Digital Commons Network^™

Institutions: Facilitators Or Detractors Of Development?, Nikhilesh Dholakia, Deniz Atik, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin, Delphine Godefroit-Winkel

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

No abstract provided.

Inverting "Doux Commerce": The Paradox Of Rhetoric Surrounding European Jewish Commerce, Isabelle C. Sampere

Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal

This paper investigates the inherent contradictions in the "Doux Commerce" thesis as articulated by Montesquieu, which argues that commerce civilizes and morally enriches its participants, using the historical experiences of the French Jewish community as a case study. Despite the Enlightenment’s promotion of commerce as a path to societal gentility and tolerance, French Jews remained targets of economic and social marginalization, which persisted into the 19th century. The analysis centers on the rhetorical dissonance exhibited by philosophers such as Voltaire, who extolled the virtues of commerce for its ability to unify diverse religious and cultural groups, yet simultaneously endorsed and …

The Evolution Of Global Gold And Copper Trade Networks, Oleksandr Hulianskyi

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Gold and copper have emerged as two of the most vital commodities in global trade. Despite serving distinct purposes, their international trade networks reveal interconnected patterns, critical to understanding the dynamics of global economics. This paper studies these attributes and their evolution during the last 36 years for both metals and finds correlations between them. The first part of the research is focused on the sustainability of networks through efficiency and robustness indexes; the second part is dedicated to interconnectedness – the Louvain and Bayesian SBM algorithms, partition, and modularity instruments are used. Community detection algorithms provide valuable insights into …

Senior Health (Age 65+) In The Mountain West, 2024, Taylor Volk, Kristian Thymianos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents senior health care statistics for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The “2024 Senior Report – State Summaries,” study from America’s Health Rankings, United Foundation provided the data for all fifty states and Washington, D.C.

Elder Fraud In The Mountain West, 2023, Taylor Volk, Madison Dwyer, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Criminal Justice

This fact sheet presents data on complaints of fraud affecting individuals over the age of 60 and associated financial losses reported by elderly individuals in the Mountain West. The 2023 Elder Fraud Report serves to illuminate trends in elder fraud reports throughout the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands. This fact sheet focuses on elder fraud data for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

The Labor Supply Curve Is Upward Sloping: The Effects Of Immigrant-Induced Demand Shocks, Sigurd Galaasen, Andreas Kostøl, Joan Monras, Jonathan Vogel

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

What is the effect of immigration on native labor-market outcomes? An extensive literature identifies the differential impact of immigration on natives employed in jobs that are more exposed to immigrant labor (supply exposure). But immigrants consume in addition to producing output. Despite this, no literature identifies the impact on natives employed in jobs that are more exposed to immigrant consumption (demand exposure). We study native labor market effects of supply and demand exposures to immigration. Theoretically, we formalize both measures of exposure and solve for their effects on native wages. Empirically, we combine employer-employee data with a newly collected data …

Optimizing Costs In Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review Of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing Applications, Emily L. Isch, Gabrielle Kozlowski, D. Mitchell Self, Theodore E. Habarth-Morales, Sydney Somers, Ahilan Sivaganesan, David Kim, Heather A. Mcmahon, Andrew Newsman, Matthew Jenkins

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The rising complexity and cost of healthcare in plastic surgery, particularly in resource-intensive procedures like free flap and breast reconstruction, pose significant financial challenges. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) offers a method to accurately assess these costs by mapping each step of the care cycle based on time and resources consumed. Although TDABC has been utilized in high-cost fields such as neurosurgery and spine surgery, its application in plastic surgery remains underexplored. This systematic review evaluates the literature on TDABC use in plastic surgery to identify key cost drivers and propose strategies for cost-efficiency.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted …

Efficient Difference-In-Differences And Event Study Estimators, Xiaohong Chen, Pedro H. C. Sant’Anna, Haitian Xie

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper investigates efficient Difference-in-Differences (DiD) and Event Study (ES) estimation using short panel data sets within the heterogeneous treatment effect framework, free from parametric functional form assumptions and allowing for variation in treatment timing. We provide an equivalent characterization of the DiD potential outcome model using sequential conditional moment restrictions on observables, which shows that the DiD identification assumptions typically imply nonparametric overidentification restrictions. We derive the semiparametric efficient influence function (EIF) in closed form for DiD and ES causal parameters under commonly imposed parallel trends assumptions. The EIF is automatically Neyman orthogonal and yields the smallest variance among …

The Effects Of Sleep Restriction And Time Of Day On Food-Specific Impulsivity, Approach-Avoidance Bias And Delay Discounting, Naomi Kakoschke, David L. Dickinson, Sean P. A. Drummond

ESI Publications

Background:

Insufficient sleep and circadian timing are both linked with obesity, primarily via unhealthy food choice, yet the cognitive mechanisms underpinning such relationships remain unclear.

