Digital Commons Network^™

How Do Minimum Wages Affect Workplace Injuries?, Michael Davies, R. Jisung Park, Anna Stansbury

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Us‐China Trade War: Heterogeneous Effects On The Us Consumer, Michael Dedad, Sucharita Ghosh

University Research

This paper meticulously investigates how the US-China trade war of 2018–19 affected nondurable consumption patterns for households across the United States. Using highly granular NielsenIQ barcode scanner data, we find that a 1 percentage point (pp) increase in a county's tariff exposure growth was associated with a decrease in nondurable consumption growth ranging between 0.593 pp and 2.163 pp. Notably, this relationship existed for employed households but not for those without employment, and it was not confined to those working in manufacturing and farming. Additionally, households with children had lower consumption growth as tariff exposure increased, and the relationship was …

Time Invariant Variables In The Mundlak And Hausman-Taylor Panel Data Models, Badi H. Baltagi, Long Liu

Center for Policy Research

This paper shows that the classic augmented Mundlak (1978) regression yields the between estimator for time-invariant variables. It is well known that the estimates of the time varying variables yield the fixed effects estimates. While the latter are consistent for this correlated random effects model, the between estimates are not. The between estimator is consistent only when the Hausman (1978) test does not reject the null based on between versus fixed effects. An alternative modified Hausman and Taylor (1981) estimator is proposed. Monte Carlo experiments are performed to compare various estimators under a correlated random effects as well as a …

The Effects Of Declining U.S. Immigration On Local Labor Markets In Mexico, Gonzalo Ares De Parga-Regalado, Marta Prato

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

This paper examines how declining migration opportunities to the United States affect local labor markets in Mexico. Using novel micro-level data from consular identification cards and deportations, we link individuals’ Mexican municipalities of origin to their U.S. destination states. We implement a shift-share design based on historical migration networks and exploit regional variation in exposure to changes in U.S. migration flows between 2017 and 2022 to identify the local labor market effects of reduced emigration while controlling for involuntary repatriations. While we find no impact on overall employment rates, regions more exposed to the decline in migration experience an increase …

How Changes In Mexican Immigration To The United States Affect Mexican Labor Markets, Gonzalo Ares De Parga-Regalado, Marta Prato

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Cbdcs Vs Decentralized Currencies: Considerations For 21st Century Global Financial Challenges, Andrew Michael Sobhy, Shuai Wang

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

As digital currencies gain prominence in everyday life, policymakers in the United States at the federal, state, and local levels debate the potential for innovation, surveillance, global relations, and a plethora of areas that concern citizens. While existing literature highlights the opportunities and pitfalls within this new digital age, including inclusivity and challenges to traditional banking, this study aims to contribute a quantitative approach to the discussion utilizing Federal Reserve data, studies from financial institutions, and various credible resources that hold a stake. Specifically, comparing novel Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) and Decentralized Financial Currencies (DeFi) will provide a foundation …

Monetary Policy And Racial Differentials In Labor Market Outcomes, Tsvetomir Petkov, Charles L. Weise

Economics Faculty Publications

This paper examines the empirical relationship between monetary policy and racial and ethnic labor market outcomes. Estimating structural vector autoregressions with external instruments, we find a much larger response of labor market outcome gaps than has been documented previously. These differential outcomes persist for Black workers of both sexes even within the same age group and level of educational attainment, while Hispanic and white responses are similar within such groupings. Estimates based on individual-level data show that distributional differences in demographic characteristics, as well as occupation and industry of employment, account for a large portion of the Hispanic-white unemployment gap …

Opportunities, Challenges, And Conspicuous Absences: An Integrative Review Of The Social Work Literature On Artificial Intelligence, Michael J. Massey, Ian G. Williams, Grace C. Polistina, Eathan A. Breaux

Publications and Research

INTRODUCTION: Social work discourse regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in practice, research, and education has proliferated over the last 5 years, reflecting both excitement over its potential and ambivalence about its ethical challenges. However, the extent to which social work is fully engaging with the structure of AI and its enormous impacts on the environment, labour, and distribution of power remains unclear.

