Unobserved Heterogeneity And Labor Market Discrimination Against Homosexuals, Miguel Sarzosa

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

Sexual minorities have historically been subject to many kinds of discrimination. Prejudicial treatment in the labor market could arguably be one of them. Despite that, economic literature has remained mostly silent on the topic. This paper fills that void by leveraging on a novel longitudinal data set that collects detailed information on sexual orientation. I develop an empirical strategy that exploits the fact that sexuality is not a dichotomous trait but rather a wide assortment of sexual preferences. I use empirical models that rely on the identification of unobserved heterogeneity, in the forms of skills and sexual orientation, to allow …

Honoring Veterans Means Funding Suicide Prevention, Brendan Cushing-Daniels, Christopher R. Fee

Economics Faculty Publications

Many Americans may not know that it was Dwight D. Eisenhower who in 1954 issued the official proclamation celebrating the service of all veterans by designating Nov. 11, formerly known as Armistice Day, in honor of our vets. Eisenhower, of course, was supreme commander of Allied Forces in Europe during World War II and commander in chief as the 34th president of the United States.

In Ike’s words, “on that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, …

Nebraska Business And Consumer Confidence Indexes: November 9, 2018, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Nebraska consumer and business confidence improved during October 2018. The Business Confidence Index – Nebraska (BCI-N) rose to 117.3 in October from 110.6 in September. The Consumer Confidence Index – Nebraska (CCI-N) rose to 108.3 in October after a sub-par level of 97.0 during September. Both business and consumer confidence were well above the neutral level of 100.0. When asked about the most important issue facing their business, 29 percent of respondents chose the availability and quality of labor while 27 mentioned customer demand and 15 percent mentioned competition from other businesses. This is the first time that labor availability …

The Critical Need For Mental Health Education To Be Mandated In New Mexico's Public Schools, Bonnie L. Murphy

Shared Knowledge Conference

Based on a review of research and best practices in mental health awareness and skills, this inquiry project argues for state legislative policies that would require mental health awareness and skills in the K-12 curriculum. Mental health affects individual accomplishments in every stage of people’s lives beginning in early childhood and throughout the life cycle. Prevention and treatment of mental illness plays a key role in the ability of an individual to cope with loss and develop resiliency and perseverance in challenging times and to make better decisions that improve the individual’s life and the lives of those around them. …

Is Public Transit's 'Green' Reputation Deserved?, Justin Beaudoin

PSU Transportation Seminars

While public transit has a reputation as a potential means to ameliorate the adverse environmental effects of automobile travel, there have been very few empirical studies of the marginal effect of transit supply on air quality. We explore whether any of the substantial improvement in air quality observed in the U.S. from 1991 to 2011 can be attributed to increased public transit supply by developing an equilibrium model of transit and automobile travel volumes as a function of the level of transit supplied. We then empirically analyze the effects of the level of transit supply on observed ambient pollution levels …

Obesity: The Elephant In The Room We Can No Longer Afford To Ignore, Joanie Sompayrac, Katharine Linehart Trundle

Journal of Health Ethics

Everyone pays the price for the obesity-related illnesses of our fellow citizens – through increased premiums on our group health insurance policies, through reduced productivity of our co-workers, through taxpayer support of hospitals that provide indigent care and through soaring Medicare costs, to name a few. The fact that our entire society often ends up paying many of the costs for the obesity-related illnesses of not only ourselves but also our family members, our friends, our co-workers and even strangers raises questions: Why doesn’t insurance pay to help overweight and obese people to make lifestyle changes that could save us …

Sustainable Prosperity And Human Potentials, Sara Haddou Amar

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Sustainable prosperity is a new concept combining various principals such as providing basic needs, dignity, life satisfaction and happiness. It is an indicator used to measure and evaluate social progress among communities. In fact, the purpose behind the aggregation between the terms of sustainability and prosperity is the rehabilitation of the environmental strength and health system while providing an effective comfort and welfare system to the human being. In this paper, we explore the impact of human potential on reaching and achieving a high level of prosperity. We discuss, also, the evolution and automation effect on the improvement of human …

Determinants And Impact Of Urbanization On Household Livelihoods In Lilongwe District: Evidence From Integrated Household Survey, Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu, Innocent Pangapanga Phiri

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Urbanization has, in recent years, become an interesting issue all over the world. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number eleven on promoting sustainable cities and communities emphasizes on the need for enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization. According to , urbanization is an inevitable issue as statistics have shown that urban growths are increasing with 70 million new urban residents every year in developing countries. For the purpose of this study, urbanization can be defined as the rising number of people living in urban areas, (UNDP, 2016).

