Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cross-Country Evidence Of Corruption Spillovers To Formal And Informal Entrepreneurship, Aziz N. Berdiev, James Saunoris

Economics Faculty Journal Articles

Using cross‐country data this paper examines the spillovers of corruption to formal and informal entrepreneurship in neighboring countries. Whereas research has shown that entrepreneurs move underground to escape corruption, we argue that entrepreneurs may also seek refuge in neighboring countries. Indeed, the empirical results show that in response to a ceteris paribus increase in corruption in neighboring countries formal entrepreneurship increases in the home country with no effect on informal entrepreneurship. This is consistent with entrepreneurs circumventing corrupt public officials by immigrating to countries with presumably less corruption. These results withstand a battery of robustness checks. (JEL D73, L26)

Corporate Social Responsibility And Likelihood Of Financial Distress, Ying Zheng, Yong Wang, Crystal Jiang

Finance Department Faculty Journal Articles

Does doing good to society make firms less likely to have financial trouble? This paper looks at the benefit of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and examines whether firms’ CSR engagement affects their chance of falling into financial distress. After analyzing a broad U.S. database spanning 25 years from 1991 to 2015, we find that CSR engagement indeed reduces the likelihood of firms falling into financial distress, and the results are statistically robust and economically significant. Further, we find the impact of CSR on the likelihood of financial distress is more pronounced in economic downturns and for firms with high levels …

Cryptocurrencies: Applications And Investment Opportunities, A. Can Inci, Rachel Lagasse

Finance Department Faculty Journal Articles

Purpose

This study investigates the role of cryptocurrencies in enhancing the performance of portfolios constructed from traditional asset classes. Using a long sample period covering not only the large value increases but also the dramatic declines during the beginning of 2018, the purpose of this paper is to provide a more complete analysis of the dynamic nature of cryptocurrencies as individual investment opportunities, and as components of optimal portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

The mean-variance optimization technique of Merton (1990) is applied to develop the risk and return characteristics of the efficient portfolios, along with the optimal weights of the asset class components …

Survival Strategies: A Study Of Working Families In New York City, Kafui Gozey

Honors Projects in History and Social Sciences

The main focus for this project was to find out how working families survive life in New York City which is known to be one of the most expensive places to live on earth. In effort to find answers to this, I visited the city for a period of two weeks to observe the lives of locals and also to interact with them. After days of interactions and gathering information, it was evident that there is a huge population of working families in New York who struggle to make ends meet. It was also made clear that these families do …

What Affects Academic Performance In Bryant University Students?, Emilio Avalos

Honors Projects in Economics

Looking at a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) has been the main way of measuring academic success for many years. Of course, GPA is not the only success measure for every person after college, but it is highly relevant. The purpose of this study is to find the strongest factors that affect the academic performance of undergraduate students in Bryant University. The main objective is to provide undergraduate students with information that will help them better understand the variables that positively or negatively affect their GPA. The data for this study was gathered by sending out a questionnaire that contained …

A Panel Data Study Of The Determinants Of Life Expectancy In Low Income Countries, Taylor Rizzo

Honors Projects in Economics

This study attempts to determine the impact of several socioeconomic determinants of life expectancy for 34 low income countries using ordinary least squares linear regression. Most explanatory variables were statistically significant, implying that the socioeconomic variables of interest, including government health expenditures, access to basic sanitation facilities, HIV prevalence, urbanization, education, and sex, are important measures in influencing life expectancy. Foreign aid, corruption, and undernourishment, were determined insignificant when determining life expectancy. Based on the analysis results, it has been suggested that these developing countries implement appropriate policies and programs to increase HIV education and preventative measures, increase women’s rights …

Assessment Of Economics Education In Korea's Higher Education, Jinsoo Hahn, Kyungho Jang, Jongsung Kim

Economics Faculty Book Publications

No abstract provided.

Corruption And South American Public Health Governance: A Panel Data Analysis, Richard Mydland

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates high income South American countries and their Corruption Perception Index ranking compared to their public health economic variables alongside other macroeconomic variables. The study takes into account that each country is different by means of economic nature due to geographic location. Countries with a natural resource curse are different from traditionalist economic countries. The model examines the implications of a corruption ranking along with health and macroeconomic data that is strongly correlated with decreasing or increasing returns to scale.

