Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

An Economic Comparison Of Two Leading Aquaponic Technologies Using Cost Benefit Analysis: The Coupled And Decoupled Systems, Grace M. Gibbons

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aquaponics is an agricultural production practice which combines aquaculture, the raising of fish, and hydroponics, a soil-less crop production method, to create a system that symbiotically produces both. Compared to conventional open-field agriculture, this practice is highly resource efficient in terms of water and land usage, but has yet to be widely adopted due to a lack of research regarding its economic feasibility. This study compares the two most economically promising aquaponic system designs to determine which would be more profitable at the intermediate-commercial scale. The first of these is the coupled system which continuously circulates water in a closed …

Regional Economic Effects Of Wilderness Designations In Six Western States, Marca L. Hagenstad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the existence of impacts on per capita incomes from the designations of wilderness areas. It developed one model to explain county-level per capita incomes in the six western states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, and Wyoming. This model examined effects of various factors believed to affect incomes, such as the industry mix of an economy, population densities, unemployment rates, government expenditures, and the existence of colleges, Indian reservations, and wilderness areas.

The analysis indicated that per capita incomes in these states did not fall by an increase in wilderness lands. In fact, counties in Utah, …

The Economic Impact Of Federal Land On County Governments In Utah, Daniel C. Hope

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

County governments cannot assess property taxes on federal land, yet local governments are required to provide similar services as they do on all other areas of the county. Federal government payment programs have been implemented to compensate county governments for the expenditures incurred due to federal land.

In the mid-1960s, the Public Land Law Review Commission implemented and completed a study which analyzed whether selected individual states and counties were being compensated for the expenditures incurred on federal land. It also estimated tax revenues local governments would receive if federally owned acreage was privately owned. The study then compared these …

Essays On The Impact Of Foreign Aid On Economic Growth And Development: The Case Of Jordan, Jamal G. Husein

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation examines the role of foreign aid in economic growth and development of Jordan. The flow of foreign capital takes two main forms: private foreign investment, mostly foreign direct investment by large multinational corporations, and public development assistance (foreign aid) from both individual national governments and multinational donor agencies. The distinguishing characteristic of foreign aid is the concessional element. In this dissertation, recent techniques and advances in time-series analysis are used in the empirical section of Chapters 2 and 3, i.e., vector autoregression (VAR), impulse response functions, and variance decompositions. In the fourth chapter, we use a nonlinear three-stage …

Economic Feasibility Of Assembling Grade-A Milk By Protein Content, W. Stephen Lei

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis consisted of two computerized simulations of assembling milk from dairy farms and distributing it to milk plants, using TRUCKSTOPS, a commercial truck routing computer program. In the first simulation milk was assembled and delivered to the nearest available plant without regard to protein content, with the high-protein milk delivered to manufacturing plants. Doing so increased the fat and protein in milk delivered to manufacturing plants, and increased cheese production 2.6 percent. It also increased assembly costs and lowered fat and protein in milk delivered to fluid milk plants. The value of the extra cheese was less than the …

Energy Analysis Of Flat Water Recreation: An Economic Assessment, Craig Leon Howell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Energy analysts believe that traditional economics and energy markets undervalue the only absolutely limited resource, energy. They have produced methods to supplement or supercede economics.

However, theoretical underpinnings of these methods include an energy theory of value which is shown to be too narrow to support workable economic models or numeraires. Sample rankings of recreational values on four Utah reservoirs, using energy analysis and economic methods, show that the two methods yield opposite rankings.

A Dynamic Optimization Model Of Energy Related Economic Planning And Development For The Navajo Nation, Hamid Beladi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Navajo reservation located in portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah is rich in low sulfur coal deposits, ideal for strip mining operation. Presently, the Navajo Nation has entered into extensive coal leases with several large companies and utilities. Contracts have committed huge quantities of Navajo coal for mining.

The present research has been directed to evaluate the shadow prices of Navajo coal and identify optimal coal extraction. An economic model of coal resource extraction over time has been structured within an optimal control problem has been formulated as a discrete dynamic optimization problem.

A comparison of the shadow …

The Economics Of Information And Spatial Price Behavior: An Empirical Assessment Of Producer's Cattle Prices In The Western Region Of The Usa: 1973-1981, Maria Lourdes Del Rosario Juan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study is an empirical verification of the theories of the economics of information at the cattle producer's market in the U.S. Western Region. Weekly data on producer's price quotations were obtained from CATTLEFAX for 1973 through 1981. The three major objectives of the research are: first, to determine whether price dispersion exists in the cattle producer's market in the Western Region: second, if significant price dispersion are shown to exist, to determine the nature of the regional price distribution; and third, if price dispersion do exist, to determine the implications of the dispersion relative to competitive structure, efficient informational …

Economic Impacts Of Water Conservation Measures In Agriculture And Energy Within The Upper Colorado River Basin, Douglas R. Franklin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The demand for water is increasing in the western United States. Coupled with growing emphasis on development of the western resources, the limited supply of water will create an expanding competitive market for water by agricultural, energy, industrial and municipal users.

