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Economics

2010

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Articles 1 - 20 of 20

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Crime Rate In America: How Influential Is The Economy In Affecting The Level Of Crime?, Joseph Kuhar Jan 2010

The Crime Rate In America: How Influential Is The Economy In Affecting The Level Of Crime?, Joseph Kuhar

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper explores the determinants of the crime rate, and whether or not the economy and its many indicators play a substantial role in affecting this rate. Many factors affect the crime rate in a given country/state/area including the number of police, the rate at which crime is reported, as well as the population. This paper will explore the following variables: the crime rate (dependent), number of police, conditions that affect the crime rate, the reported crime rate, and the reporting rate. It will also analyze the following economic conditions and whether or not they have a substantial effect on …

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The Long-Run Relationship Between Inflation And Unemployment In Malaysia, Matthew Tremblay Jan 2010

The Long-Run Relationship Between Inflation And Unemployment In Malaysia, Matthew Tremblay

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the long-run relationship between inflation and unemployment in the economy of Malaysia between 1972 and 2004. Basing my model off of an investigation by Fair (1997), this study will attempt to quantify the relationship between inflation rates, unemployment, wage rates, changes in production, and a measure of demand pressure. Using macro-level data from various sources, it is expected that the results will suggest periods of high inflation are directly related to high unemployment, decreased wage rates, lower production levels, and substantially weak demand pressures.

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The Impact Of An Economic Recession On Etf Sectors: Which Etf Sectors Are Most Recession-Proof?, Salvatore Galbo Jan 2010

The Impact Of An Economic Recession On Etf Sectors: Which Etf Sectors Are Most Recession-Proof?, Salvatore Galbo

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates which ETF sectors are most recession-proof by focusing on sector performance and finding the possibility of a positive or negative correlation between specific sectors and the overall market performance during such recessionary times. The study compares the percentage gain or loss by each ETF sector with regression analysis to determine which sectors perform better than the overall market performance during an economic downturn. The study incorporates the most recent recession and the recession during 2001, when the technology bubble burst occurred, to find any relevance and/or consistency in my study. The results show that out of all …

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The Effect Of Education On Property Crime Across State, Wes Andrews Jan 2010

The Effect Of Education On Property Crime Across State, Wes Andrews

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the effects/importance of these independent variables (High School Graduation Rate, GDP growth Rate, GDP per capita, expenditures per capita in terms of police force, expenditures per capita in terms of the court system, employment rate, percentage of people with college degrees, and the average wage rate) on property crimes across the 50 states. The study will use OLS in order to examine the influence of these variables. Based on reviews of other similar studies it is expected that there is a negative correlation between the amount of schooling and property crime.

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Labor Productivity, Inflation, And Unemployment's Relationship With Wage Formation In The United States, Peter Longhi Jan 2010

Labor Productivity, Inflation, And Unemployment's Relationship With Wage Formation In The United States, Peter Longhi

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper discusses unemployment, labor productivity and inflation’s effect on wage formation in the United States. This paper looks at a very well researched topic of wage formations relation to unemployment and labor productivity to see if there is a long term homogenous relationship between the wage levels and the dependent variables. By using quarterly data from 1996 to 2009, I will attempt to observe if wages are following the classical theoretical relationship in the United States. The specified time period will allow us to observe a distinct boom and bust in the economy. I expect to find a long …

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Determinants Of Rental Rates In Major Cities In The United States, Roy Ruivo Jan 2010

Determinants Of Rental Rates In Major Cities In The United States, Roy Ruivo

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

The focus of this paper is to determine variables that contribute to rental rate pricing. Using U.S. Census data pertaining to all cities in the United States with populations over 100,000 in 2005, this paper furthers a study of inter-city rent determinants within New York City provided by Marco (2008) using additional variables provided by Gilderbloom and Pan (2002) in their inter-city study. This report studies the impact of variables, including vacancy rates, median family income, population growth rate, and average housing costs. The population variable will be manipulated so that it represents density, which provides an accurate representation of …

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The Impact Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Factors On Infant Mortality In The U.S., Tai Abukasis Jan 2010

The Impact Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Factors On Infant Mortality In The U.S., Tai Abukasis