Methods:

Across two studies, we implemented an ecologically valid within-subjects at-home protocol. Study 1 (n = 118) involved a within-subjects examination of how sleep restriction (SR) versus well-rested (WR) sleep levels affect choices in a food-based approach-avoidance task (AAT) and go–no/go (GNG) task, a food liking task, a food-choice task, a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), and a monetary choice task. Study 2 (n = 119) involved examining choices in the same set of …

A Stairway To Success: How Parenting Shapes Culture And Social Stratification, Francesco Agostinelli, Matthias Doepke, Giuseppe Sorrenti, Fabrizio Zilibotti

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This chapter argues that parenting choices are a central force in the joint evolution of culture and economic outcomes. We present a framework in which parents-motivated by both their children’s future success and their own normative beliefs-choose parenting styles and transmit cultural traits responding to economic incentives. Values such as work ethic, patience, and religiosity are more likely to be instilled when their anticipated returns, economic or otherwise, are high. The interaction between parenting and economic conditions gives rise to endogenous cultural and economic stratification. We extend the model to include residential sorting and social interactions, showing how neighborhood choice …

Bitcoin As A Currency: A Theoretical Framework Of Bitcoin’S Supply Effect On Consumption And Inflation, Begad Amr Hassan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the macroeconomic effects of Bitcoin's fixed money supply within a dynamic general equilibrium context. Traditional Keynesian economics proposes that central banks regulate the money supply through interest rate manipulation and monetary interventions to promote economic stability within the market. However, cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, present a challenge due to their algorithmically predetermined supply, which halves every four years, removing discretionary monetary policy. By adapting Calvo's (1983) staggered-price model to a closed economy, supposing Bitcoin is the only medium of exchange, it is deduced that Bitcoin's deflationary nature causes a persistent consumption collapse and hyper deflationary spirals. Furthermore, calibrations …

Future Of Work: Implication Of Green Economy On Employment Dynamics In Egypt, Sarah Adel Elgohary

Theses and Dissertations

Is Egypt's green economy a reality or just a policy-level aspiration? This thesis explores the tangible impact of the green economy on Egypt's labor market by examining key sectors—automotive, agriculture, and renewable energy. Through qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with private sector representatives, the study assesses the true implications of the green transition from a business-level perspective, beyond the propaganda and hype surrounding climate policies. What is the current scale of the green economy in Egypt's labor market? What existing policies and regulatory frameworks are in place to support the green economy transition? how urgent is the transition to …

Complementarities In High School And College Investments, John Eric Humphries, Juanna Schrøter Joensen, Gregory Veramendi

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper examines how high school specialization shapes college investment decisions and their subsequent returns through dynamic complementarities. Using Swedish administrative data, we estimate a dynamic Roy model that accounts for selection on multidimensional skills, family background, prior investments, and unobserved heterogeneity. We identify the model using rich skill measures and quasi-experimental variation in program popularity. For marginal students, STEM specialization in high school increases wages by 9%, with more than half this return attributed to dynamic complementarities that enhance the productivity of subsequent college investments. Consequently, we find that counterfactual policies encouraging high school STEM specialization generate twice the …

Working Paper No. 100, Social Realism And Socialist Realism, Amanda F. Worman

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry sees to establish that as a genre, “social realism” reflected values of the American system of market capitalism out of which this art style emerged. During the same timeframe, what has been categorized as “socialist realism” reflected values of the Soviet system out of which this art style also arose. The “Great Depression” that dogged the American economy and society through the 1930s, as well as the “Iron Fist” rule characteristic of Joseph Stalin’s heavy industrialization drive for Soviet Russia, appears to have promoted and shaped these two distinct but similar art styles under consideration, as responses to …

A Multivariate Time Series Analysis Of Secular Stagnation: A Critical Realist Perspective, Francis N. Mensah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study investigated whether excess saving over investment explains secular stagnation or is linked to structural break (hysteresis) in aggregate economic activity as measured by the changes in the level of GDP. The U.S. economy, including the advanced economies, is experiencing secular stagnation, potentially caused by excess savings over investment. This condition, if present, could have significant implications for how we can conduct economic policy. Instead of focusing on gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of economic activity, the study extends the existing literature by concentrating on aggregate private-sector output. The rationale is that if there is secular stagnation or …

