Economics Commons^™

Consumer Surplus And Economic Rent Estimates Of Recreation Value: An Empirical And Theoretical Comparison, Eric R. Meale

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The consumer surplus and economic rent methods of resource valuation were applied to boating recreation in Utah. Total consumer surplus and economic rent values were estimated for twenty-four boating sites. These values incorporate the relationship existing between the variable use cost and the units of activity associated with the site.

Data were collected by a mail survey directed to boaters during the 1973 boating season. Approximately 1,408 questionnaires were analyzed. Additional data were collected from the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.

Economic rent and consumer surplus were compared by using a common mathematical model and empirical observation. The concepts …

Resource Allocation And Factor Substitution In Guayas Basin Rice Production, Gary Scott Glen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary objective of this study was to examine changes in resource productivity and factor shares as irrigation was introduced on small rice farms using traditional management techniques.

Average output on irrigated farms was double that of dry farms. This was because irrigated farms produced two crops as opposed to one crop on farms without irrigation. Examination of marginal products showed that farmers with irrigation could profitably use more land. Dry farmers could profitably use more labor. The low labor input and high MP of labor on dry farms occurs because these farmers are undercapitalized and are obliged to accept …

Economic Analysis Of The Agricultural Sector In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Enrique Gómez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A linear programming technique is used to calculate the land allocation that maximizes the returns to the agricultural producers in the provinces Santisteban, Sara, Warnes, Ibanez, and Ichilo, in the department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, under different sets of prices.

All the input requirements per unit of land and average expected yields are estimated from survey data collected from farmers in Bolivia. Constraints on availability of land and labor are also estimated.

Seven crops are included in the model: soybeans, wheat, cotton, yuca, sugar cane, rice, and corn.

The model is first examined under the set of prices that existed …

Some Feasible Long-Run Policy Alternatives For The Agricultural Sector In Bolivia, Franklin Bruce Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper is to construct a model that will aid in analyzing present agricultural policies along with feasible alternatives. Recently completed studies of production costs, crop prices and yields, and experimental technologies were used as sources of data. A linear programming model was used to project suggested investment for agriculture in land, labor, and capital inputs in order to achieve specific crop production targets. The paper is divided into four major parts: the theory of policy-making, the model description, the application of the model to Boliva, and the results and conclusions, in that order.

Cost Of Wholesale Milk Distribution In Utah Urban Markets, 1972, Frederick William Palmer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Significant changes have taken place in the distribution of dairy products during recent years. These changes have been marked by the increased importance of milk distribution through grocery stores, specialized dairy stores, institutions such as schools and military establishments, and the corresponding decline of home delivery. Many small food stores have been replaced by large, self-service supermarkets, most of which are operated by chain store merchandisers wielding increased market power. Specialized milk delivery systems have been developed to meet the needs and demands of supermarkets, such as limited service or dock delivery. Because of differences in costs of servicing various …

Economic Analysis Of Cache County, Utah: An Input-Output Approach, Jose Isaac Torrico Soria

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theory of input-output analysis, its applications, and its empirical implementations to the Cache County economy. The historical development, the static open input-output model, and the dynamic input-output analysis are presented in the theoretical discussion, and emphasis is made on the empirical applications of the model to structural analysis, forecasting, developmental planning, and regional analysis.

In the empirical implementation of the model to the Cache County economy, the 1971 total output is estimated, the Cache County total output is projected to 1981, the output and income multipliers are computed, and the total …

Some Economic Aspects Of Beef Crossbreeding In Utah, William L. Beaty

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine empirically if crossbreeding offers a more profitable alternative to Utah cattlemen than straightbreeding. Ranchers practicing breed crossing were interviewed to determine the relative merits of crossbreeding and straightbreeding in the categories of calf crop, weaning weight, sale price, and minor economic factors under ranch conditions. Crossbred and straightbred sale prices were analyzed utilizing the records of the Smithfield Livestock Auction.

