Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Household Financial Stability: Examining The Effects Of Inflation And Income, Cyndy E. Gutierrez-Fierros

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the impact of inflation on US household financial stability from 2013 to 2023. As inflation rises, individuals’ purchasing power erodes leading to influence economic behaviors. Behaviors such as spending, saving, and borrowing should be a priority concern in the US economy. Results of this study reveal that inflation does not affect financial well-being and its direct impact on household stability is statistically weak. Regression testing shows that income emerges as the most significant factor. Most noticeably income influences savings and debt management in a positive way. As per these results, economic policies should be focused …

Missing Piece Of The Pie: Public Expenditure On Education In Colombia, Ashante Gallimore

Economics

Public expenditure on education in Colombia is a crucial driver of socioeconomic development, with government investments that are aimed at improving access, quality, and equity across all levels of education. This thesis examines how these funds are distributed by analyzing whether financial resources are concentrated in wealthier areas or equitably distributed between wealthier and less fortunate Colombian regions. Using a comparative qualitative analysis, this study examines the sources of educational funding, the decision-making processes behind allocation, and how schools make use of their resources. A particular focus is on why primary education receives a larger share of funding compared to …

Tba Trading And Security Issuance In The Agency Mbs Market, Yu An, Wei Li, Zhaogang Song

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In addition to the standard individual-security-based specified pool (SP) contract, agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are actively traded via the to-be-announced (TBA) contract that sets a uniform price for a cohort of heterogeneous securities. We provide empirical support for the economic impact of TBA trading on MBS issuers' security design: issuers pick low-quality loans and pool them together into few TBA MBS. We then conduct a quantitative analysis and show that TBA-trading-induced strategic MBS design increases issuers' selling revenue by about 55% of the SP transaction costs. Finally, we show that smaller issuers are less able to package low-quality loans separately …

The Impact Of Nafta On Prices And Competition: Evidence From Mexican Manufacturing Plants, Felipe Brugués, Ayumu Ken Kikkawa, Yuan Mei, Pablo Robles

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper assesses the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Mexican manufacturing plants’ output prices and markups. We distinguish between Mexican goods that are exported and those sold domestically, and decompose their prices separately into markups and marginal costs. We then analyze how these components were affected by the reductions in Mexican output tariffs, intermediate input tariffs, and U.S. tariffs on Mexican exports. We find that domestically sold products saw a decline in prices as Mexican plants faced more competition and gained access to cheaper inputs. Prices of exported goods fell only slightly as plants increased their …

Is Subjective Well-Being Insured Against Income Shocks? Evidence From 20-Year Panel Data In South Korea, Jiyeon An, Taehyun Ahn, Kim

Research Collection School Of Economics

Using 20 years of nationally representative panel data in South Korea, we estimate how life satisfaction responds to income shocks. We document that unexpected income changes significantly impact an individual's life satisfaction, and the magnitudes depend on the persistence of income shocks. We find that permanent income shocks substantially penetrate life satisfaction, while transitory income shocks have minimal impact. We also find that life satisfaction regarding external factors such as family income and leisure activities is more sensitive to income shocks than life satisfaction related to social relationships. Our findings imply that it is critical for the government to address …

Strategizing Towards The Future Hospital: A Systems Thinking Approach, Ashish Kumar, Sean Shao Wei Lam, Sze Ling Chan, Yingqi Xu, Yao Ge, Geoffrey Kah Tack Gui, Hiang Khoon Tan

Research Collection School Of Economics

Background: The complex systemic nature of Future Hospital design in the rapidly ageing city-state of Singapore calls for systems thinking. We apply this approach to answer two research questions: (i) What are the variables that drive the present and future dynamics of the Future Hospital system? (ii) How are these driving variables related? Methods: Causal loop diagrams (CLDs) were developed collaboratively by a cross-functional system modelling team through group modelling discussions and reviews, totalling 20 sessions. Network analysis of the resulting CLDs was used to identify dominant variables. Results: Seven interlocking CLDs (national view, cluster view, and study hospital top …

Valuation Of Crypto Assets On Blockchain With Deep Learning Approach, Xi Zhou, Yin Pang, Esther Ying Yang, Jing Rong Goh, Shaun Shuxun Wang

