Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Incentivizing Technological Growth: A Symbiotic Relationship In The Computer Software Industry, Alex Usher

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Three Essays On The Search For Economic Efficiency, Jason J. Delaney

Economics Dissertations

The chapters of this dissertation examine efficiency failures in three areas of applied microeconomics: experimental economics, public finance, and game theory. In each case, we look at ways to resolve these failures to promote the public good. The first chapter, “An Experimental Test of the Pigovian Hypothesis,” looks at two different policies designed to reduce congestion in a common-pool resource (CPR). We present an experiment with training and a simplified decision task and find that subject behavior converges to the Nash prediction over a number of periods. A Pigovian subsidy effectively moves subject behavior to the pre-subsidy social optimum. Finally, …

A Cross-Sectional Study Of Infant Mortality Rates Between Countries, Katelyn E. May

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The health status of nations has been and continues to be under debate. Although the variables that comprise such a status have not been solidified, one variable that is closely studied and is thought to have an effect on the idea of health status is infant mortality. A country’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is treated as an indicator of its health status as well as socioeconomic status. This research attempts to study the variables which are hypothesized to be significant in relation to IMR, and to find which ones truly have an effect. Data on eight independent variables were collected …

Language Acquisition Of The Children Of Immigrants And The Role Of Non-Profit Organizations, Elizabeth Whitaker

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Microinsurance: An Effective Risk Management Tool For The Poor?, Zachary Sherman

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Online Schooling: Trading In Context For Profit, Zachary Semago

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Going For The Gold: The United States Olypmic Committee As A Non-Profit, Gratia Ratzloff

Economics Theses

While many papers have sought to discover the specific economic factors that affect the success of the United States Olympic Committee and other NOCs, there has been little research conducted as to why the USOC operates as a non-profit organization. This paper seeks to examine this question. In the following section of this paper, the economics behind the United States Olympic Committee are evaluated and a theory about the operation of the organization is developed. Next, this theory is analyzed and discussed. Lastly, I conclude.

Environmental Water Rights Transfers In A Nonprofit Institutional Structure, Kevin W. Chambers

Economics Theses

Increased demand for diminishing water resources has created the need for creative water management strategies. One technique perused in the western United States is the purchase of water rights by non-profit organizations for environmental in-stream uses. This paper looks at the Columbia Basin as a case study of the motivations of non-profit organizations. It shows how the institutional structure reduces transaction costs associated with water rights transfers and how non-profit organizations can incentivize water conservation in the western United States.

What’S The Difference? Wage Differentials And The Donative-Labor Hypothesis In Non-Profit Firms, David Travis Freidman

Economics Theses

There are three objectives in this paper. First is to show the existence of wage differentials. The second objective is to investigate the reasons why individuals would take lower wages at a non-profit and try to show that these reasons exist empirically. Thirdly, to prove or disprove the postulate that the donative labor hypothesis is not as important as other factors when explaining wage differentials.

To facilitate achieving these goals, this paper will begin by laying out the economic theory behind wages. Then it will move to looking at the current research on the topic of wage differentials, which will …

Government Intervention And Economic Growth, Maria Sarigiannidou

Doctoral Dissertations

The first essay constitutes a theory which lends truth to the Kuznets hypothesis. The attention is centered on the role of financial markets in defining the process of knowledge accumulation, and ultimately the distribution of income earning capabilities in a population of ex ante heterogeneous individuals. The provision of credit is hindered by one-sided lack of commitment embedded in the area of educational investment. Adaptation in the legislative system to accommodate a punishment scheme conditional on default is the critical requirement for the economy to be carried on a dynamic growth path, albeit one of higher and worsening inequality. Owing …

A Study On The Productivity And Efficiency Effects Of Enterprise Reforms In China, Song Gao

Dissertations

This dissertation studies the progress and impacts of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) reforms in China. The primary interests center on impacts of non-ownershipchange reforms and privatization on Chinese SOEs’ productivity and efficiency. The research comprises of three major sections.

Section one briefly reviews the history of SOEs’ reform in China and examines the changes in some selected performance indicators with help of a comprehensive dataset on 863 Chinese firms from 1995 to 2001. In addition, causes of Chinese SOEs’ privatization and determinants of firms’ inefficiency are also studied.

