuhan using a comparison group design. To our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of its kind in China. The evidence suggests that retraining helped workers find jobs in Wuhan, but had little …

Law And Behavioral Biology, Owen D. Jones, Timothy H. Goldsmith

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Society uses law to encourage people to behave differently than they would behave in the absence of law. This fundamental purpose makes law highly dependent on sound understandings of the multiple causes of human behavior. The better those understandings, the better law can achieve social goals with legal tools. In this Article, Professors Jones and Goldsmith argue that many long held understandings about where behavior comes from are rapidly obsolescing as a consequence of developments in the various fields constituting behavioral biology. By helping to refine law's understandings of behavior's causes, they argue, behavioral biology can help to improve law's …

Does "Work First" Work? The Long-Term Consequences Of Temporary Agency And Direct-Hire Job Placements, David H. Autor, Susan N. Houseman

Reports

A principal objective of the welfare reform act of 1996 (PRWORA) was to encourage welfare recipients to obtain jobs rapidly, a strategy termed "Work First." Much analysis shows that Work First raises the incidence of direct-hire and—in a sizable minority of cases—temporary-help agency jobs among welfare clients. But the effect of these jobs on longer term labor market outcomes, such as labor force participation, earnings, and welfare recidivism, is unknown. Because welfare recipients who obtain jobs rapidly are positively selected from the pool of all Work First participants, a simple comparison of long-term outcomes among job takers and non-takers is …

The Missing Preferred Return, Victor Fleischer

ExpressO

Managers of buyout funds typically offer their investors an 8% preferred return on their investment before they take a share of any additional profits. Venture capitalists, on the other hand, rarely offer a preferred return. Instead, VCs take their cut from the first dollar of nominal profits. This disparity between venture funds and buyout funds is especially striking because the contracts that determine fund organization and compensation are otherwise very similar. The missing preferred return might suggest that agency costs pose a larger problem in venture capital than previously thought. Is the missing preferred return evidence, perhaps, that VCs are …

What Is A Tragedy Of The Commons? Overfishing And The Campaign Spending Problem, Shi-Ling Hsu

ExpressO

Over the thirty-seven years since its publication, Garden Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons" has clearly become one of the most influential writings of all time. The tragedy of the commons is one of those rare scholarly ideas that has had an enormous impact in academia and is also commonly used outside of academia. In legal scholarship, the tragedy of the commons has been used to characterize a wide variety of resource problems, including intellectual property rights, overcrowding of telecommunications spectra, air and water pollution, and of course, the classic environmental commons problem, overfishing. But I suggest this embarrassment of citation …

Economy Of Pakistan: An Overview, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Talks, Speeches, & Discourse

Pakistan was one of the few developing countries that had achieved an average growth rate of over 5 percent over a four decade period ending 1988-89. Consequently, the incidence of poverty had declined from 40 percent to 18 percent by the end of the 1980s. Table I lays down the main economic and social indicators in 1947 and compare them with 2004. The overall picture that emerges from a dispassionate examination of these indicators is that of a country having made significant economic achievements but a disappointing record of social development. The salient features of Pakistan’s economic history are

Are Household Production Decisions Cooperative? Evidence On Pastoral Migration And Milk Sales From Northern Kenya, Cheryl R. Doss, John G. Mcpeak

Economics - All Scholarship

Market-based development efforts frequently create opportunities to generate income from goods previously produced and consumed within the household. Production within the household is often characterized by a gender and age division of labor. Market development efforts to improve well being may lead to unanticipated outcomes if household production decisions are non-cooperative. We develop and test models of household decision-making to investigate intra-household decision making in a nomadic pastoral setting from Kenya. Our results suggest that household decisions are contested, with husbands using migration decisions to resist wives' ability to market milk.

Motivating China To Play Fair In Global Markets, William H. Lash Iii

Center for Applied Economics

This is my second trip here to Lindenwood. I can see the progress that has been made in providing even better facilities for the students in just the year and a half that have elapsed. I appreciate the opportunity to meet again with Lindenwood students and faculty and citizens of St. Charles and St. Louis Counties.

If you ask any nation’s trade officials about trade policy and investment, China will be on the tip of their tongues right now. Everyone is focusing on China. China is the big dragon in the room that is absorbing tremendous amounts of resources: everything …

Older Workers: Untapped Assets For Creating Value, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

The days when an executive could look forward to a leisurely retirement out on the golf course are over, thanks to a possible looming job shortage, a graying population, low savings rates and an insecure Social Security system. The impact of these factors on both workers and companies was the subject of the Symposium on Older Workers, co-sponsored recently by the AARP Global Aging Program along with Wharton's Center for Human Resources and Boettner Center for Pensions and Retirement Research. Speakers included AARP CEO William D. Novelli, Olivia Mitchell, executive director of Wharton's Pension Research Council, and Thomas Dowd, a …

Vol 6, No. 1: Brain Drain, ‘Major Crisis’ For Southern Africa, Vincent Williams, Jonathan Crush

Southern African Migration Programme

No abstract provided.

Northeast Ohio Economic Brief, Ziona Austrian

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.