Analysis of rancher interview data indicated that crossbred animals exceeded straightbreds in weaning weight and sale price. Crossbreds were further credited with lowering herd disease levels. No generalizations from comparative calf crop …

Economic (Linear Programming) Model Of The Farming Region Served By The D.M.D.A. Irrigation Company, Delta, Utah, Francisco Zarzalejo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The main objectives of the study are to create a linear programming model of the study area in order to estimate changes in benefits when water delivery system losses are assumed to be affected by shifting between rotation, demand and continuous flow management systems,

Approximately 7,000 acres are included in the program model and the estimated potential "gains" or benefits from distribution system loss "savings" due to more efficient delivery range from $6,000 to _ $12,000 per season. This result is influenced by the facts that the - loss estimates are hypothetical and the system studied is in an area …

Timber Harvesting And Regional Income Distribution, Archie Allen Dyer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Numerous attempts to explain the decision making framework of public agencies with multiple goals have been published in recent years. The central problem of the multiple goal decision process of public agencies is the problem of unvalued benefits stemming from projects which the agency could potentially implement.

Regardless of the complexity of the problem, the fact remains that choices must be made between projects. As a result, several alternative procedures for analyzing the issue have been suggested. These may be subdivided into three more or less different approaches: (1) estimation of value indexes or weights for the arguments of the …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Federal Participation On The Distribution Of Economic Activity And Population In The State Of Utah, Nureddin A. Taqieddin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since World War I, the federal government of the U.S. has played an increasingly important role in social and economic functions of the American society. Whether by direct employment or through indirect payments to private and public parties, federal programs have an unquestionable impact on the distribution of economic activity among various regions of the U.S. This impact varies directly with the relative magnitude of federal participation in total economic activity of any region.

In certain areas, federal employment reflects the greatest portion of total federal activity. Where this is true, the impact of federal employment on the distribution of …

The Supply Of Public School Teachers In The United States: A Study In Human Capital Theory, Andrew W. Bacdayan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study uses the principles of human capital theory to develop and test a theory of a supply of a class of educated manpower services with special reference to school teachers.

In the theory formulation, the determinants of the existing stock of teacher education capital are first identified. These are: (a) the price per man-year of teaching service, WTS, (b) the rate of interest, r, (c) the price of the human capital already embodied in the individual working for a college degree in teacher education, WCS, and (d) private costs of education such as foregone earnings and tuition fees, FERTN. …

State Expenditures In Utah: An Analysis Of Time-Series Models, William Darrell Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper was to determine the economic, sociopolitical, and other related factors which account for the variation in state expenditures across time. Utah was selected as the test state and data were collected from school records, political rosters, employment statistics, and a variety of federal government documents. Particular emphasis was placed on three areas: the cause-effect relationships between variables, relating the model to a body of economic theory, and demonstrating how the model may be applied in forecasting state expenditure needs.

Supply-and-demand analysis was the underlying economic theory. A simultaneous-equation model consisting of four equations--demand for state …

Transportation And Public Service Costs For Rural Communities Of Various Sizes, Thomas L. Williams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lower real incomes in the agricultural sector compared with other sectors of the economy have led to continued migration of rural people to urban areas. Despite this movement of surplus people from farm areas, incomes in the rural sector have failed to keep pace with those in urban areas. Fewer social amenities and other conveniences have also contributed to rural-urban migration.

This reduction in rural population and the consequent reduction in the economic bases of many rural communities has raised some interesting questions about city and rural government consolidation. What sizes of cities should be encouraged in the rural areas, …

The Economic Efficiency Of Inter-Basin Transfers Of Agricultural Water In Utah: A Mathematical Programming Approach, John Keith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The economic efficiency of water development in Utah, including transfer systems, has seldom been examined, nor has the costs of public policies which result in deviations from efficient allocations. In order that public officials be better informed about water allocations, the present effort examines the efficient allocation of water in time frames up to 2020 under several alternative assumptions and calculates the cost of alternative policies.

Using mathematical programming techniques, a computer mode l is developed to determine the supply (marginal cost) and demand (value of marginal product) relationships for agricultural water, given depletions for municipal and industrial (M & …

An Analysis Of Factors Influencing Farm Family Residence Location, Larry Keith Bond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Census data reveal that the percentage of farm operators in the United States that live off-farm is increasing. It has been suggested that this may be due largely to a shifting of residence off-farm. An analysis of factors influencing residence of farm families has been done at the national level. In addition, a cross section analysis of county data within states has been attempted. However, a purely local analysis is needed to pick up the variation obscured by aggregate data. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate variables that might be expected to influence residence location, and …

An Economic Analysis Of Feeding Steers Versus Heifers, Duane Sorensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The question of which sex of cattle to feed is a basic economic decision which must be made by feeders. An economic analysis of costs and returns associated with feeding steers in comparison to heifers would give feeders some assistance in making this decision.