Partisan Conflict And Stock Price, Dashan Huang, Wang Liyao

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Partisan conflict has been one dominant theme in U.S. politics in recent years. By using the textual index of Azzimonti (2018), this paper shows that partisan conflict positively predicts market returns, controlling for economic predictors and proxies for uncertainty, disagreement, geopolitical risk, and political sentiment. A one standard-deviation increase in partisan conflict is associated with a 0.58% increase in next month market return. The forecasting power concentrates in periods when the president is from the Republican Party or the majority of House is Republicans. Partisan conflict is positively related to downside risk, and makes investors more conservative when its value …

Non-Governmental Organizations In Africa: Solutions For Building Sustainable Development And Creating Jobs For African Youth, Shawgei Salah Ahmed Ismaeil

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Everyone knows about the richness of Africa; the continent has an abundance of human and natural resources that is next to none. Unfortunately, it suffers from hunger and extreme poverty; most African countries suffer from inadequate infrastructure, poor education and health. Specific questions arise. Why are we in this situation? We have vast lands, multiple rivers and underground water. However, we import food, medicine and clothes. Where is the problem? How can we get out of this closed circle? This paper outlines a roadmap for a better future for the next generations in Africa. This task will be done by …

How Does Prior Lucky Event Affect Individual’S Risk Taking Preference?, Yuen Zhan Wong

Bachelor of Social Sciences – Senior Theses

We conducted a controlled experiment with Philippines domestic helpers and Lingnan undergraduate students to study if prior “lucky” event will increase their risk-taking behaviour. The major finding from our study is that prior lucky events do increase risk-taking behaviour among Philippines domestic helpers but not for students. Our study also found out that there are inconsistent behaviour of interviewees while choosing for options indicating their risk preference and this degree of inconsistency is greater among the Philippines group compared to the students group.

Borderplex Business Barometer, Volume 2, Number 11, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Omar Solís, Aaron Nazarian, Steven L. Fullerton

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

The Exporting And Subcontracting Decisions Of Viet Nam's Small- And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Catherine Y. Co, Thu Kim Nguyen, Tung Nhu Nguyen, Que Nguyet Tran

Economics Faculty Publications

The exporting and subcontracting decisions of a panel of Vietnamese private small- and medium-sized enterprises is investigated. We find that among subcontractors, subcontracting is a supplementary rather than primary activity; the propensity to export increases with managers' or owners' knowledge of customs law; and, there is some evidence that subcontractors are more likely to have made product improvements while exporters are more likely to have adopted new processes or technologies. Our study provides useful insights into SME exporting and subcontracting strategies made more relevant by the expected reductions in trade costs associated with the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation …

Gender And Labor Markets In Tunisia's Lagging Regions, Lucie Hanmer, Edinaldo Tebaldi, Dorte Verner

Economics Faculty Book Publications

No abstract provided.

Montana's Outfitting Industry - 2017 Economic Contribution And Industry-Client Analysis, Jeremy L. Sage, Carter Bermingham, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

In recent years, nonresident visitor spending on outfitters and guides has surpassed that of spending on retail goods, making it the fourth highest spending category behind only fuel, lodging, and dining out. This rise comes despite only five to six percent of the visiting population taking part in these activities. This observation reiterates findings from the 2007 Montana Outfitter and Guide study characterizing the outfitting industry as high value, low impact.