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines socioeconomic and environmental agents that may affect infant mortality rates among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics in the United States. Data was collected at the state level from both federal and private databases. Three separate ordinary least squares regressions were taken for each of the aforementioned demographics. The correlations between the independent variables and infant mortality were examined from a racially-based perspective to further evaluate potential underlying causes regarding geographic, financial, and environmental constituents. Analysis of the regressions revealed that particular variables affect the rate of infant deaths among races differently and that racial disparity continues to exist …

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What Drives The United States Housing Starts, Myles Ojala Jan 2010

What Drives The United States Housing Starts, Myles Ojala

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the determinants of new housing starts within the United States. Using recent monthly data, this study will consider factors such as residential building permits, long and short-term mortgage rates, savings rates, and mortgage availability, to show how each of these variables influence the U.S housing market in the form of residential housing starts. Using a VAR model, this paper will show the impact that the vector variables have on each other, and especially, housing starts. By using a split set of data, this paper will also show the impact of the vector variables on housing starts during …

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Factors Effecting Gdp Growth In Member States Of The European Union, Kris Mortimer Jan 2010

Factors Effecting Gdp Growth In Member States Of The European Union, Kris Mortimer

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the GDP growth in member states of the European Union from 1978 until 2007. As most people are well aware of, GDP is calculated by the sum of consumption, government expenditure, investment, and net exports. The research conducted for this paper intends to discover what other variables have affected GDP growth in the past 30 years. The variables used in this paper include the public expenditure on education, total population, inflation, percentage of population who are adolescents (0-14), adults (15-64), or elderly (65+). Today there are twenty-seven member states in the Union from which I have compiled …

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Why You Pay What You Pay At The Pump, Jason Orne Jan 2010

Why You Pay What You Pay At The Pump, Jason Orne

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates several factors that strongly influence the day to day consumer price of Gasoline in America. This study incorporates existing information on the most likely variables that should influence gasoline prices from the beginning of 2006 to the very end of 2009. The study looks at contributing factors that include the average price of gasoline from the week before (pennies per gallon), the current weeks average oil price (Dollars per barrel), the previous weeks average oil price (Dollars per barrel), and the US production, and consumption of gasoline (1000 barrels per day). Using macro-level data from the US …

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Determinants Of Savings In Latin American Countries, Jamie Walker Jan 2010

Determinants Of Savings In Latin American Countries, Jamie Walker

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the determinants of the Savings per capita in Latin American Countries during the years 2002 to 2005 and their significance. Using these years provides a look at how the Latin American Countries emerged from an inflation prone society in the 1990’s to a diverse economic body according to Hernan Buchi the former finance minister of Chile. The study takes several models and applies them towards the Latin American Countries of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The study will use macro-level data to determine which of …

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An Analysis Of Gender Based Wage Differential Among Teachers In The United States, Kendal Glen Cehanowicz Jan 2010

An Analysis Of Gender Based Wage Differential Among Teachers In The United States, Kendal Glen Cehanowicz

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Do teachers with similar experience and age but different genders earn the same income? This study investigates the income of teachers relative to their age, education, experience, race and gender. Studies have shown that inequality in the gender wage gap is a trend which closed for almost two decades, but has recently widened again. This study identifies a specific line of work where injustice can be seen and aims to bring this knowledge to light. The Current Population Survey (CPS) data set from 2005-2009 will be used for this study. This study finds empirical evidence that gender differences do in …

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Determinants Of Hyperinflation: An Analysis Of Argentina, Eric Fudge Jan 2010

Determinants Of Hyperinflation: An Analysis Of Argentina, Eric Fudge

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the history of inflation rates in Argentina compared to other economic factors, including: GDP, national budget, money supply, exchange rate, and unemployment levels. Using data from the World Bank and Centre of International Economics this paper will give insight into some of the causes of high inflation levels that were evident in Argentina throughout the 1980s, peaking with hyperinflation in 1989 and 1990. Results from analyzing statistics pertaining to Argentina’s economy from 1980 to present suggest that perpetual budget deficits led the government to print money more rapidly, causing a significant decrease in currency valuation and thus …

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The Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence From Latin America And The Caribbean, Nicholas Colongeli Jan 2010

The Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence From Latin America And The Caribbean, Nicholas Colongeli

