Economics Commons^™

Possible Contraction And Its Effect On 2002 Major League Baseball Attendance, Peter W. Newberry

Honors Theses

This paper creates three demand equations for baseball attendance to determine the factors that affect spring training and regular season attendance. It also examines what effect the threat of contraction had on the Montreal Expos' and Minnesota Twins' attendance. Cross sectional models using data from the 2002 spring training and regular seasons are estimated and analyzed. A third panel data set model is also formed and examined. Results from the spring training and regular season models indicate that the two teams threatened to be eliminated witnessed lower attendance compared to the rest of the league. The panel data model's results …

Role Of Venture Capital Financing In Inflating The Technology Stock Market Bubble, Jessica Rosenbloom

Honors Theses

Comprising nearly one-third of the nation's gross domestic product from 1995 to 1999, the growth of the Information Technology industry took a backseat to dot.com mania. Its companies, however, were just as influential in creating the stock market bubble. Characterized by high technology, high research and development, high profits, and high risk, the Information Technology industry had always been attractive to venture capital investors. This study will find that a Telecommunications Deregulation Act passed in 1996, in conjunction with an eight percent capital gains tax cut in 1997, flooded venture capitalists with business plans pertaining to the Information Technology industry. …

Asymmetric Wealth Effect : American Consumption And The Stock Market, Jonathan Greene

Honors Theses

Conventional estimates of the marginal propensity to consume (MPC) out of changes in net worth average about 4 cents on the dollar. If this is true, the $14 trillion rise in household net worth between 1995 and 2000 created an additional $567 billion in household consumption. This increase in net worth was driven almost entirely by the rising values of security prices in the contemporary bull market. This study presents evidence that this "wealth effect" is in fact asymmetrical and that this asymmetry reversed some time during the 1970's or 1980's. Prior to this reversal point positive changes in slock …

Integrated Test For Exploitation And Discrimination In The National Basketball Association, Kathleen Carney

Honors Theses

Over the past thirty years, economists have become increasingly interested in the labor market for professional sports. These studies have focused primarily on exploitation, the difference between marginal revenue product and salary, or discrimination, salary differentials based on race, or ethnic background. This paper attempts to combine both areas of research, that is, to explain the systematic deviation of marginal revenue product from salary as a function of race, or ethnic background. Using NBA data collected over three seasons 1995-98, we specify a three-equation model, an enhancement of the Scully two-step method presented in 1976. We then ask if players …

Analysis Of The Colby Quarterly Econometric Model Of The U.S. Economy Using The Economic Effects Of September 11th, Alison Culpen

Honors Theses

The economic repercussions of September 11th are unique in that never before have economists needed to forecast and examine the impact of an event of such magnitude. This paper explains many of the economic effects of September l Ith, from the initial aftermath to recent developments. These effects are used to analyze the Colby Quarterly Econometric Model of the U.S. economy by simulating the model with actions taken by the government, such as an increase in spending, as well as other economic consequences resulting from September 11th. These simulations are then examined in more detail through multipliers that ultimately reveal …

Suits Or Pajamas: An Economic Analysis Of The Causes And Consequences Of Telecommuting, Jonathan Marlow

Honors Theses

While the concept is not new, the popularity of telecommuting has increased with the expansion in telecommunications and technology througb the last twenty years. Telecommuting, or the ability to work away from one's regular office site, is now easier than ever to do with the advancements in reliable telephone systems, personal computers, and internet access that allow one to go to the office virtually rather than physically. This concept has gained the attention of policymakers and public planners because of its potential to address various issues, possibly leading to a better quality of life, increased productivity, and improved air quality. …

Above And Beyond The Rim: An Examination Of Customer Discrimination In The National Basketball Association, Carl E. Tugberk

Honors Theses

I present a study of customer discrimination in the NBA by examining total annual attendance for all 29 teams for the five-season period from 1996 to 2001. Several previous studies have been conducted on this issue and seldom have found evidence of discrimination by measuring the racial composition of a team as the percentage of _white players on the roster. However, using this measure and several alternative measures of racial composition, I find that fans do discriminate against black players, and this discrimination occurs in a variety of ways. Specifically, spectators alter their decisions to attend games based on the …

Study Of Area Deprivation In Connecticut And Maine, Jonathan H. Ryder

Honors Theses

This paper accounts the development of an area deprivation index for two New England states, Connecticut and Maine. The index incorporates data from the 1990 U.S. Census. By applying methodology used in previous projects that created similar indices for area in Britain, an area deprivation index is created at the 5-digit zip code level for these two states in the year 1990. This project provides an example of how such a study can be applied to and completed in the United States. Foremost, it is an attempt to evaluate the relative merits of examining a comprehensive measure of area deprivation, …

Reevaluating U.S. Intellectual Property Right Policy In The Face Of Globalization: Moving Beyond Trips And Special 301, Warren Jr. Newberry

Honors Theses

In this paper, I intend to expand upon Mastanduno's ground-breaking inquiry by analyzing the motivating factors behind the behavior of the United States in its attempt to establish and maintain an international intellectual property rights regime. The international intellectual property rights system, established at the 1994 Uruguay Round of GATT, represents an international agreement with unprecedented reach into domestic state affairs. This ambitious attempt at establishing a high international norm of intellectual property protection was created as a result of inflexible American resolve. I will attempt to identify the initial impetus that helped define U.S. action--was it relative gains considerations …

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of High Capacity Chip Mills In The Southeastern United States, Blair Hutchins