Though a small percent of visiting groups take part in some type of guided or outfitted experience, those who do stay longer and spend more per day. In 2017, …

Labour Research Conference 2018: Upskilling Of Mature Workers, Stephen Hoskins, Luca Facchinello

Research Collection School Of Economics

Many developed countries are approaching an era of ageing population due to an increase in longevity and decrease in fertility rates. Singapore is no exception, having one of the fastest ageing populations in Asia, which is driven by low fertility rates and the third longest life expectancy in the world. The number of elderly citizens, defined as those aged 65 and above, is expected to triple to 900,000 by 2030, making up about 28% of the total population in Singapore (Population SG, 2016). This changing population age profile, combined with a competitive labour market, means it makes business sense to …

Estimating Switching Costs With Market Share Data: An Application To Medicare Part D, Jung Won Yeo, Daniel P. Miller

Research Collection School Of Economics

Choice inertia and switching frictions are well-documented features of the demand for health insurance. In this paper, we estimate switching costs in the Medicare Part D market with aggregate market share data using standard discrete choice models for differentiated products. We consider various modelling assumptions: myopic and forward-looking consumers, and with and without random coefficients. Both myopic and forward-looking consumer models with no random coefficients yield switching cost estimates that closely match the actual average switching frequency, with implied dollar-valued switching costs of $1600 to $2000. We find the inclusion of random coefficients to the myopic consumer model results in …

An Examination Of The Stock Market’S Effect On Economic Inequality, Nicholas J. Golina

Undergraduate Economic Review

The literature on economic inequality has shown that stock markets can negatively impact aggregate demand because it indicates a higher concentration of wealth in the hands of the top 10% as opposed to the middle class. The stock market could be one of the factors leading to increased inequality. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing stock markets in OECD countries. Building on Tsountas et al (2015), the results showed that stock markets can have a positive impact on inequality, but with weak economic significance. It is recommended that policymakers should focus on factors that more greatly impact inequality.

Breaking The Poverty Trap In Africa: A Comparative Perspective On Poverty Alleviation, Abu Girma Moges

International Journal of African Development

An increasing number of African countries have recently registered improved rates of economic growth. Translating economic growth into poverty reduction, however, requires putting into place policies and institutions that promote a sustainable and shared economic growth process. The degree of success in poverty reduction depends largely on balancing the process of economic growth and the judicious pattern of income distribution so that an increasing share of the population benefits from the growth process and engages in more productive endeavors. Building the necessary policy and institutional framework to promote sustainable and shared economic growth is central in breaking the poverty trap …

Indigenous Knowledge And The Development Debate In Africa, Fidelis Ewane, Samson Ajagbe

International Journal of African Development

This research employs Bourdieu’s theory of habitus to explain the disposition of the donor community to integrate indigenous knowledge systems and practices into development projects. The theory’s objectivist perspective specifies the mechanism that links structural conditioning to social practice and regularities. It holds that power is culturally and symbolically created, and it is constantly re-legitimized through the interplay of agency and structure. This facilitates an analysis of the development field as social space characterized by indigenous and donor power relations. It argues that the reinforcement of indigenous knowledge as the main channel for development will generate transferable local capacities and …

The Impact Of Motivation On Employee Performance In Selected Insurance Companies In Nigeria., Oluwayomi A. Ekundayo Mr.

International Journal of African Development

Motivation refers to a complexity of forces that inspires a person at work to intensify his desire and willingness to use his potentialities to perform in order to achieve organizational goals or objectives. This study investigates the relationship between motivation and the level of employee performance as applied to some selected insurance companies in Lagos. The study has three main objectives: to evaluate the effects of motivation on employee performance in some selected insurance companies, to assess motivational factors that can influence employee performance, and to recommend possible policies and innovations for better performance of the employees and increased profitability. …

Sustainable Energy Transitions: Changing The ‘Business As Usual’ Trajectory In Sub-Saharan African Urban Areas, Mark Borchers, Megan Euston-Brown, Simon Bawakyillenuo, Alex Ndibwami, Simon Batchelor

International Journal of African Development

This paper describes a novel approach to helping municipal authorities address the sustainable energy challenges associated with rapidly growing urban populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Population in Africa is expected to double between 2010 and 2040, and substantial urban growth is expected in small and medium-sized cities where local government capacity constraints are most serious. A long-term partnership between municipal authorities, NGOs, and academics can build capacity, and a prescribed strategy can lead to progress on the ground. In order to contribute to future action, the paper argues for a greater role of local government in sustainable energy transitions, and presents …

International Journal Of African Development, Vol. 5, Issue 1

International Journal of African Development

Complete issue of International Journal of African Development, Volume 5, Issue 1 - Spring 2018.