The Upper Colorado River Basin is faced with a question of what water conservation measures in the agricultural and energy sectors can be instigated without reducing agricultural output. If the decision is made to adopt water conservation technology measures, this study addresses the impacts in the private and public investment sectors under alternative public policies, i.e., regulation or non-regulation …

Economic Impacts Of Irrigation Technologies In The Sevier River Basin, Theodore R. Frickel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The economic well-being of the semi-arid intermountain area requires efficient use of available water supplies. Agriculture, the major water-consuming industry, depends on irrigation water. The adoption of sprinkler systems that increase irrigation "efficiencies" and increase water available for irrigation upstream may interfere with the "tenure" of downstream water rights. The farmers would like to use the water saved to irrigate additional acreages or crop to provide greater profits.

The problem in letting farmers expand their irrigated acreage is that the individual farmer increases his profits through increased consumptive use. The consequent reduction in return flows reduces the water available to …

Economic Implications Of Phenologically Timed Irrigation In Corn Production, Dawuda Tsalhatu Gowon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Corn production data was fitted into a Translog production function. Analysis of the resultant equation was based on what impact irrigation keyed to the crop's phenology would have on yield. A crop product cost function was developed to determine if there is profit (loss) in adapting water application to corn by phenological time period. Reasons for not adapting phenology as a key variable in irrigation include institutional constraints. Without modifying these institutional constrains, adopting the proposed technology may prove prohibitive.

Economic Analysis Of The Agricultural Sector In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Enrique Gómez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A linear programming technique is used to calculate the land allocation that maximizes the returns to the agricultural producers in the provinces Santisteban, Sara, Warnes, Ibanez, and Ichilo, in the department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, under different sets of prices.

All the input requirements per unit of land and average expected yields are estimated from survey data collected from farmers in Bolivia. Constraints on availability of land and labor are also estimated.

Seven crops are included in the model: soybeans, wheat, cotton, yuca, sugar cane, rice, and corn.

The model is first examined under the set of prices that existed …

Consumer Surplus And Economic Rent Estimates Of Recreation Value: An Empirical And Theoretical Comparison, Eric R. Meale

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The consumer surplus and economic rent methods of resource valuation were applied to boating recreation in Utah. Total consumer surplus and economic rent values were estimated for twenty-four boating sites. These values incorporate the relationship existing between the variable use cost and the units of activity associated with the site.

Data were collected by a mail survey directed to boaters during the 1973 boating season. Approximately 1,408 questionnaires were analyzed. Additional data were collected from the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.

Economic rent and consumer surplus were compared by using a common mathematical model and empirical observation. The concepts …

Economic Analysis Of Cache County, Utah: An Input-Output Approach, Jose Isaac Torrico Soria

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theory of input-output analysis, its applications, and its empirical implementations to the Cache County economy. The historical development, the static open input-output model, and the dynamic input-output analysis are presented in the theoretical discussion, and emphasis is made on the empirical applications of the model to structural analysis, forecasting, developmental planning, and regional analysis.

In the empirical implementation of the model to the Cache County economy, the 1971 total output is estimated, the Cache County total output is projected to 1981, the output and income multipliers are computed, and the total …

Some Economic Aspects Of Beef Crossbreeding In Utah, William L. Beaty

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine empirically if crossbreeding offers a more profitable alternative to Utah cattlemen than straightbreeding. Ranchers practicing breed crossing were interviewed to determine the relative merits of crossbreeding and straightbreeding in the categories of calf crop, weaning weight, sale price, and minor economic factors under ranch conditions. Crossbred and straightbred sale prices were analyzed utilizing the records of the Smithfield Livestock Auction.

Analysis of rancher interview data indicated that crossbred animals exceeded straightbreds in weaning weight and sale price. Crossbreds were further credited with lowering herd disease levels. No generalizations from comparative calf crop …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Federal Participation On The Distribution Of Economic Activity And Population In The State Of Utah, Nureddin A. Taqieddin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since World War I, the federal government of the U.S. has played an increasingly important role in social and economic functions of the American society. Whether by direct employment or through indirect payments to private and public parties, federal programs have an unquestionable impact on the distribution of economic activity among various regions of the U.S. This impact varies directly with the relative magnitude of federal participation in total economic activity of any region.

In certain areas, federal employment reflects the greatest portion of total federal activity. Where this is true, the impact of federal employment on the distribution of …

A Statistical Analysis Of New Deal Economic Programs In The Forty-Eight States 1933-1939, Don C. Reading

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The data base for this research was provided by a set of mimeographed reports prepared in the summer and fall of 1939 by the Office of Government Reports, Statistical Section, Washington, D.C. Originally prepared for Franklin Roosevelt's 1940 campaign, they detail each New Deal program year by year for the 1933-1939 period. The set of forty-eight reports, one for each state, also contains material on the organization of various programs and outlines work accomplishments in each state.

