Economics Commons^™

Teaching Economic Risk Management Through A Video Game Concept, Samantha Montella

Senior Honors Projects

Many video games imply economic behavior: making decisions within a game highlights the fundamentals of human action. The basic idea is that virtual worlds, like the real world, present us with a series of choices. Games impose digital scarcity, obliging players to weigh the benefits of different courses of action, make tradeoffs, and incur costs.

Good examples are found in the role-playing game (RPG) genre, where players face tough choices between different specializations and skill trees. Obliging players to make difficult decisions highlights the opportunity costs of choice, not the money cost. Games also encourage players to think entrepreneurially: to …

Grain Marketing 2020: Survival And Covid-19, Robert Tigner, Jessica J. Groskopf

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

First paragraph:

Let’s state the obvious: this isn’t a typical year and we all know it. For farmers, it is a survival year. Why? And what might be done to make it through to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic? This article will discuss how to build a marketing strategy to assure that the farm continues to the next crop year.

Conclusion

This year is shaping up to be a survival year for crop producers. Crop producers need to know at what crop price they will recapture all of the cash they will spend this year. Implementing a marketing …

Has Covid-19 Impacted Price-Weight Relationships And Value Of Gain?, Elliott James Dennis

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

First paragraph:

In the beginning of COVID-19, much of the attention was focused on managing the redirection of meat product from food service to retail stores. This past month has keenly focused on packing plant closures due to COVID-19 cases among workers and how to manage the supply of fat cattle already ready for slaughter. Fat cattle available for slaughter either cannot get bids or bids are significantly below breakeven prices leaving feedlots with decisions to be made about marketing and placements. The April 2020 Cattle on Feed report (https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/m326m174z) revealed March placement decisions. Placements were down about …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: April 29, 2020, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The LEI-N fell by 7.96% during March of 2020 as the COVID-19 Pandemic impacted Nebraska’s economy. The leading indicator primarily fell due to a spike in initial claims for unemployment insurance and a sharp drop in the airline passenger enplanements during March. Other components of the leading indicator also were impacted, given a decline in both building permits for single-family homes and manufacturing hours-worked. There also was a sharp increase in the value of the U.S. dollar during March, which creates additional challenges for both agriculture and manufacturing businesses. The decline in the leading indicator suggests that the Nebraska economy …

Exchange Rate Regimes And Economic Growth, Amandarae Matthew

Undergraduate Theses

This paper explores the relationship between economic growth and exchange rate regimes among countries of lower income, lower middle income, upper middle income, and high-income countries. Countries must make careful consideration when choosing an exchange rate regime because each regime can have different long-term effects. A cross section pooled time series data will be used for a sample of 42 countries over the period of 2000-2018. Multiple models will examine the various relationships between types of exchange rate regimes, changes in exchange rate regimes, and economic growth. The components of the models being tested include political stability, change in terms …

Understanding The Economic Impact Of The Carolina Panthers Training Facility On Rock Hill, Jeremiah Hart

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

In June 2019, the construction of both a new training facility and headquarters for Charlotte’s largest sports franchise was announced. Rock Hill, South Carolina, was selected as the new site for the facilities. This decision was notable for a number of reasons: foremost, the number of new residents that would be drawn into the region via jobs created by the construction of the new facilities. In order to better understand the outcomes of the Panthers’ investment, this paper will examine similar investments in other locales by other professional sports teams. These include “The Star,” a facility constructed by the Dallas …

Cash For Gold: An Economic Analysis Of The Olympic Games, Connor De Faber-Schumacher

Business and Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Fishy Situation: Large-Scale Versus Small-Scale Aquaculture In Zambia, Ellie Templeton

Business and Economics Presentations

This study examines the socio-economic effects of large-scale and small-scale farmers on fish production in Zambia. The government has recently encouraged small farmers to raise fish in order to decrease poverty and increase food security. However, it can be hard to make money when the large-scale, wealthy farmers are taking over the market. The possession of chicken manure to aid in fish production was significant in its impact on yields. It can be assumed that since this manure is expensive, poorer, smaller farmers are not reaping the benefits of this fertilizer since they cannot afford it.

When Pigs Fly: A Study On The H1n1 Virus, Femi Adetola

Business and Economics Presentations

In early 2009, a severe respiratory infection began to spread through the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Initially ruled an “outbreak”, it was officially declared an “epidemic” after evidence had shown that the virus had been present for months. From this it led to 12 months of panic and uncertainty around the globe. In this presentation I will look at what economic impact, if any, the H1N1 virus also known as Swine Flu had on the economy.