Section two examines the effects of privatization and non-ownership-change reforms on firms’ productivity …

Factors That Influence The Adoption Of Agricultural Conservation Programs In Northwest Arkansas, Edison Anthony Froelich

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A survey was developed and administered to agricultural producers in Northwest Arkansas in order to better understand producer awareness of, application for and participation in six federal and state conservation programs available in Arkansas: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the Arkansas Revolving Loan Program, the Arkansas Nonpoint Pollution Management Program , the Arkansas Soil Nutrient and Poultry Litter Application and Management Program, and the Surplus Poultry Litter Removal Incentives Cost Share Program. Survey results found that less than half of the sample was aware of any one of the programs. A logit model was developed …

The Allocation Of Time And Goods: Three Essays On American Household Shopping Behavior, Jing Cai

Dissertations

Consumers’ shopping behavior connects market goods expenditure with the out of- market time allocation in their daily time use. This study is composed of three essays. In the first essay, data are collected from the American Time Use Survey and it is found that an individual’s time devoted to shopping is positively determined by opportunity cost of time. Grocery shopping and other shopping, as two distinct types of shopping, react differently to a series of individual and household characteristics as well as by seasons. The corresponding marginal effects also differentiate between shopping time, leisure time, and home production time. In …

Analyzing The Restricted Phase Of The Graduated Driver's Licensing System: The Effect Of Driving Experience, Christopher Graham

All Theses

Beginning in 1996, states began adopting what is known as the graduated driver's licensing system (GDL) in an attempt to reduce traffic hazards for teenagers. This was a response to previous literature which suggested teens had an elevated risk for motor vehicle hazards, compared to all other age groups. The GDL system is split into three separate stages, in an attempt to ease the teenagers into the driving process. These stages are known as the permit stage, the restricted stage, and the unrestricted stage. While much of the past literature has focused on whether or not the GDL system is …

Socioeconomic Determinants Of Infant Mortality Rate Disparities, Alex Krasikov

All Theses

This study examines variation in infant mortality rate (IMR) between black and white populations. Data were drawn from CDC Birth Cohort Linked Birth Infant Data for 2004. Author examined numerous socioeconomic factors that could explain the gap in IMR between two races. Each potential factor was examined separately before introducing into a complete model. The proposed model explains about 11 percentage points in difference between groups, and showed factors that can be affected by change in public policy, play statistically significant role in IMR disparity. We can look at the IMR as a socioeconomic indicator that highlights both negative and …

Economic And Risk Factors Associated With Sexual And Reproductive Health, Julio Cesar Hernandez-Correa

Dissertations

This dissertation is intended to evaluate the effects of economic and risk factors on three aspects of sexual and reproductive health: maternal mortality, prenatal care demand, and contraceptive use. The first study of this dissertation discusses the effects of risk factors and socioeconomic determinants on maternal mortality. This research uses a unique, nationwide panel of counties to analyze maternal mortality in Madagascar. Factors like health environment and access to health services were controlled for. The results indicate that female literacy and wages decrease maternal mortality. Other factors related to health infrastructure, and diseases can represent a burden to women's health. …

Crime And Punishment: Insitutional Sanctions And Other Characteristics That Effect Campus Crime, Aldon Givens

All Theses

Crime, has and continues to be, a major issue in the world of institutions of higher education. Colleges and universities are constantly working on ways to prevent and improve crime on their respective campuses, which in most occasions includes collecting and reporting crime data to law enforcement agencies and the general public. By setting up punishment schemes and sanctions to deter criminal activity at their institution, administrators and faculty are looking for better, more efficient ways to influence the behavior or their students and steer them away from a life of criminal activity.
By studying existing literature, crime definitions, and …

The Write Moves: An Autoethnographic Examination Of The Media Industry, Danielle Gomes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis examines the current media environment through the use of adaptation theory, political economy theory, and media ecology theory. More specifically, this thesis is an autoethnography of this author‟s attempts to release content into the mass-media.

This thesis expects to find that in the current conglomerate controlled media environment content that has multi-media potential is preferred. Vertical integration is the standard in these massive media corporations. Consequently, the adaptation of content into multiple media is no longer an afterthought to creation, it is forethought.