Initiative 427: Nebraska Medicaid Expansion, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

This article summarizes information regarding Initiative 427–the Medicaid expansion question on the November 6, 2018 ballot. It reprints the actual ballot language and the Nebraska Secretary of State’s summary of arguments for and against Initiative 427.

Background. Originally Medicaid covered the elderly, the disabled, children in low-income families, and low-income pregnant women. In 2010 Medicaid coverage was expanded by Congress to include the working poor. In 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requiring states to expand Medicaid was unconstitutional. This made it a state option whether or not to expand Medicaid. …

Foreign Capital Inflows And Economic Well-Being: A Statistical Analysis Of 46 Sub-Saharan African Countries From 1995-2015, Alexander M. Csanadi

Undergraduate Economic Review

Variation in the economic well-being among sub-Saharan African countries is among the highest of any region in the world. This paper attempts to address this disparity by exploring the role of foreign capital inflows. This project extends the concept of well-being beyond GDP growth, to include measures of poverty and inequality. A multivariate regression analysis finds that the observed capital inflows have significant effects on all three measurements of well-being. Findings suggest that the level of affluence of the domestic population has significant effects on the ability of those populations to translate diaspora remittances into improvements in well-being.

The 'New Normal' Of Flooding In Portsmouth, Virginia: Perspectives, Experiences, And Adaptive Responses Of Residents And Business Owners In Low To Moderate-Income Communities, Donta Council, Michelle Covi, Wie Yusuf, Joshua Behr, Makayla Brown, Old Dominion University Resilience Collaborative, Virginia Sea Grant

Presentations, Lectures, Posters, Reports

[First three paragraphs from the Summary]

This project is a part of a broader initiative - the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) - that addresses the daunting challenges coastal communities are facing related to sea level rise and climate change (more information about RAFT is available here: https://ien.virginia.edu/raft).

This aim of this project was to investigate how residents and business owners in low-to-moderate income communities in Portsmouth, Virginia cope with flooding, and to assess implications for how the local government can better engage with residents to better meet their information needs so they can be more resilient to flooding. The …

Introduction To The Special Issue: Alternative Imaginings, Mine Üçok Hughes, Rika Houston

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

No abstract provided.

Applying Interconnected Game Theory To Analyze Transboundary Waters: A Case Study Of The Kura-Araks Basin, Marianna Khachaturyan, Karina A. Schoengold

Cornhusker Economics

A number of environmental problems are international in nature, including many water management issues. Rivers, for example, do not recognize political boundaries. Therefore, pollution generated in one country can affect neighboring countries, while water extraction in an upstream country can affect water flow and water availability in a downstream country. The situation creates an interdependency among countries, which might lead to disputes over the management of transboundary water. Therefore, coordination among the countries is necessary for effective management of these transboundary resources.

The focus of a recently published study (Khachaturyan and Schoengold, 2018) is the transboundary Kura-Araks Basin (see Figure …

Determinants Of Usaid Spending, Austin J. Moser

Student Research – Stevenson Center

This paper examines the determinants of USAID’s foreign aid disbursements from 2002-2016. Three noteworthy findings emerge. First, USAID foreign aid is based more on political considerations rather than the policies of recipient countries. Second, foreign aid is determined by location and political history. Third, this pattern emerges across all categories of USAID disbursements.

Variation Among Populations In The Immune Protein Composition Of Mother's Milk Reflects Subsistence Pattern, Laura D. Klein, Jincui Huang, Elizabeth A. Quinn, Melanie A. Martin, Alicia A. Breakey, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan, Claudia Valeggia, Grazyna Jasienska, Brooke Scelza, Carlito B. Lebrilla, Katie Hinde

ESI Publications

Lay Summary: Adaptive immune proteins in mothers’ milk are more variable than innate immune proteins across populations and subsistence strategies. These results suggest that the immune defenses in milk are shaped by a mother’s environment throughout her life.

Background and objectives: Mother’s milk contains immune proteins that play critical roles in protecting the infant from infection and priming the infant’s developing immune system during early life. The composition of these molecules in milk, particularly the acquired immune proteins, is thought to reflect a mother’s immunological exposures throughout her life. In this study, we examine the composition of innate …