Are The Food Insecure More Likely To Be Obese?, Lisa Russo

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the connections between food insecurity and obesity levels throughout the United States over three years (2011-2013). The causes of obesity are often not entirely a result of poor diet and exercise, but of the presence of food deserts in impoverished areas. Changes in income trends in recent years also the poor remain poor rather than experiencing upward mobility. This study builds on previous studies conducted both within the U.S. and internationally that found that food insecurity is a determinant of obesity rates. This study uses poverty as a proxy measurement for food insecurity at the state level, …

How Improving Prison Systems In The United States Will Positively Impact The Economy, Jordan Laube

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the causes of high recidivism in the United States and offers a solution to theoretically bring these numbers down. This study is compiled of data over the past twenty years (1998-2018) as there have been spikes in recidivism rates during this time period. Some of the independent variables that this paper will take into account are economic and labor market freedom, race, cost, sentence length, and prison population under discretionary review. A one percent increase in state economic freedom is associated with a 0.47 % decrease in parolee recidivism. The relationship is stronger and more statistically significant …

Esg Scores Impact On The Market Value Of The Stock, Michelle Quinn

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the effects of the ESG scores on a firm’s stock valuation, using the Tobin’s Q ratio. This study will incorporate both the ESG index as a whole and the individual factors: environmental, social and governance to consider the firm’s corporate social responsibility. This model uses the Tobin’s Q measurement to evaluate if the stock is over or undervalued while including the size, risk, and development within the firm. The paper found that there is little significant evidence to prove that there is a relationship between the ESG scores and the valuation of the stock, but there is …

Economic Growth As It Relates To Women’S Labor Force Participation In The Lac, John Esher

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the dependence of economic growth in the LAC and the relationship between Women’s Labor Force Participation and growth in production and total GDP. This study is the incorporation of information and data from the LAC into a Solow Growth Model to examine the influence of participation on the GDP per capita of the region. Increases in GDP per capita are modeled by using the differences in current GDP per capita against the GDP after women’s participation is increase to the same level to men’s. The results show that if women were to actively participate in the labor …

Effects Of Private And Public Health Expenditure On Health Outcome, Hyungue Lim

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

The current level of health spending in the U.S. is the highest in the world. However, the outcomes of the health spending are among the lowest for developed countries. Therefore, for policy development purpose, it is necessary to determine which direction of healthcare spending results in better output, private or public. This paper investigates the effect of private and public health expenditure on life expectancy, infant mortality at birth, and infant mortality under age 5 among 11 OECD countries. Hausman test is performed to confirm the fixed effects models. Fixed effects GLS and GMM are used for data analysis. We …

The Effect Of Corruption On Foreign Direct Investment In Transition Economies: A Panel Data Study, Michael Chodziutko

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the FDI inflows into transition economies of Europe. The study incorporates a time series element to help see how investment has changed over time in this region. Corruption and economic conditions are what will be specifically studied in this model. Market conditions are the final independent variable present in this studied, used to try and understand how the market size can influence inflows. The results show that there is a negative relationship between corruption on FDI flows. It was also found that economic growth and integration into the world economy have a positive relationship in attracting foreign …

What Is Driving Up Health Care Costs? Does Pollution Play A Role: Oecd Country Panel Data Analysis, Sean Gillis

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This study investigates the rising health care costs among nine OECD nations from 1990 to 2014. A panel data analysis was conducted to analyze specific causes for these rises. Total health care expenditure is the dependent variable with carbon dioxide emissions being the main variable of interest. Analysis finds that the economy has grown faster than health care expenditures, and a negative relationship between CO2 emissions, elderly populations, urban population growth rates and health care expenditure.

Does Growth Have A Price Tag? Foreign Aid’S Effect On Economic Growth In Africa, Andrew Berghahn

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the linkage between Official Development Assistance (ODA) received by African countries and the growth of GDP per capita within those nations. This study uses fixed and random effects to explore to ascertain the effects of increasing the amount of ODA received in relation to the country’s GDP. The results from this analysis show that there is a clear negative impact on country’s GDP per capita as ODA increases in relation to total GDP.