The objectives of this study were to make an economic analysis of feeding a pen of steers and a pen of heifers in a feedlot, then determine the break- even prices for feeder cattle which would make the feeder indifferent to whether he fed steers or heifers , and finally to develop a decision model that …

Economic Development Of Thailand: An Analysis Of The Agricultural Sector, Thamnoon Soparatana

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study takes a look at government aid to agriculture in Thailand and attempts to analyze its effectiveness. Only two crops have been aided directly by the government, rice and rubber, though others have undoubtedly benefitted by improvements in the country's infrastructure. The regressions performed on some simple production functions indicate that rice yields have been improved through government programs. The program for rubber largely a subsidy for new plantings, ha as yet not had much impact on yields. This maybe due to the fact that the pay-off period is at least seven years. There is also some evidence that …

Economic Efficiency Of Grazing Systems, Muhammad Nazir

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Benefits and costs of implementing the specialized grazing systems on federal rangelands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were studied. First only the direct benefits and costs were used to determine the internal rates of return on the Bureau of Land Management investments in grazing systems. Secondly, the effects of these systems on profits of private ranchers were determined. Finally the benefits and costs stream on the Bureau of Land Management and the changes in ranchers' profits were brought together to find out the net gain to society from investing the federal funds in specialized grazing systems.

The …

Optimal Allocation Of Irrigation Water: The Sevier River Basin, Harold H. Hiskey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Economic efficiency criteria are used to optimally allocate irrigation water in a closed river basin (Sevier River). The Basin is geographically divided into four subbasins. Linear programming model were developed for each of the four areas and used to generate value of marginal product schedules by parametric variation of water during the late irrigation season (after July 1). Differences in value of marginal product for average annual water deliveries were indications of a malallocation of late season water. A reallocation involving 28 percent of the restraining input (water) would increase net farm incomes (returns to capital, labor, and management) an …

A Statistical Analysis Of New Deal Economic Programs In The Forty-Eight States 1933-1939, Don C. Reading

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The data base for this research was provided by a set of mimeographed reports prepared in the summer and fall of 1939 by the Office of Government Reports, Statistical Section, Washington, D.C. Originally prepared for Franklin Roosevelt's 1940 campaign, they detail each New Deal program year by year for the 1933-1939 period. The set of forty-eight reports, one for each state, also contains material on the organization of various programs and outlines work accomplishments in each state.

This dissertation is intended as an analysis of New Deal loans and expenditures in each of the forty-eight states during the 1933-1939 period, …

Costs And Returns From Milk Production In El Vigia Area In The State Of Merida, Venezuela, 1969, Gustavo Perez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An analysis of costs and receipts associated with the production of manufacturing milk in El Vigia area of Venezuela was the focus of this study. A personal interview survey of a sample of dairy farm operators was conducted.

Averages for costs, receipts, and net returns were calculated by size groups. Tabular analysis was used to study relationships between size and other factors and net return.

Net return per cow was positive on the average, but the study indicated a general need for improved levels of production. Size of operation and capital investment were two factors found to be associated with …

An Economic History And Analysis Of The Great Feeder Canal Of Southeastern Idaho, Gary Wayne Gneiting

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper is to relate the economic history of the Great Feeder Canal and preform an analysis on its flow of water. Historical chapters are portrayed chronologically and reveal in sight into the rustic irrigation problems that faced those individuals who developed the Great Feeder Canal. The latter part of the paper entails an economic analysis indicating that the Great Feeder Canal is unique in that it uses nearly twice as much irrigation water per acre as other canals in Southeastern Idaho, yet it tends to maximize net social benefits.

The Impact Of Selected Changes In Management Of Public Lands On Functional Demand Areas In Utah, Eldon W. Dixon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Income and employment impacts associated with changing federal grazing policy were evaluated within functional demand areas.