This dissertation is intended as an analysis of New Deal loans and expenditures in each of the forty-eight states during the 1933-1939 period, …

An Economic Analysis Of Feeding Steers Versus Heifers, Duane Sorensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The question of which sex of cattle to feed is a basic economic decision which must be made by feeders. An economic analysis of costs and returns associated with feeding steers in comparison to heifers would give feeders some assistance in making this decision.

The objectives of this study were to make an economic analysis of feeding a pen of steers and a pen of heifers in a feedlot, then determine the break- even prices for feeder cattle which would make the feeder indifferent to whether he fed steers or heifers , and finally to develop a decision model that …

Economic Development Of Thailand: An Analysis Of The Agricultural Sector, Thamnoon Soparatana

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study takes a look at government aid to agriculture in Thailand and attempts to analyze its effectiveness. Only two crops have been aided directly by the government, rice and rubber, though others have undoubtedly benefitted by improvements in the country's infrastructure. The regressions performed on some simple production functions indicate that rice yields have been improved through government programs. The program for rubber largely a subsidy for new plantings, ha as yet not had much impact on yields. This maybe due to the fact that the pay-off period is at least seven years. There is also some evidence that …

Economic Efficiency Of Grazing Systems, Muhammad Nazir

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Benefits and costs of implementing the specialized grazing systems on federal rangelands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were studied. First only the direct benefits and costs were used to determine the internal rates of return on the Bureau of Land Management investments in grazing systems. Secondly, the effects of these systems on profits of private ranchers were determined. Finally the benefits and costs stream on the Bureau of Land Management and the changes in ranchers' profits were brought together to find out the net gain to society from investing the federal funds in specialized grazing systems.

The …

An Economic Analysis Of Trends In Production Of Selected Crops In Utah And Their Causative Factors, 1948-1968, Eldon Gene Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Trends in Utah's agriculture and some factors influencing farmer's decisions concerning eight crops produced on irrigated lands in Utah were studied. Trend lines were calculated and compared with statistics of acreages and yields. Simple and multiple regression tests were made.

An increasing number of Utah farmers have taken off-farm employment and operate their farms on a part-time basis. Forage and grain crops both adapt readily to part-time farm operations and these crops do not entail the degree of risk involved in the production of most cash crops. Variety improvements have caused some shifting to wheat production. Product prices, costs, weather, …

An Economic Analysis Of The Predator Problem In The Range-Sheep Industry In Utah, David Murray Curle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The economic effects, to the Utah range-sheep operation and to the economy of the state of Utah, of predation upon sheep were studied by use of a personal interview survey. This survey sampled 20 percent of the range-sheep operations in Utah.

The sheep and lamb death loss from predation was found to be 61.0 sheep and lambs per 1,000 head of ewes in fiscal 1969. The survey. also showed that 71.36 percent of the losses were lambs and 28.64 percent were ewes.

The total economic loss to Utah sheep ranchers was calculated to be 1,062,502 dollars as a result of …

Bench Marks From Which Economic Change Can Be Measured For An Altiplano Community, Roberto Julio Gonzalez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis is designed to establish bench marks which will facilitate the measurement of impacts of new crop and livestock extension practices on the rate of community development of the village of Achica Bajo, Bolivia. Successful agricultural extension and community development programs require adequate data at the farm and community level. In the absence of a real appreciation for the levels of income and financial needs of the campesinos, it is difficult to institute farm policies such as land tax measures which will have the desired impacts and consequences as well as peasant acceptance.

The study examines human and …

A Historical Survey Of The Economic Development Of Mainland China, 1949-1962, Mandhatasinh A. Chauhan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Chinese agriculture differs from the Western agriculture in the development and utilization of agricultural science on the fields. China has always been an agricultural country, but she failed to improve in techniques of cultivation as the time passed by. The land, prior to the Communist take-over, was owned and cultivated by individuals and the produce was sold in a free-market. Unfortunately, the Chinese government, prior to 1949, failed to bring about adequate agricultural reforms and implement economic development measures.

As a result an overwhelming proportion of the population of China is occupied on the land, the supply of which is …

The Economic Impact Of The Geneva Steel Company (United States Steel Subsidiary) On Utah County, Utah, Charles H. Holmes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

"The Far West is the Golden West. Of all the regions, it boasts the largest wartime gain in population and income. It looks to the brightest prospects." This prophecy, made in the immediate post-war period by Business Week, has indeed become manifest in the economy of Utah.

The Economic Impact Of Hill Air Force Base On The Ogden Area, John D. Mcconahay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The people of Utah saw the first federal military installation established in the area almost a century ago. They were not pleased in 1857 when they heard that President Buchanan was sending some 2500 soldiers to set up camp in the Salt Lake Valley. As the troops approached the Territory, every available means was used to resist their advance. Trenches and other defenses were prepared and all forage burned on the routes to the Valley to hamper or prevent their approach (17, p.303). When the troops arrived in 1858 they were permitted to enter the territory of Utah without further …