Black-White Differences In Wealth Accumulation Among Americans Nearing Retirement, Eun Hyei Shin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Using data from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study examines what types of assets and levels of savings are held by Black near-retirees, while comparing how types of assets and levels of savings of Black near-retirees differ from those of White near-retirees. Through the use of multivariate analyses, this study further investigates the effects of being Black on the levels of savings, the likelihood of holding IRAs, and the likelihood of being financially prepared for retirement. The study sample includes 4,077 individuals between the ages of 51 and 64, and the subsamples consist of 680 Black and …

Franklin Boulevard Redevelopment Project Area Market Analysis, Joshua Chapman

Master's Theses

The following Market Analysis is an analysis of the Franklin Boulevard Redevelopment Project Area. The analysis is divided into the following four sections: ♦ Planning Context ♦ Real Estate Market Conditions ♦ Emerging Market Opportunities & Case Studies ♦ Conclusion The report serves as an opportunity to aide stakeholders of the Franklin Boulevard Redevelopment Project Area. Stakeholders include residents, business owners, the City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), and the North Franklin District Business Association (NFDBA). The stakeholders are continually searching for data and creative examples of how to transform the area into a …

Alignment Of Community Preferences, Economic Development Goals, And Policy: Considering Economic Development Goals, Their Expression, And Their Execution In Economically Struggling Communities, Rebecca Lynn Moryl

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Across the U.S., and particularly in the Northeast, cities known as former "mill towns" have been largely unsuccessful in attempts to revive their economic vigor. States and cities invest millions each year in efforts to reinvigorate these cities through economic development policies. Debates about the effectiveness of such policies in generating economic growth outcomes are prevalent in the literature. This thesis takes a different focus by considering the alignment of economic development goals and actions among citizens and government professionals. I consider, compare, contrast, and draw lessons from three Massachusetts cities of similar government structure. Each of these cities has …

Sustaining Welfare For Consumers In The Credit Card Industry Reactions To The Credit Card Act Of 2009, Christina B. Lee

Economics Theses

Congress passed several laws to give consumers a more informed choice about their credit card decisions, the most recent being the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009. However, numerous fees and fee calculations implemented by opportunistic credit card issuers over recent years illustrate the depth of the asymmetric information problem in a the industry, resulting in a market failure not fully corrected by the CARD Act. This paper will provide a critique of the CARD Act and argue that in order to sustain consumer welfare, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) created by Title X of …

Lean Manufacturing As A Source Of Competitive Advantage, Ryan Scott Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The productivity advances generated from lean manufacturing are self-evident. Plants that adopt lean are more capable of achieving high levels of quality, shorter lead times, and less waste in the system. While it seems logical that higher levels of productivity and quality, as is common in lean companies, should result in positive financial performance, the research community has failed to establish the financial profitability of lean. Those researchers who have studied the financial returns issue report varying results. The goal of this research was to determine if a connection exists between lean and financial success and to discover why so …

Correcting Market Failure In The Internet Gambling Industry: An Economic Analysis Of Legalization And Licensing Regulation In The United States, Alyssa Renosto

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

The Resource Curse: The Cases Of Botswana And Zambia, Audria Crain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A puzzling correlation has been observed over the last thirty years between slow or negative economic growth and countries with large export dependence on natural resources. This correlation has been dubbed "the resource curse." It has been argued that resource wealth has an inherently negative effect on the economic growth of developing countries. Zambia is such a country in which resource-dependence has been coupled with poor economic performance; Botswana, however, is an important exception to this phenomenon. The question is: Why or how has Botswana surmounted the effects of the resource curse while Zambia has not? A comparative case analysis …

A Bridge To Unite The Nonprofit Sector & The Federal Government: H.R. 5533, Nina Felicia Genevieve Perl

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Optimal Portfolio Selection Of Credit Unions And The Probability Of Failure, J. Zack Keim

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Survival Of The Fittest: Examining Utility Maximization And Consumer Choice Theory In An Attempt Maximize Nonprofit Funding, Hunter Dulin

Economics Theses

No abstract provided.

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Greening An Older Modest-Sized Home, Delilah Zoe Leval

Master's Theses

This professional project estimates the upfront costs and utility savings expected from greening an approximately 1,100 square foot home built in the 1950s in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two sets of upgrades (alternative and original) were compared for costs and benefits. The alternative set (which included ceiling insulation and omitted upgrading to dual-pane windows) clearly out performed the original set. The alternative set would be expected to reduce resident utility bills by 28% annually, and to prevent approximately 2,700 lbs of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The water efficiency upgrades were the best performing group of upgrades, as they had …

Gendered Vulnerabilities After Genocide: Three Essays On Post-Conflict Rwanda, Catherine Ruth Finnoff

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation addresses gendered vulnerabilities after the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda. It consists of three essays, each focusing on the experience of women in a particular aspect of post-conflict development. The first essay analyzes trends in poverty and inequality in Rwanda from 2000 to 2005. The chapter identifies four important correlates of consumption income: gender, human capital, assets, and geography, and examines their salience in determining the poverty of a household and its position in the income distribution. The second essay is an econometric examination of an important health insurance scheme initiated in post-conflict Rwanda. Employing logistic regression techniques, …