Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Does Bitcoin Use Affect Crime Rates?, Kevin Keane

The Corinthian

Bitcoin is the most widely used cryptocurrency in the world because of its decentralized network that completes user-to-user transactions, eliminating the need for intermediaries. During 2017, the volume of Bitcoin transactions totaled $94.3 trillion. Bitcoin transactions are recorded in a public database called the blockchain. Although the blockchain can keep track of how many transactions there are, it can’t identify the people involved in transactions. The lack of identity increases the anonymity of Bitcoin transactions, making it less detectable when used for crime. Using the Uniform Crime Reporting’s state-level crime rate data and blockchain’s Bitcoin transaction information, I estimate the …

The Republic Of Macedonia: Factors Of Economic Growth, Kevin J. Morris

The Corinthian

This article provides an analysis of the obstacles to economic growth faced by the Republic of Macedonia and provides policy recommendations to address these issues.

European Union Membership And Levels Of Corruption, Kevin J. Morris

The Corinthian

Recent accessions to the European Union (E.U.) membership have been met with protests as critics noted the widespread corruption still rampant in both recent and established member countries. Given the global ramifications of the debt crises in Italy, Spain, and Greece, determining the efficacy of the E.U. Accession Reforms and Membership Criteria on corruption reduction is vitally important. Using European and Central Asian country-level data from the World Bank’s Global Development and Global Indicator database regional-level fixed effects, I estimate the impact of EU membership on corruption levels and find that E.U. membership has a small, but significant impact on …

Family Structure Choice: Taxation As An Incentive To Change, Aman Khanna

The Corinthian

Traditionally defined as the union of one man and one woman charged with the responsibility of rearing children, the notion of family now includes a variety of living arrangements including non-marital cohabitation and single parents. The current study investigates individual incentives to change family structure from a person’s original status as single. This conceptual research, which is grounded in theories of marriage, proposes that federal, personal income tax is an input to change in family structure. A model of family structure change and propositions of the relationship between the federal tax and family structure are developed.

Ethical Concerns Faced By Various Stakeholders Of The Natural Gas Industry In The Deregulation Environment, Michael A. Payne

The Corinthian

Deregulating the natural gas industry in Georgia and elsewhere has resulted in a "mixed bag" of beneficial and non-beneficial outcomes for industry stakeholders. The approach to deregulation has been varied and multifaceted; however, achieving the best overall outcome for the greatest number of stakeholders should not be the sole major objective. The American philosopher and psychologist William James argued best against the concept that the means in accomplishing an objective are more important than the end: "millions kept permanently happy" even though one single soul is left to "lead a life of lonely torture" is neither justified nor desirable (qtd. …

Tobacco Awareness Among Elementary School Students: Does Advertising Effect Children's Impression Of Cigarette Smoking?, John D. Johnson

The Corinthian

In 1996 the United States government began a series of lawsuits against the major tobacco manufacturing companies that have resulted in the elimination of major cigarette campaign slogans and/or characters judged to be aimed primarily at children. This action led to numerous state class-action lawsuits costing tobacco companies billions in future revenue. In their suit against tobacco companies, government lawyers successfully argued that tobacco companies had been deliberately marketing a dangerous product to the young. One of the more significant outcomes of this case was the elimination of the popular Joe Camel character.

In 1996 the United States government began …