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the impact of determinants on the inflows of FDI to the Latin American and Caribbean region. The study incorporates cross-country information to describe incentives influencing flows of FDI into the region from 1992 - 2008. Factors are modeled using a least-squared regression model and are determined as significant. The results from the research and tests performed emphasize the correlation between specific economic indicators and flows of FDI. Using macro – level data from various sources, the results generally suggest that factors such as degree of openness and market size have a positive correlation with FDI flows; whereas, …

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Determinants Of Teen Pregnancy: An Empirical Assessment Of Oecd Countries, Maxine Pamela Outerbridge Jan 2010

Determinants Of Teen Pregnancy: An Empirical Assessment Of Oecd Countries, Maxine Pamela Outerbridge

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This research paper investigates the determinants of teen pregnancy to uncover potential correlations among several social and economic factors. The study incorporates empirical data into a multivariate linear regression model to examine the impact of various socioeconomic variables such as education, income, health expenditure, abortion rates, and derive a comparison of the status of teen pregnancies among OECD countries. This study expands earlier research that concentrated on several of the most developed nations by emphasizing the socioeconomic status of women throughout the OECD members and uncovering the significance of governmental initiatives to improve such status. This study also aims to …

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Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment In An Emerging Market Economy: Evidence From India, Carlos Resende Jr. Jan 2010

Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment In An Emerging Market Economy: Evidence From India, Carlos Resende Jr.

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Over the past few years, India has recorded a substantial increase in the level of annual foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. This paper examines the relationship between foreign direct investment and domestic investment, while using the ordinary least squared technique, and a time series analysis from the period 1979-2008. Building on the prior literature, this paper provides an empirical analysis of domestic determinants of FDI such as size of market, openness to trade, infrastructure, attractiveness to domestic market, and exchange rate instability. In addition, this paper will include technology growth and specific variables to examine local determinates of FDI in …

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Economic Growth And Emissions In China And India: A Comparison With The Other G5 Emerging Nations, David Niles Jan 2010

Economic Growth And Emissions In China And India: A Comparison With The Other G5 Emerging Nations, David Niles

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the possibility of different modes of production affecting the emission levels of developing nations. China and India have experienced substantial economic growth of the past few decades. Past economists have found emission levels positively correlated with GDP growth. Nonetheless, China has significantly higher emission levels than India, given their respective growth in GDP. Whether a country bases their growth on agriculture, industry, manufacturing or services has an effect on their subsequent emission levels. Comparing these results with the other G5 nations indicate the relative importance of GDP level in comparison with economic structure. This paper finds that …

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The Correlation Of Monetary Policy, Inflation And Stock Returns During Periods Of Inflation And Deflation, Jason Megaro Jan 2010

The Correlation Of Monetary Policy, Inflation And Stock Returns During Periods Of Inflation And Deflation, Jason Megaro

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the debated issue of the existence of a relationship between a country’s monetary policy and the relative stock market and stock returns. Specifically, the paper examines the affect and correlation of overnight interest rate (known as federal funds rate in U.S.), inflationary rate and stock returns on and with each other, respectively, during periods of inflation and deflation. The deflationary period investigated is the period of deflation in Japan and the inflationary period examined is over the last decade in the United States. The analysis is performed using multivariate VAR/VEC co-integrating specifications to supplement the results from …

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Determinants Of Female Labor Force Participation In United States, Dongni Wan Jan 2010

Determinants Of Female Labor Force Participation In United States, Dongni Wan

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper is trying to discover the determinants of female labor force participation in United States from the year 2000 to 2009. The study contains over 1 million observations through-out the 4 business cycles and the household data from Current Population Survey (CPS) suggested that female labor force participation in the United States was influenced by several factors, namely, educational attainment, family income, marital status, age, race, number of children in the household. Women with higher education level and from wealthier households have a greater tendency of joining the labor force while those with only high school or lower degree …

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Energy Consumption, Fdi, Government Effectiveness Economic Growth., Aaron Borges Jan 2010

Energy Consumption, Fdi, Government Effectiveness Economic Growth., Aaron Borges

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

The availability of energy is essential in initiating and sustaining economic growth. FDI has also been positively linked to economic growth although some argue that economic growth promotes FDI. Studies examining the government effectiveness of nations have suggested FDI is more effective and energy resources are used more effectively when a country has solid governance. While studies have examined these aforementioned macroeconomic issues, there is no empirical study that examines all these variants within the same model. This paper investigates these factors and their effect on economic growth throughout 50 nations for the year of 2005. Economic growth is calculated …

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