Research Collection School Of Economics

With the rapid expansion of the blockchain ecosystem, crypto asset valuation has become an essential area of study for investors and institutions. Here, we introduce a deep learning framework that was designed to predict the value index of crypto assets by integrating intrinsic value variables and decomposing market prices into value and sentiment components. The Crypto Asset Value-indexing Model (CAVM) was applied to Ethereum’s cryptocurrency ETH to demonstrate its effectiveness. Four econometric tests were conducted to verify the informativeness, predictiveness, and reasonability of the generated value indices, as well as the efficiency of price decomposition. Our findings suggested that the …

Limit Theory For Local Polynomial Estimation Of Functional Coefficient Models With Possibly Integrated Regressors, Ying Wang, Peter C. B. Phillips

Research Collection School Of Economics

Limit theory for functional coefficient cointegrating regression was recently found to be considerably more complex than earlier understood. The issues were explained and correct limit theory derived for the kernel weighted local level estimator in Phillips and Wang (2023b). The present paper provides complete limit theory for the general kernel weighted local th order polynomial estimators of the functional coefficient and the coefficient derivatives. Both stationary and nonstationary regressors are allowed. Implications for bandwidth selection are discussed. An adaptive procedure to select the fit order  is proposed and found to work well. A robust -ratio is constructed following the new …

Outtakes, Anwar Shaikh Phd

Archives of Anwar Shaikh

This collection includes:

• Handwritten notes discussing methodology and the capitalist system

• Handwritten notes titled Introduction

• Handwritten notes outlining Parts II and III of a book, covering topics such as circulation, accumulation, competition, wages, crises, state intervention, and the relation between Marxian and empirical categories

Drafts, Outtakes Ch. 2, Anwar Shaikh Phd

Archives of Anwar Shaikh

This collection includes:

• Annotated draft page discussing monopoly capital, Kautsky, and Bernstein (p. 4)

• Another annotated draft page discussing monopoly capital, Kautsky, and Bernstein (p. 4)

• Draft pages discussing monopoly capital, crises, imperialism, and Hilferding (pp. 5-7)

• Draft pages titled From Marx's Capital to modern Marxism (January 3, 1984) (pp. 1-3)

• Draft pages discussing Marx's planned works and the transition from Capital to modern Marxism (pp. 21-23)

• Draft pages from Chapter 2 A brief history of Marxist theory covering philosophy, political economy, and Capital (pp. 1-4)

• Draft page discussing the French Revolution (p. …

Book, Anwar Shaikh Phd

Archives of Anwar Shaikh

This collection includes:

• Handwritten notes on inter-war Marxist economics

• Handwritten notes titled Personal history: Luxemburg

• Handwritten notes titled Cycles/Crises: Luxemburg (August 1984)

• Handwritten notes titled Reform/Revol./State: Luxemburg (August 1984)

• Handwritten notes titled Argument on the collapse of capitalism

• Handwritten notes titled Imperialism: Luxemburg (August 1984)

• Letter to Diego (July 16, 1993)

• Letter to Diego (duplicate) (July 16, 1993)

• Handwritten notes titled Role of DD in Marx & Orthodox Eco (October 13, 1991)

• Handwritten notes titled Book notes: Part I (October 18, 1991)

• Handwritten notes titled Book comment: Part I …

Book (Luxemburg), Anwar Shaikh Phd

Archives of Anwar Shaikh

This collection includes:

• Document titled Ch 2B5A: Introduction to Luxemburg (February 20, 1985)

• Handwritten notes titled Luxemburg (February 2, 1985)

• Handwritten notes on Nettl's work on Luxemburg

• Handwritten notes titled Luxemburg on investment plans & expected demand (January 7, 1985)

• Handwritten notes titled Kalecki as 'modern' version of Rosa Luxemburg

• Handwritten notes titled Accumulation, plans & objective tendencies (September 19, 1984)

• Handwritten notes titled Notes Luxemburg's anti-critique (January 14, 1985)

• Handwritten notes on Luxemburg and Harrod instability (January 14, 1985)

• Handwritten notes titled Mechanics of Luxemburg instability (January 14, 1985)

• …

Marx-Lexicon 1977 (John Ernst), Anwar Shaikh Phd

Archives of Anwar Shaikh

This collection includes:

• Letter from Fred E. Schrader to John Ernst regarding Marx manuscripts (November 1, 1977)

• Letter from L. Golman to John Ernst regarding Marx's notebooks (in Russian) (November 23, 1976)

• Letter from John R. Ernst to Professor Golman regarding Marx's notebooks and Capital (October 12, 1976)