Invisible Hand Or Collective Command: Unionized Effect On State Wages, Michael Felix

Business and Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Million-Dollar Smile: The Economic Analysis Of Facial Symmetry In The Nfl, Marion Fortino

Business and Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

From Physical To Digital: The Evolution Of The Recorded Music Industry, Ronald Matthew

Business and Economics Presentations

In this project, through time series regression analysis I look to explain the reemergence of the recorded music industry through variables such as paid streaming subscriptions, downloads, physical sales, and lastly online video and social media advertising spending. I plan to answer the research question, “What are the most impactful factors on recorded music revenues, and where will revenues be in the near future?” This will be answered by hypothesizing that the adaptation of the recorded music industry is due to the utilizing of the digital world’s tools, instead of condemning it for piracy and illegal streams. The independent variables …

New Age Of Cinema: Factors Affecting Movie Theater Ticket Sales, Victoria Kroha

Business and Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Live Cattle Basis Due To Covid-19: Deviations And Convergence, Elliott James Dennis

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

A Fundamental Review on Basis

Basis is defined as the cash minus futures. Cash market reflects today's supply conditions and price. Futures market reflects upcoming supply and demand conditions. If it is anticipated that there will be a period of increasing supplies, futures prices will decline to reflect that information. Likewise, periods of time with expected decreasing supplies, future prices are expected to increase.

Since cash and futures prices can move simultaneously, basis will fluctuate through time. In periods where basis becomes more positive (i.e. basis is said to be strengthening/narrowing) it implies that cash prices are increasing more relative …

Assumptions (Mistakes) That Parents Make With Estate Plans, Allan Vyhnalek

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

Excerpt:

The main take-home message should be that the parents: 1) have a plan and continue to revise that plan from time to time and 2) be sure to think through the unintended consequences of your plan. Hopefully, some of the common assumptions mentioned here can be put into place so that the family does stay together for decades to come.

This is not an exhaustive list of assumptions that can go awry. It is being presented as a place for family thought and discussion to start. For more information go to: http://agecon.unl.edu/succession. There are other articles and video …

Pre Covid-19 Market Conditions Persist & The Stocker Industry Can Dampen The Damage, Elliott James Dennis

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

First paragraph:

The effects of COVID-19 on the livestock market are well known and felt. Some effects include depressed futures and cash prices, unusual basis patterns, decreased packer bids and sale barn volume, packing plant closures, consumer hording of meat products, and shifting food service products for retail consumption. All these effects occurred as market participants grappled with everchanging government and industry policy which reduced consumer demand and resulted in bottlenecks and increasing supply gluts upstream. Simultaneously reducing demand and increasing supply always cause prices to plummet, and in the case of COVID-19 very rapidly. Some segments of the market …

Super Bang For The Super Buck: An Economic Analysis Of Super Bowl Advertisements, Marissa Pownall

Business and Economics Presentations

Advertising has played an important role in television and has been widely used by a variety of different businesses to help increase their brand awareness as well as promoting their products. Specifically in the Super Bowl, established brands use this opportunity to reinforce themselves in the market. The average price of a 30-second Super Bowl Ad in 2020 was $5.6 million. This brings into question: What is the economic impact of Super Bowl advertisements on a company's revenue?

Fast And Furious: An Analysis Of What Factors Are Contributing To The Rapid And Unobstructed Rise In The Death Rate Of The Opioid Overdose Epidemic, Hailey Dicicco

Business and Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Mo’ Money Less Problems: Personal Factors That Correlate With Post-Baccalaureate Attainment, Zachary Goss

Business and Economics Presentations

From the years 1960 to 1997, Bachelor’s Degrees in the United States tripled. More interestingly though, that same time period saw both Master’s and Doctorate degrees in fields such as business, medicine and law quadruple with about a third of students having graduate degrees by 1997. With upwards of 3 million students to enroll in post-baccalaureate programs in 2017, this paper aims to look at personal factors such as: the number of children someone has, the ages of those children, whether or not the employer is paying for the student to attend graduate school, whether the student is married, and …

Love On The Brain, Luke Gehlhaus

Business and Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Cares Act 2020: Unemployment Insurance And Farmer/Ranchers, Robert Tigner

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

First paragraph:

Generally, unemployment insurance across the country is managed by state government. Each has different rules, with oversight by the US Department of Labor. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act made changes to the unemployment coverage for workers and appropriated funds for the changes. The act tasked the Labor Department with writing rules for the changes and it has issued an Unemployment Insurance Letter — UL No. 16-20 — that begins the rulemaking process. This guidance will then be used by Nebraska to implement the CARES Act. This article reviews what is known now with …

Linguistic Complexity And The Post-Earnings Announcement Drift, Johnathan Youngs

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

In this paper, I investigate the relationship between the verbal complexity of annual earnings announcement conference calls and the Post-Earnings Announcement Drift. I determine the degree of linguistic complexity in conference calls of large public companies in the S&P 500 using the Fog Index from computational linguistics. Consistent with my hypotheses, I find that both the timeliness and magnitude of the market’s reaction to qualitative information in annual conference calls exhibit evidence of a price drift. This research may be relevant to analysts, investors, managers, and regulators that wish to standardize how information within earnings conference calls is presented.