Changes in federal land policy do have employment and income effects on the functional demand areas. But whether they are significant or not is open to debate. The percentage of total employment lost for each functional demand area ranged from. 0159 percent for Region 2 to 4. 031 percent for Region 7. This was the maximum employment loss or gain to the demand areas. All other gains and losses in employment within functional demand areas were between this maximum and minimum. Income changes followed …

The Problems Confronting Small Utah Companies Seeking The First Increment Of Public Equity Capital, John A. Kerr

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this research is to isolate and analyze those areas which represent the greatest difficulty in expense, ad ministrative burden and confusion. Information was gathered by survey and interviews to determine what services are offered by underwriting firms and what services small businesses have found most beneficial in planning and executing their offering. The information gathered in Utah is compared with that gathered in California to determine the differences in the public equity markets of the two regions. These differences are the bas i s for the recommended changes in the underwriting procedures in Utah.

An Economic Analysis Of Trends In Production Of Selected Crops In Utah And Their Causative Factors, 1948-1968, Eldon Gene Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Trends in Utah's agriculture and some factors influencing farmer's decisions concerning eight crops produced on irrigated lands in Utah were studied. Trend lines were calculated and compared with statistics of acreages and yields. Simple and multiple regression tests were made.

An increasing number of Utah farmers have taken off-farm employment and operate their farms on a part-time basis. Forage and grain crops both adapt readily to part-time farm operations and these crops do not entail the degree of risk involved in the production of most cash crops. Variety improvements have caused some shifting to wheat production. Product prices, costs, weather, …

An Economic Appraisal Of On-Farm Water Management Practices In Developing Countries: A Study Of Summer Rice Production In Guayas Rivers Basin, Ecuador, Thomas L. White

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary objective of this study was to examine rice production methods, with special emphasis on irrigation-water management practices used by producers from all levels of management in the Guayas River Basin, Ecuador. To do this, rice producers were divided into four categories on the basis of the level of mechanization of their operation, use of purchased inputs, and the level of investment in irrigation facilities and general management practices. The levels of investment in irrigation facilities ranged from 7,000 to 500 sucres per hectare, and mechanization of production varied from almost total use of machinery for cultivation operations to …

Optimum Enterprise Combinations For Representative Farms In Seven Counties Of Southwestern Utah, 1967, James F. Maxwell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Resources available for agricultural production were ascertained and trends in their use were studied for seven counties of southwestern Utah. Special consideration was given to cropland, irrigation water, and operating capital as resource restrictions for a linear programming model. Budget data were obtained for crop and livestock enterprises by interviewing farmers and ranchers in the area. Budgets for four representative farm types representing climatic and irrigation differences were made to study crop possibilities. Acreage minimums or maximums for selected crops were established as conservation measures. Budgets were prepared for farm livestock enterprises to use with crop budgets for each representative …

Local Government Finance: A Projection For North Logan, Utah, J. Mark Campbell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was developed to determine the future fiscal condition of a small rural municipality, North Logan, Utah. An effort was made to determine whether or not present revenue sources would be able to keep pace with future expenditures at the local government level by projecting North Logan, Utah's, revenues and expenditures for 1975 and 1980.

North Logan, Utah, should not have an "expenditure-revenue gap" within the next 10 years. At this time, it would appear that because of the construction growth and sales tax proportional increases, both due to large population increases, North Logan should have sufficient revenue to …

Alternatives In Machinery Management On Juab County, Utah, Dry-Farms, W. Jay Dalley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Data were collected from 25 dry farmers living in East-Juab County farming a minimum of 100 acres of land. The data includes the use of tractors, plows, weeders, drills, and combines. A comparison was made between the costs of operation for nine farms between the range of 100 and 500 acres, with an average of 302 acres, producing an average of 83 acres of grain; eleven farms in the range of 501 to 1,000 acres, with an average of 729 acres;--producing an average of 243 acres of grain; and five farms in the range of 1,001 to the largest of …

A Comparison Of The Utah Cattle Slaughter Market With The California Cattle Carcass Market, M. Lloyd Davies

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Reliable price data for fat cattle in Utah are becoming difficult to obtain because fewer and fewer slaughter cattle go through market channels where live cattle prices are reported.

The objectives of this study were to determine how correlated Utah fat cattle prices are with the California dressed meat market for cattle and formulate an equation or equations enabling reliable price predictions to be made for the Utah slaughter cattle market.

Utah choice and good steer prices (both direct and auction) were compared to the San Francisco wholesale meat market prices. Utah choice steer, good steer and choice heifer prices …