• English translation of a letter from L. Golman to John Ernst regarding Marx's notebooks (November 23, 1976)

• Letter from John Ernst to Professor Maximilien Rubel regarding Marx's notebooks (September 1, 1976)

• Letter from Margaret Manale (for Maximilien Rubel) to John Ernst regarding Marx's notebooks (September 20, …

The Impact Of Religiosity And Violence Prevention Programs On Violence Amongst Adolescents In The U.S., Ngoc Nguyen, John Paulson, Quentin Maynard, Thu T. Ha

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Youth violence is a societal concern in the United States due to its negative consequences on individuals and communities. The current study aimed to examine the potential mitigating factors of violence prevention programs and religiosity in reducing youth violence among African American, White, Hispanic, and Asian American adolescents in the United States. It also tested the moderation effects of sex on religiosity and violence prevention programs with youth violence. Results of the main effects revealed that adolescents who attended violence prevention programs were generally less likely to engage in violence than those who did not; and that adolescents who were …

Mortgage Default Classification Modeling For Variable Analysis, Brendan R. Goggins

Honors College Theses

The financial crisis of the early 2000’s is a prime example of the severe consequences that mortgage default and borrower insolvency can have on economies at large. Mortgage default specifically is a prime case with the popularization of mortgage backed securities and the commonality of this loan structure. Multiple hypotheses and models have been formed to understand the reasons, causes, and consequences of mortgage default. This paper uses both machine learning and statistical classification models to inform an understanding of the variables most significant and impactful to the default outcome of mortgages. Consideration is given to both loan-level microeconomic variables …

How Can Public Sector Employers Improve The Effectiveness Of Email Recruitment?, Leonard M. Lopoo, Robert Bifulco, Hannah Patnaik, Ashraf Haque, Christine Ashby, George Theoharis

Center for Policy Research

With the constant deluge of listservs, email advertisements, and phishing scams, many email recipients have become accustomed to deleting emails from unknown sources without ever reading them. Knowing what can increase the likelihood of email engagement may improve the effectiveness of email communications in job recruitment. This brief summarizes findings from a study that reports results from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a mass email campaign to recruit applicants for a training program for K-12 teaching jobs. The authors compared email open rates between emails that contained a letter with university logos signed by a university official versus emails …

Do Older Workers Change Their Labor Supply In Response To Housing Wealth Shocks?, Brian J. Asquith

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

Do older workers change their labor supply in response to unexpected housing wealth losses (or gains)? Housing wealth is the largest component in most older Americans’ portfolios, and they may seek to recoup losses by working longer to help smooth consumption in retirement. Despite its importance, prior studies have not arrived at a consensus answer. I perform three different analyses to re-approach this question using Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data: a descriptive analysis, two separate differences-in-differences-indifferences analyses exploiting the China Shock and the Great Recession, and an analysis employing autoregressive models for estimating unexpected shocks to housing price appreciation. …

Evaluation Of Dentistry Students' Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence In Kazakhstan, Yasin Yasa, Kubeisin Altynbekov, Nazgul Onaibekova

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: Artificial intelligence’s (AI) potential to analyze medical data and improve patient outcomes is driving its rapid integration into healthcare systems. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding Kazakhstani dental students’ attitudes toward AI in dentistry. Methods: A survey with 213 participants assessed dental students’ views on AI in dentistry at two Kazakhstani universities. A self-administered questionnaire (22 items) via Google Forms was used to gather data on demographics, baseline knowledge (information sources, understanding of AI principles, and familiarity with dental AI applications), and attitudes/perceptions. Frequency analyses and chi-square tests (p < 0.05) explored the responses. Results: The survey included 213 dental students (mean …

Synthesis And Partial Characterization Of Chitosan Phosphorylation From Marine Cuttlefish Sepia Aculeata (Orbingy, 1848) And Its Antimicrobial Potentials Against Oral Pathogens, Yathin Reddy Putta, Annathai Pitchai, Pasiyappazham Ramasamy

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: This study investigated the synthesis and partial characterization of phosphorylated chitosan extracted from the cuttlebone of Sepia aculeata (Orbingy, 1848) and evaluated its antimicrobial potential against oral pathogens. Methods: The synthesis of phosphorylated chitosan from Sepia aculeata cuttlebone involved several steps: cleaning, deproteinization, demineralization to extract chitin, deacetylation to produce chitosan, and phosphorylation to introduce phosphate groups. Phosphorylation enhances the properties of chitosan, making it a promising candidate for oral health applications. Phosphorylated chitosan was purified and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to confirm structural changes. This process enhances …