Honors Theses

This study on the costs and benefits of high capacity chip mills located in the southeastern United States stems from a personal interest gained in the subject through my Environmental Science minor. During my courses of study, factors such as philosophy and ecology were brought into discussions both for and against these chip mills. However, there was no economic data presented from either side. This caused me to wonder whether chip mills were, from an economic perspective, a positive or negative industry for this region. The present study will present a compilation of facts and data on the economic analysis …

Modeling The Economic Growth Of Greece, Karolos A. Alexakos

Honors Theses

The objective of this project is to use an econometric model to examine economic growth in Greece. Using a growth model to investigate a country's economy one can obtain a more complete picture of the historical growth experience of a particular country by pinpointing the underlying causes for growth and recession at particular time periods. My main objective is to thus construct a growth model for the Greek economy, which is based on Solow's theory of economic growth. Solow was one of the first economists that attempted to examine growth within an economy through the use of a well structured …

Michigan State Government Employment Sector: Are We In Line With The National Trends?, Thomas Walter Cronkright Ii

Honors Theses

Examines the national trends of employment to make a comparison for Michigan State government employment. Results show that Michigan's public employment trends do not follow national employment trends in a comparable way. Michigan is distinct from the nation for several reasons: a hiring freeze placed on Michigan State Departments, higher levels of union participation and employee pay, and benefits packages that cost more than the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. Thus, either Michigan provides superior benefits or it pays a premium for those benefits. Suggests further research is needed.

The Regional Economic Impact Of The Closure Of Fort Mcclellan, Alabama, Stacey E. Byington

Honors Theses

The complete effects of closing Fort McClellan cannot be easily measured. The sociological and political ramifications - though an important part of the economic costs - will not be discussed in this project as they are not readily quantifiable. This project analyzes the regional economic impact of Fort McClellan, Alabama; and hence, the impact of its closing. Although its purpose is providing national defense, a military base also contributes employment, service, training, and culture to its surrounding communities. As of 1989, Fort McClellan employed nearly eight thousand military personnel and two thousand civilians. The Fort's economic impact includes expenditures of …

The Empire Strikes Out? A Look At The Nationalities Crisis In The Soviet Union, Catherine E. Breen

Honors Theses

My thesis rests on the notion that, because of the increase of freedoms in the Soviet Union today, many republics are demanding that their autonomy be restored and that this nationality crisis, an unforeseen and unwanted byproduct of recent reforms, has grown into such a disaster that it is now actually impairing the whole reform movement in the Soviet Union as civil unrest and strife are beginning to threaten the stability of this huge empire.

Ethnic identity is not something that can be hidden, changed, forced, or converted, nor will national and cultural roots simply disappear over time. Thus, the …

False Hopes: The United States Senate And Campaign Finance Reform 1980-1990, James Heimbach

Honors Theses

The cost of winning a seat in the United States Senate has risen dramatically over the last ten years. It has become the norm rather than the exception to spend over $1 million on a campaign. For example, in the 34 Senate races in the 1988 election, 32 campaigns spent over $1 million. Due to the necessity to raise more and more money, candidates have had to turn to alternative sources of campaign funds. Thus, the rise in campaign costs has been accompanied by a rise in the role of the political action committee (PAC). PACs are special interest groups …

Highway Improvements And Economic Growth: A Study Of Lee Highway Between Airport Road And Shallowford Road, Travis Lee Hayes

Honors Theses

When I first selected this topic to research for an honors project, the question I asked was: Does economic growth in an area serve as a catalyst for highway improvement projects, or do highway improvement projects cause economic growth? The segment of Lee Highway between Airport Road and Shallowford Road in Chattanooga has experienced quite a bit of economic growth in recent years, and this stretch of road has been improved by the addition of more traffic lanes. By focusing my research on this particular highway, I felt that I would gain insight into my question. In this paper I …

A Study Of The Utility And Validity Of Earnings Forecasts, Michael P. Howell

Honors Theses

According to William J. Casey, the past Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and recently appointed Under Secretary of State and Economic Affairs, forecasting should be the first and most important priority of all areas of management and public accounting. Only large institutional investment corporations have had access to such "useful" information when needed. Consequently, large investors are able to make more objective and intelligent investment decisions. A recent study determined that few investment corporations veritably have access to pertinent internal forecasting models. In fact, when interviewed, many executives claimed that even if they could procure such information, they …

Poor Relief In Tudor England, Edith Burrows

Honors Theses

In many respects the sixteenth century in England marks the beginning of a definite acceleration toward modern humanitarianism. It was an era characterized by the slow decline and definite disap­pearance of all aspects of manorial society. The progressive changes in institutions and the way of thinking reciprocally aided each other, hastening the rise of a new, more humane society. The reforms, at first hesitant and cautious, were by the end of the cen­tury confident and deliberate.

The National Retail Credit Association: An Experiment In Cooperation For Retail Credit Control, Barbara Tharpe

Honors Theses

With the use of consumer credit becoming more and more widespread, there has been a growing feeling that its use should be controlled. This is an examination of the fundamental developments in the history of the National Retail Credit Association, the leading association of retail credit men, giving special consideration to the idea of credit control. The credit abuses before any form of cooperation or control evolved are presented in the first chapter. Then, the part that the NRCA played in bringing about the cooperation of retail credit men is treated . The NRCA was the first to suggest voluntary …

History Of The National Retail Credit Association, Elizabeth Redford

Honors Theses

With the ever increasing use of credit in our present day economy, it is only fitting that our attention be directed to an organization which, although established less than thirty years ago, has come to be one of the most important institutions in our modern credit economy. This institution is the National Retail Credit Association which was established for the expressed purpose of bettering credit conditions in the field of retall trade. As far as we are able to determine, no complete history of this organization has been published, and it is for this reason that I have endeavored in …