Working Paper No. 95, Jeremy Bentham And English Common Law, Anastasia Klingler

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that in his book, The Theory of Legislation [1802], author Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) critiqued English Common Law while also posing solutions and alternatives. The first part of this inquiry considers Bentham’s critique of the degrees of vagueness and confusion that could be associated with what is noted as “Common Law” with its emphasis upon the “principle of expectation.” In addition, this inquiry introduces and considers Bentham’s warnings against uses associated with the English legal system and its emphasis upon the importance of “precedent,” as this emphasis is argued to open risks for abuse by courts …

Working Paper No. 97, Business Sabotage In Theory And Practice, Nathan Lewis-Lusso

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that theoretical advances offered earlier on by one Karl Marx and some decades later by one Thorstein Veblen offer insights into forms of business sabotage. Drawing upon their writings, this inquiry considers how in the writings of Marx, already in the mid-nineteenth century surplus value extraction and pecuniary sabotage serve as structural features found in a market-based economy. Marx’s consideration of surplus labor and artificial scarcity reveals how private investment seeks to constrain production in order to preserve and enhance profitability. Veblen’s theory of institutional sabotage complements Marx’s view by showing how firms could delay …

Working Paper No. 98, Selma Mushkin And The Emergence Of The Field Of Health Economics, Sadie Kautz

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that through her effective efforts, Selma Mushkin promoted and shaped the field of Health Economics. Perhaps most importantly, she redefined health as a form of human capital that needed to be considered as both essential and integral to economic growth. In her 1958 paper: “Toward a Definition of Health Economics,” she defined the scope of this emerging field through emphasizing how improved resource allocation could lead to efficiency gains. Appearing as her 1962 article in the Journal of Political Economy, with “Health as an Investment” Mushkin advanced the idea that--much like education--public spending on health …

Working Paper No. 102, Knowledge And Power: Towards Anintellectual Biography Of Michel Foucault, Amanda Bergeson

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that in his efforts as an intellectual, scholar, and author of books that would include Discipline and Punish [1975], Michel Foucault emphasizes the importance of power and power relations, especially of an authority (such as a sovereign) over the common people. Drawing from Discipline and Punish [1975], this inquiry considers how Foucault’s understanding of genealogy got rooted and shaped by Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of history; a view which altogether challenged the idea of historical progress, while also revealing the contingent nature of truth. The second section considers how sovereign power evolves into disciplinary mechanisms embedded …

Working Paper No. 103, Russia And The Myriad Of Challenges Associatedwith ‘Relative Backwardness’, Jacob Wood

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that over recent of centuries Russia exhibits signs of what is termed as ‘relative backwardness.’ Drawing from Alexander Gershenkron’s (1962, 62-70) understanding of ‘backwardness in historical perspective,’ as well as Karl Marx’s ([1845] 1977, 39-43) concept of ‘historical materialism,’ this inquiry examines how successive Russian regimes sought to close the developmental gap with western countries through state-led modernization efforts. What stands out is that when confronted with attempting deep structural challenges, each leader turned to centralized authority and coercive reforms—not by choice, but out of necessity. Our inquiry considers Nicolas II’s failure to modernize Russia’s …

Narrativas Transmedia, Fandom Y Convergencia Mediática: La Reconfiguración Contemporánea De La Industria De Los Juegos De Rol En Brasil, Diogo De Almeida Camelo

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

Este artículo analiza cómo la industria de los juegos de rol (JDR) ha evolucionado en Brasil en respuesta a los cambios tecnológicos, culturales y económicos. El objetivo es investigar cómo la convergencia mediática, las prácticas de narrativa transmedia y el fandom han remodelado las dinámicas de producción, circulación y consumo de los juegos. La metodología utilizada fue cualitativa, fundamentada en análisis documental de fuentes primarias y en revisión histórica, con base teórica en Jenkins (2006) y Fine (1983). El estudio es parte de una tesis de maestría, y muestra que en Brasil el rol se ha transformado en un ecosistema …

Urban-Rural Divide In Inequality’S Impact On Substance Abuse, Jonathan E. Flores

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis focuses on investigating the relationship between income inequality, measured through the Gini coefficient, and drug addiction, proxied through substance-related mortality. Specifically, this thesis focuses on how these dynamics vary across rural and urban counties in the United States, using population size as a proxy. County-level data from 2016 to 2020 were collected through both the CDC and the Census Bureau and subsequently analyzed using Stata, with crude death rates from drug and alcohol causes serving as a function of the Gini coefficient, labor force participation, racial composition, and other socioeconomic indicators. Through a quadratic version of the model, …

Working Paper No. 99, Adam Smith And The American Experiment, Cole Soliz

Working Papers in Economics

As the noted author of a tome titled An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith [1776] is often cited as a proponent of Laissez-faire capitalism. However, the reality is that his writings offer a more nuanced vision that includes suggesting constraints on economics activity, while encouraging the importance of what he views as state or public institutions. In Smith's writings we find that he speculates that for a perfectly functioning market system to operate effectively depends upon the enforcement of contracts, the protection of property rights, and the maintenance of justice. These, along …

4th Sbs International Conference 2025: Transforming Business For People And Planet, School Of Business Studies (Sbs)

Conference Proceedings

The IBA-SBS International Conference (IBA-SBSIC) brings together scholars, professionals, and policymakers from around the world, providing a platform for learning, collaboration, and cutting-edge research. As we enter the 4th edition in 2025, the conference embraces the theme "Transforming Business for People and Planet."