Evaluation Of Mandibular Condyle And Coronoid Process Anomalies Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, Rümeysa Şendişçi Gök, Bilay Stevanovic Sancar, Sevcihan Günen Yılmaz

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of condylar and coronoid process anomalies, their types, and their relationship to sex. Method: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were retrospectively analyzed for the presence and types of abnormalities in the condylar and coronoid processes. Statistical analysis of measurement data was performed using SPSS version 22. Medical histories of the individuals were obtained from their digital dental records. Results: CBCT images of 400 individuals were included in the study. Condylar anomalies were observed in 9.5% of cases, while coronoid anomalies were found in 7.5%. All condylar anomalies were more …

Microstructural And Elemental Characterization Of Hydrated Carbonated Hydroxyapatite As Pulp Capping Agent: An In Vitro Study, S.Swathi Priyadharshini, Chinnasamy Ragavendran, J. Ramana Ramya, Anand Sherwood

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Understanding the microstructural and elemental composition of pulp capping materials is crucial for predicting their biocompatibility and effectiveness in promoting pulp healing. Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the microstructural and elemental properties of carbonated hydroxyapatite as a dental pulp-capping material. Methods: Carbonated hydroxyapatite was synthesized using the precipitation method. MTA and Apacal ART were obtained from commercial sources. The materials were prepared into disk-shaped specimens, hydrated in deionized water at 37°C for 14 days, and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results: SEM images revealed that MTA exhibited smooth, plate-like crystalline structures surrounded by …

Does Periodontal Treatment During Pregnancy Reduce The Incidence Of Preterm Birth Rates?: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Ashraf Elzer, Raga A. Elzahaf, Hameda Asrafel, Khalid Sassi, Mohamed Jedeh

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: To find out if scaling and root planing for periodontal disease during pregnancy lowers the incidence of preterm births. Methods: This is a meta-analysis study design; searches were conducted in the PubMed database and on Google Scholar between January 2000 and December 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered. The studies will be examined to determine the relationship between non-surgical periodontal treatment and preterm birth rates among pregnant women. Results: Only 14 trials were included out of 194 articles identified. The overall result indicated a statistically significant reduction in preterm birth rate when we use the random …

How Can Public Sector Employers Improve The Effectiveness Of Email Recruitment?, Leonard M. Lopoo, George Theoharis, Hannah Patnaik, Robert Bifulco, Ashraf Haque, Christine Ashby

The Lender Center for Social Justice

With the constant deluge of listservs, email advertisements, and phishing scams, many email recipients have become accustomed to deleting emails from unknown sources without ever reading them. Knowing what can increase the likelihood of email engagement may improve the effectiveness of email communications in job recruitment. This brief summarizes findings from a study that reports results from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a mass email campaign to recruit applicants for a training program for K-12 teaching jobs. The authors compared email open rates between emails that contained a letter with university logos signed by a university official versus emails …

Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 27, Issue 2 Full Contents

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha Rao

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Mobilizing Discord On The United States’ Many Borders: Critical Social Science And Geopolitical Complexity, Margath Walker

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Attention to the political landscape connecting the United States, Mexico, and Central America has returned with glaring intensity, highlighting the visibly geostrategic elements of bordering practice. Scholars have focused on how state power materializes at multiple scales while at the same time being attentive to the contestable and mutable nature of myriad agentic forces. This talk operates similarly by considering prospects for a frictional and at times ambiguous spatial politics. I extend the notion of discord as a productive lens through which to consider securitization, mobility, and migration. I use two short examples—the border-industrial complex and migrant caravans—to illustrate my …

Mission And Editorial Policy

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Best Businesses For New Urbanist Communities: A Retake, Karl Besel, Tonya Thornton, Yusuf A. Nur, Kenneth Chilton

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Place defines the linkages between space and representation. Several theoretical concepts attempt to examine how people perceive a place and even their purpose as a part of it, including it being as a prescribed way of life, a public ideology to ascribe to, and as a set geographical residence. More often than not, this “sense” is simply categorized by a rural-urban continuum dictated by health and wealth. New Urbanism communities is an urban design movement that promotes a sense of community by designing walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that are environmentally friendly and provide a wide range of housing and job types. …

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.