The Glass-Cliff And Usa Politics: Are Women Set Up For Failure?, Amber Marin

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This study investigates the hypothesis that the glass cliff exists in Senate races for the United States in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. It compares the effects to anecdotal situations focusing on Brexit. The results of the study find validity in glass cliff hypothesis.

Causality Relationship Between Income Inequality And Life Satisfaction In European Countries: Does Income Inequality Affect Life Satisfaction?, Rodrigue Beleho Balemaken

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the interaction between life satisfaction and income inequality in European nations from 2006 to 2016. The keys finding of the analysis and the results show that countries that promote collectivism tend to have people with higher life satisfaction than countries which promote individualism. In general, individuals prefer to live in a country where they have stable disposable income, freedom in the way they are thinking, trust in their government and policies, a healthy life expectancy, and social support and generosity from peers. With this in mind, it raises the question, “where does income inequality fit into this?” …

Salary Dispersion And Team Performance In Major League Baseball: A Quantile Regression Analysis, Shane Vyskocil

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the relationship between salary dispersion and team performance in Major League Baseball. Player salary data is collected to calculate each team’s annual Gini coefficient from 1998-2016, which is used to represent a team’s level of wage inequality in a given year. The study incorporates a fixed and random effects model, and distinguishes itself from previous research by employing multiple quantile regressions to analyze how the impact of salary dispersion differs depending on a team’s performance level. The results find that the fixed effects model is preferred, and that there is consistently a negative relationship between wage differentials …

The Burden Of Public Debt On The United Kingdom: Analyzed With Var Approach, Yuvraj Duggal

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

The study aims to find the relationship in between economic growth and public debt in the United Kingdom using a Vectoral Autoregression approach in between 1999 till 2017. The study aims to examine the impact of public debt on interest rates, inflation rates, Real GDP growth rate, and interest debt payments in the UK. The results show a positive and statistically significant impact of public debt on inflation rates and interest rates. It is also found that the variables affect each other as a consequence in the model and therefore public debt also influence the real GDP growth rates and …

Factor Model Tests Of Long-Run Price Reversals In The U.S. Stock Market, Harrison Garrett

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates whether long-run price reversals persist in stocks that have significantly outperformed or underperformed the market. Consistent with previous studies, the results show that there are sizeable positive abnormal returns to a long-term contrarian strategy of investing in stocks with significant prior underperformance. However, these positive abnormal returns are driven by low-priced stocks, and stocks with very low market capitalizations. When the investment universe is narrowed to remove very small companies and lowpriced stocks, there is no longer a statistically significant return difference between portfolios of stocks with significant prior outperformance and significant prior underperformance.

Fdi & Crime In South America: A Panel Data Analysis, Casey Doyle

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the relationship between flows of FDI into South America and how it affects crime and how crime affects FDI. The paper incorporates a fixed effects model within an FDI model to examine how flows of FDI from foreign countries into South America impact crime in these countries. This study will use ten countries from South America in a panel data set from 2010 to 2016 that have different FDI intakes and crime rates. This is so that a well-rounded picture can be seen.

Determinants Of Life Expectancy In The Central African Republic, Taylor Rizzo

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the determinants of life expectancy in the Central African Republic. The study uses economic, social, and environmental factors to estimate a health production function. The study aims to offer suggestions on ways to target life expectancy as a method for increasing economic growth. The results show that the best way to increase longevity in the CAR and solve the mortality crisis are to increase sanitation facilities and regulation, solve the hunger/malnutrition problem, and to reduce the deadly spread of HIV. Aid was determined to be significant in improving the well-being of citizens in the CAR.

Figuring Out Aid: The Determinants Of Foreign Aid To Subsaharan Africa In The Post-Cold War Era, Soala Ekine

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

I investigate the determinants of foreign aid to Sub – Sahara African countries. I look at the post – Cold War era following Bandyopadhyay and Wall (2007). The independent variables of interest are GDP per capita, infant mortality, population, civil and political rights and also government effectiveness. I control for fixed effects to allow for political, strategic and other reasons donors have and use data from the World Bank from 1995. My results show that in the post-Cold War era, government effectiveness and population are statistically significant in explaining net official and development aid and assistance. A population bias is …