The business landscape is evolving rapidly, with companies increasingly held accountable for their environmental footprint, ethical responsibilities, and social impact. Governments, regulators, and consumers now demand responsible business practices that align with sustainability and long-term financial resilience. Sustainability is no longer a choice—it is a necessity. Global movements toward climate action, social equity, and responsible governance are …

Benefits Of Extended Unemployment Insurance On Post-Unemployment Outcomes, Alyssa Roche

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how unemployment insurance (UI) affects individuals during and after unemployment. Drawing on historical evidence from recent recessions in the United States, publicly available data, behavioral insights, and mathematical modeling, it argues that the benefits of extending UI outweigh the potential costs. The analysis incorporates a wide range of sources, including empirical economic studies using regression models and psychology and business research that highlight behavioral responses to financial stress and job insecurity. By combining quantitative data with behavioral context, the thesis offers a more comprehensive understanding of how extended UI influences job search decisions, wage outcomes, and overall …

Rainy Day Funds In Mountain West States, Fy2024, Anirudh Polagani, Cason Noll, Krish Sharma, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Elections & Governance

This fact sheet presents data on rainy day funds for fiscal year 2024 in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, as originally reported in the 2025 Governing Magazine article, “Growth of State Rainy Day Funds Has Slowed Down.” These data capture the number of days each state could fund state government operations using only rainy day funds, which represent the money states set aside to maintain operations during economic downturns or fiscal stress.

Situational Analysis Of Child Labour In Coastal And Marine Activities In Zanzibar, Tanzania, Happiness Anold Moshi, Rukia Kitula

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study analyses the situation of child labour in coastal and marine activities in Zanzibar, Tanzania, by examining activities carried out by children, the major driving factors for engaging in child labour, as well as the associated impacts to children’s schooling and wellbeing. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions (FGDs), participant observations, and key informant interviews (KII) were all used to collect data for the study. The study involved a total of 90 children, who were randomly selected among working children in coastal and marine activities. It was found that most of the working children were involved in fishing, fish descaling, …

Working Mothers And Children’S Social-Emotional Development: Struggling With Family And Job Roles In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Ignasia Paskal Mbatta

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study aimed at examining the socio-emotional development of employed mothers’ children in the metropolis of Dar es Salaam. Early childhood socio-emotional development is crucial for shaping a child’s short- and long-term well-being, relationships, and overall mental health. An exploratory qualitative approach employing a phenomenological design, guided this study. In-depth interviews, documentary reviews, and active participant observation were used to collect data. The study sample comprised of 42 working mothers, 9 domestic workers, and 90 children under five years of age of the same mothers. Purposive sampling was used to select working mothers, while domestic workers were selected incidentally. The …

The Ancillaries Of Undergraduate Economics Programs: Results Of A Departmental Survey, Gail M. Hoyt, Roisin O'Sullivan

Economics: Faculty Publications

Most economics departments have a cadre of ancillary elements intended to enhance the experience of their undergraduate majors. These may include opportunities to attend speaker series, give conference presentations, participate in student organizations, or work as teaching or research assistants. While economists have studied individual ancillaries, there is merit in a comprehensive examination. The authors design and conduct a departmental survey of 300 U.S. institutions to characterize ancillaries’ prevalence, structure, and perceived benefits. Their findings shed light on how the prevalence and structure of ancillaries vary across different types of academic institutions. Perceived benefits involve meeting departmental learning goals and …

Working Paper No. 101, “Universal Welfare” In Marxist Thought, And Its Implementation During The Era Of The Soviet Union, Eunji Jang

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that although in his writings Karl Marx emphasized “Universal Welfare” as a central ideal, its appearance and realization in the Soviet Union was affected by tensions between ideology and the realities of centralized economic control. The first section explores Marx’s vision of universal welfare as a structural component of a post-capitalist society rooted in collective ownership and human emancipation. The second section examines how the Soviet Union institutionalized welfare across sectors such as education, healthcare, housing, and employment, while access to these services was often influenced by labor contribution and political loyalty. The final section …