METHODS: An integrative review of social work literature from 2020–2024 was conducted to address two research questions: 1) What is the nature of the social work discourse related to AI? 2) To what extent is the discourse …

Financial Valuation Of Retirement Village Via Stochastic Modelling Of Disability Prevalence Rates, Jackie Li, Mingke Wang, Jia Liu, Jessica Wai Yin Leung

Research Collection School Of Economics

Global mortality rates continue to decline, and life expectancy continues its upward trend. Besides mortality levels, policymakers and providers of financial and health services would also be interested in disability prevalence and its potential future trajectories. The length of time in good health versus the duration with major disabilities or long-term illnesses has significant financial implications for both individuals and society. In this paper, we develop Bayesian common factor models to analyse Australian age- and sex-specific disability prevalence rates. In particular, there are one or more common factors shared by both sexes, as well as specific factors for each sex. …

High Dimensional Regression Coefficient Test With High Frequency Data, Dachuan Chen, Long Feng, Per A. Myklang, Lan Zhang

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper presents the first study on high-dimensional regression coefficient tests with high-frequency financial data. These tests allow the number of regressors to be larger than the number of observations within each estimation block and can grow to infinity in asymptotics. In this paper, the sum-type test and max-type test have been proposed, where the former is suitable for the dense alternative (many small betas) and the latter is suitable for the sparse alternative (a very small number of large betas). By showing the asymptotic independence between the sum-type test and max-type test, the paper proposes a third test – …

The History Of Philanthropic Wealth In Maine, Jillian Foley Mppm, Timothy Atkinson Mppm, Emma Schwartz

Justice Policy

This report (March 2026) was developed in collaboration with the Maine Philanthropy Center to invite readers to engage in an honest exploration of how wealth was accumulated in Maine and how our history continues to shape our communities today. Grounded in research and interviews with historians and philanthropic leaders, the report examines the connections between extractive histories and modern-day philanthropic structures. The authors aim to guide readers to explore the historical context, reflect on their own histories, and consider more equitable, restorative approaches to community-centered giving. While this report was designed with funders and nonprofit leaders in mind, the authors …

Bridging Gaps In Data Utilization: An Evaluation Of The Rural Utah Data Symposium, Paul A. Hill

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Rural Utah Data Symposium, an event designed to address data-driven decision-making among rural leaders. The symposium features expert-led presentations on the rural economy, healthcare, housing, mobility, broadband, and wellbeing. Data were collected through an online exit survey with a 67% response rate (n = 35). Attendees rated presentation quality, learning outcomes, and overall satisfaction. Findings show high ratings and positive learning outcomes, demonstrating the symposium’s value in empowering informed decision-making. Recommendations include increasing interactivity among attendees, broadening content scope, and expanding statewide representation to further support data utilization in rural Utah.

Triple/Double-Debiased Lasso, Denis Chetverikov, Joseph R.V. Sørensen, Aleh Tsyvinski

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

In this paper, we propose a triple (or double-debiased) Lasso estimator for inference on a low-dimensional parameter in high-dimensional linear regression models. The estimator is based on a moment function that satisfies not only first- but also second-order Neyman orthogonality conditions, thereby eliminating both the leading bias and the second-order bias induced by regularization. We derive an asymptotic linear representation for the proposed estimator and show that its remainder terms are never larger and are often smaller in order than those in the corresponding asymptotic linear representation for the standard double Lasso estimator. Because of this improvement, the triple Lasso …

First Proof Solutions And Comments, Mohammed Abouzaid, Andrew J. Blumberg, Martin Hairer, Joe Kileel, Tamara G. Kolda, Paul D. Nelson, Daniel Spielman, Nikhil Srivastava, Rachel Ward, Shmuel Weinberger, Lauren Williams

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Here we provide our solutions to the First Proof questions. We also discuss the best responses from publicly available AI systems that we were able to obtain in our experiments prior to the release of the problems on February 5, 2025. We hope this discussion will help readers with the relevant domain expertise to assess such responses.

Evolving U.S. And Chinese International Development Policy: Institutions, Strategies, And Global Impact, Julian Kai Lehto

Social Sciences

This paper is inspired by, and meant to understand, recent changes in global policy towards foreign aid and international development. 2025 saw one of the biggest changes to international development in decades, when President Donald Trump’s new administration made the decision to effectively shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). At the same time, China has been taking on a growing role in foreign aid and development over the last decade. Chinese projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have become globally significant. This paper will explore the changing impacts and influence of both the U.S. …

Globalization And Structural Transformation: The Role Of Tradable Services, Sang Min Lee

Faculty Publications

This paper studies how globalization impacts structural transformation from goods to services. I construct a multi-country, multi-sector model in which the transformation occurs through changes in income, prices, comparative advantage, or input-output linkages. I parameterize it with data from 1995 to 2018 for 66 countries covering diverse stages of economic development. Decomposition exercises show that globalization outweighs productivity growth in shaping structural transformation and that globalization’s impact primarily operates through comparative advantage. Counterfactual exercises reveal globalization’s heterogeneous impact on countries’ structural transformation. I characterize the underlying factor behind this result: Globalization affected countries’ transformation to the extent that it altered …

Farmers Markets As Community Infrastructure: Evidence From A Three-Year Statewide Data Project In Utah, Jaclyn Pace, Roslynn Mccann, Blue Cook, Steven Price, Lorali Smith, Dianna Parkynn, Joshua Cafferty

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah farmers markets play a critical role in food access, small business viability, and community connection, yet limited statewide data document their impact. The Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension conducted a mixed-methods evaluation (2023–2025) and found that farmers markets make valuable contributions to the community.