Guarantees And Capital Infusions In Response To Financial Crises B: U.S. Guarantees During The Global Financial Crisis, June Rhee, Andrew Metrick

Journal of Financial Crises

During 2008-09, the federal government extended multiple guarantee programs in an effort to restore the financial market and contain the panic and crisis in the market. For example, the Treasury provided a temporary guarantee program for the money market funds, the FDIC decided to stand behind certain debts and non-interest-bearing transaction accounts, and the Treasury, the FDIC, and the Federal Reserve agreed to share losses in certain assets belonging to Citigroup. This case reviews these guarantee programs implemented during the global financial crisis by the government and explores the different rationale that shaped certain design features of each program.

Shift-Share Analysis: Appalachian Region Micropolitan And Metropolitan Areas, 2005 – 2018 Part I. Regions 1 - 60, Randall Jackson, Péter Járosi

Shift Share Analyses

In County-level CIE Supply Chain Analysis, the second of five p a rts o f A n E c onomic A n alysis of the Appalachian Coal Industry Ecosystem posted to the Commission’s website in January of 2018, we developed a set of metrics that were used to provide insights on the past and future supply chain implications of long-term coal industry decline in Appalachia.[1] These metrics were used to identify counties that have been heavily impacted by the decline of the coal industry, those that remain dependent on the coal industry ecosystem (CIE), and among the dependent counties, those …

Shift-Share Analysis: Appalachian Region Micropolitan And Metropolitan Areas, 2005 – 2018 Part Ii. Regions 61 - 120, Randall Jackson, Péter Járosi

Shift Share Analyses

In County-level CIE Supply Chain Analysis, the second of five p arts o f A n Economic Analysis of the Appalachian Coal Industry Ecosystem posted to the Commission’s website in January of 2018, we developed a set of metrics that were used to provide insights on the past and future supply chain implications of long-term coal industry decline in Appalachia.[1] These metrics were used to identify counties that have been heavily impacted by the decline of the coal industry, those that remain dependent on the coal industry ecosystem (CIE), and among the dependent counties, those that are at greatest risk …

Advancing U.S. Latino Entrepreneurship: A New National Economic Imperative, Marlene Orozco, Alfonso Morales, Michael J. Pisani, Jerry I. Porras

Purdue University Press Books

Advancing U.S. Latino Entrepreneurship examines business formation and success among Latinos by identifying arrangements that enhance entrepreneurship and by understanding the sociopolitical contexts that shape entrepreneurial trajectories. While it is well known that Latinos make up one of the largest and fastest growing populations in the U.S., Latino-owned businesses are now outpacing this population growth and the startup business growth of all other demographic groups in the country.

The institutional arrangements shaping business formation are no level playing field. Minority entrepreneurs face racism and sexism, but structural barriers are not the only obstacles that matter; there are agentic barriers and …

Australian National Audit Office: Evaluating Australian Army Program Performance, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) evaluates the management and financial performance of Australian government programs for the Australian Parliament, Australian government agencies, Australian taxpayers, and individuals interested in the performance of these programs globally. This article examines how ANAO has examined the performance of Australian Army programs and strengths and weaknesses found in these programs while recommending changes to improve program performance. It also examines how government agencies and corporations which have been the subject of ANAO analyses have reacted to ANAO findings. This assessment also examines how Plan B (the possibility that Australia might have to rely less …

2020 Cares Act – Financial Supports For Small Business, Marilyn R. Schlake

Cornhusker Economics

Whether a business is impacted by weather-related disasters, road construction or sudden economic downturns, having a plan to mitigate the impacts can be crucial to the immediate and long-term survival of the business. Unforeseen circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may require owners to re-evaluate their business models, cut operating costs and seek outside financial supports – all to keep cash flowing and the business open. To help small businesses during the pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27. It contains $349 billion in relief for American small businesses and …

Hosting The Fifa World Cup: An Economic Analysis Of How The World Cup Has Impacted The Economy Of A Developed And A Developing Nation, Juan Borga

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis is a microeconomic study of the economic impact hosting the FIFA World Cup can have on both a developed and developing nation. I will examine the economies of Germany and Brazil, three years prior and three years after hosting the tournament in 2006 and 2014 respectively. The pressures imposed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) require significant monetary investments for the World Cup to be considered successful, but have countries been allocating their resources effectively? The purpose of this thesis is to determine the extent to which it is economically advantageous for a nation to host …

The Evolution Of Work In The United States, Enghin Atalay, Phai Phongthiengtham, Sebastian Sotelo, Daniel Tannenbaum

Department of Economics: Faculty Publications

Using the text from job ads, we introduce a new dataset to describe the evolution of work from 1950 to 2000. We show that the transformation of the US labor market away from routine cognitive and manual tasks and toward nonroutine interactive and analytic tasks has been larger than prior research has found, with a substantial fraction of total changes occurring within narrowly defined job titles. We provide narrative and systematic evidence on changes in task content within job titles and on the emergence and disappearance of individual job titles. (JEL E24, J21, J24, J31, N32)