The Changing Landscape Of International Development: An Introduction, Pascaline Dupas, Pinelopi K. Goldberg, Rohini Pande

Discussion Papers

Since the late 1980s, extreme poverty has declined sharply, life expectancy and schooling have increased, and electoral democracy has expanded. However poverty reduction has slowed in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, amid intensifying conflict, fragility, climate risks, democratic backsliding, and the erosion of global trends—including trade integration and geopolitical stability—that once supported growth. These dynamics raise three interrelated questions: what barriers impede further progress; where will future growth in lower-income countries come from; and how can growth be broadly shared. Taking stock of 15 chapters forthcoming in Volume 6 of the Handbook of Development Economics, we discuss how …

The Changing Landscape Of International Development: An Introduction, Pascaline Dupas, Pinelopi Goldberg, Rohini Pande

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Since the late 1980s, extreme poverty has declined sharply, life expectancy and schooling have increased, and electoral democracy has expanded. However poverty reduction has slowed in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, amid intensifying conflict, fragility, climate risks, democratic backsliding, and the erosion of global trends—including trade integration and geopolitical stability—that once supported growth. These dynamics raise three interrelated questions: what barriers impede further progress; where will future growth in lower-income countries come from; and how can growth be broadly shared. Taking stock of 15 chapters forthcoming in Volume 6 of the Handbook of Development Economics, we discuss how …

Bundled Guidance Types And Changes In Expected Volatility, Thaddeus Neururer, George Papadakis

University Research

We examine how different types of bundled managerial guidance affect uncertainty levels around earnings announcements. To measure changes in uncertainty, we use both changes in implied volatilities and methods that decompose the implied volatility term structure. Unlike prior studies, we find little evidence that earnings guidance is associated with investor uncertainty. Our results instead indicate that other forms of bundled guidance are associated with lower uncertainty levels. Revenue, capital expenditure, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization guidance are strongly associated with reductions in investor uncertainty, even when firms provide earnings guidance.

Expanding Public Health Insurance To Parents: Effect On Parents' And Children’S Well-Being, Michelle Marcus, Xuan Zhang

Research Collection School Of Economics

Expanding public health insurance to parents may not only improve parental outcomes but also have spillover effects on their children. This paper leverages the natural experiment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to estimate the causal effects of expanding public health insurance to low-income parents on their well-being and that of their children. Using a difference-in-differences model and data from the 2010–2017 National Health Interview Surveys, we observe significant improvements in health care access, increased health care utilization, reduced financial burdens, and slight improvements in health status among low-income parents. For children in Medicaid expansion states, we find reductions in …

Bespoke Realized Volatility: Tailored Measures Of Risk For Volatility Prediction, Andrew John Patton, Haozhe Zhang

Research Collection School Of Economics

Standard realized volatility (RV) measures estimate the latent volatility of an asset price using high frequency data with no reference to how or where the estimate will subsequently be used. This paper presents methods for “tailoring” the estimate of volatility to the application in which it will be used. For example, if the volatility measure will be used in a specific parametric forecasting model, it may be possible to exploit that knowledge to construct a better measure of volatility. We use methods from machine learning to estimate optimal “bespoke” RVs for heterogeneous autoregressive (HAR) and GARCH-X forecasting applications. We apply …

The Smu Trade Dashboard: Tracking And Quantifying The Trump Ii Tariffs, Pao-Li Chang, Ruoqing Chen, Lin Ma

Research Collection School Of Economics

The SMU Trade Dashboard (https://economics.smu.edu.sg/soetrade/tr ade-dashboard), developed by the SMU Center for Research on International Trade, consists of Tariff Tracker and Trade Simulation functions. The Tariff Tracker allows users to track the tariff applicable to an HS 6-digit product or an ISIC 2-digit sector bymarkets and country origins. The Trade Simulation presents quantitative simulation results of the effects of Trump II tariffs (and the associated tariff responses by its trading partners) on trade flows, welfare, and wages. This companion paper documents the methodologies underlying the tariff data collection protocol and the structuralsimulation designs.

Interdependence And Portfolio Analysis Of Property Sector Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) In Malaysia During Covid-19, Muhammad Aqhari Azmi, Muhammad Zaim Razak

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study examines the benefits of incorporating Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) into a mixed-asset portfolio, with a focus on the periods preceding, during, and following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilises daily data from 1 January, 2018 to 21 October 2024, sourced from the Datastream database. By utilising the Dynamic Conditional Correlation-Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (DCC-GARCH) model, the study examines the volatility of office property REITs and retail property REITs, as well as the linkages between these assets and stocks and bonds. The findings reveal that REITs exhibit unique volatility structures and correlations with other financial assets, which …

Influence Of Time Management Skills And Technostress On Academic Performance Among The Private University Students: A Conceptual Framework, Jogtika Ramasamy, Nasreen Khan Thandar Oo

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Digital tools enhance learning but can also cause technostress, which can impact focus and academic performance. Balancing technology use with effective time management and social engagement is key to student success. Students in Malaysia's Klang Valley reported increased feelings of loneliness, mental health issues, and technostress, particularly as a result of the shift to online learning. This study aims to propose a conceptual framework based on the Study Demand-Resources Theory, examining how time management skills and technostress dimensions influence academic performance through the mediating role of student engagement. A quantitative and cross-sectional survey will be conducted by distributing Likert scale …

Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Artificial Intelligence-Driven Wearable Technology In The Malaysian Healthcare Sector: A Conceptual Framework, Syeda Hafsa Rizwan, Anusuyah Subbarao, Nasreen Khan, Farrukh Ahmed Khan, Shaikh Fazlur Rahman, Nimra Aziz, Syed Muntazir Azhar Shah

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This conceptual paper examines the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven wearable technology, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, wearable ECGs, glucose monitors, and pain management devices, in transforming healthcare in Malaysia. Despite the extreme potential to enhance patient care and healthcare monitoring, the adoption of AI-driven wearable technology remains limited due to several persistent barriers. The purpose of this study is to examine these challenges and propose a framework to improve the integration of AI-driven wearable technology in Malaysia’s healthcare system. Grounded in the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, this study examines how five key innovation attributes —relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, …

Innovative Approaches To E-Grocery: Analyzing Customer Satisfaction In Facebook Livestream Shopping, Karen Tien Wan Lin, Vincent Oh Kim Seng, Hasliza Hassan, Shaikh Fazlur Rahman

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The primary objective of this study is to examine the crucial determinants that influence customer satisfaction in Facebook livestream e-grocery shopping in Malaysia, with a particular focus on housewives as a significant consumer segment. A sample of 220 respondents was selected using simple random sampling, and the data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis confirms the hypotheses that customer satisfaction in Facebook Livestream e-grocery shopping was influenced by factors such as product quality, security, website design, delivery service and e-service quality. Interestingly, three factors, including information quality, payment method, and product variety, were …

Artificial Intelligence And Employee Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review, Dombagaha Pathiranage Marian Shavini Medonka Peiris

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming modern workplaces by offering opportunities to enhance employee well-being while simultaneously introducing significant challenges. Although scholarly interest in the intersection of AI and well-being is growing, empirical research in this domain remains limited and underdeveloped. This study's primary objective was to assess the current knowledge in this domain, with a secondary aim of identifying critical research gaps to inform future investigations. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, this systematic literature review analysed 23 empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025, sourced from the Lens.org and ProQuest databases and was guided by the Job Demands Resources (JD–R) model. …

Subdimensions Of Technostress Across Industries: A Systematic Review, Jogtika Ramasamy, Nasreen Khan Thandar Oo

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Technostress is the stress induced by the use of digital technologies, which has attracted growing academic interest due to its multidimensional nature and impact across various industries. In this light, the aim of this systematic review was to analyse the most frequently reported sub-dimensions of the technostress creator's framework, identify the issues related to the dimensions of technostress and to evaluate how technostress is conceptualised as a unidimensional or multidimensional construct. Based on Scopus as the single database, 52 empirical papers were retrieved that have been published from 2020 to 2025 mid and were subject to a structured dimension-mapping approach. …

Click, Watch, Buy: Understanding Purchase Intention Of Malaysian University Students In The Live Stream Shopping Era, Ying Tsuen Wong, Siow-Kian Tan, Siow-Hooi Tan

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study aims to examine the factors that influence purchase intention in live streaming e-commerce among Malaysian university students. It explores background characteristics, shopping behaviours, and live stream features such as streamer expertise, broadcast scheduling, post-sales service, structural bonds, social bonds, and financial bonds. Data were collected from 347 university students using convenience sampling through an online survey. Group comparisons were conducted using t-tests for gender, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) for other background characteristics and shopping behaviour variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the relationship between live stream features and purchase intention. The results show significant …