Economics Commons^™

War Over Water: Water, Poverty, And Conflict, Tyker Mcmahon

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The theme of this paper is; “What else would you do with 500 million dollars?” In a country as small and diverse as Nepal, with many immediate needs, are large scale projects really the answer at the present time? The stage that this paper will be set in is the 1990’s during the democracy and the beginning of the Maoist insurgency. Also, happening during this time was the pursuit of several large-scale projects like the Mahakali Treaty and the Melamchi Water Delivery Project. These both involved projects that would potentially bring large benefits but were also fraught with uncertainties relating …

A Promising Start In An Arid Region: Assessment Of The Anaqeed Al-Khair Cooperative’S Impact, Jason Shenk

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In light of increased use of cooperatives by the Jordanian government and the sparseness of in-depth impact assessments, this study seeks to investigate the Anaqeed Al-Khair's impact on livelihoods in terms of income flows, vulnerability, and quality of life as well as analyzing the distribution of impacts based on degree of need, membership status, and gender. Working within the framework of the sustainable livelihoods approach, the study is based on qualitative research using participatory monitoring and evaluation guidelines. Findings include that cooperative projects are valuable for their impact on participants and demonstration of new viable livelihood strategies, but the benefits …

El Arte Ngöbe De La Chácara: Su Significado Cultural Y Potenciál Financiero En Una Asociación De Artesanas, Danica Taber

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study investigates the role played by traditional, plant-derived bags known as “chácaras” or “kra” in the Ngöbe indigenous culture of Panamá, with a focus on the market for chácaras as experencied by a Ngöbe women’s artesanal association.

Chácaras have played an integral and versatile part in the lives of the Ngöbe for centuries, functioning to carry heavy loads of bananas, cradle babies while they sleep, and everything in between. However, in recent decades the previously isolated Ngöbe culture has experienced exposure to mainstream Latino culture, resulting in a dwindling cultural regard for chácaras and traditional Ngöbe culture as a …

Los Impactos Socio-Económicos Del Proyecto De Desarrollo Sostenible En La Entrada Norte Del Canal De Panamá En La Comunidad De Cativá, Carey Pulverman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El Proyecto desarrollo sostenible en la entrada Norte del Canal de Panamá ha sido desarrollado por la Doctora Gloria Batista de Vega desde 1992, con el apoyo de ChevronTexaco como parte de su Plan de Manejo Costera de la Costa Caribe en el distrito de Colón, provincia de Colón. Gracilarias de Panamá, S.A., Acelerador Tecnológico fue establecido en el Tecnoparque de la Ciudad del Saber para desarrollar una innovadora industria de biotecnología no contaminante cuya materia prima es renovable y que utiliza como fuente de energía la luz solar. Gracilarias de Panamá, S.A. es la manifestación comercial del Proyecto desarrollo …

Mexico's Labor Market : The Importance Of Education - Occupation Matching On Wages And Productivity In Developing Countries, Michael A. Quinn, Stephen Rubb

Economics Faculty Publications

The positive impact of education on earnings , wages, economic growth is well documented, however the issue of education - occupation matching in developing countries has been largely ignored. Since workers 'level of schooling and their occupations ' required level of education both affect wages , policy makers may find it useful to note if such mismatch exist, if they impact wages, and if they can be avoided. Empirical results from Mexico suggest that in order to obtain the maximum economic benefits from increases in educational attainment levels, a developing country needs to take steps to assure increases in occupational …

Modeling And Simulation Of Value -At -Risk In The Financial Market Area, Xiangyin Zheng

Doctoral Dissertations

Value-at-Risk (VaR) is a statistical approach to measure market risk. It is widely used by banks, securities firms, commodity and energy merchants, and other trading organizations. The main focus of this research is measuring and analyzing market risk by modeling and simulation of Value-at-Risk for portfolios in the financial market area. The objectives are (1) predicting possible future loss for a financial portfolio from VaR measurement, and (2) identifying how the distributions of the risk factors affect the distribution of the portfolio. Results from (1) and (2) provide valuable information for portfolio optimization and risk management.

The model systems chosen …

Review Essay On The Politically Incorrect Guide To American History By Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Jeffrey Rogers Hummel

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Three Essays On Banking And Corporate Finance, Fang Zhao

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is composed of three essays on banking and corporate finance. The first essay studies the relationship between interest-rate derivative usage and bank lending. Using recent data that cover a full business cycle, this paper documents a direct relationship between interest-rate derivative usage by U.S. banks and growth in their commercial and industrial (C&I) loan portfolios. This positive association holds for interest-rate options contracts, forward contracts, and futures contracts. This result is consistent with the implication of Diamond's model (1984) that predicts that a bank's use of derivatives permits better management of systematic risk exposure, thereby lowering the cost …

Earnings Losses For Injured Workers, H. Allan Hunt, Kelly Derango, Eva Madly

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Introduction, Ken Mccormick

Major Themes in Economics

No abstract provided.

Age Concern: The Future Of The Oecd, Richard Woodward

Articles

‘Life’, so the adage has it, ‘begins at 40’. But, as American journalist Helen Rowland wryly observed, ‘so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person, three or four times’. Such a sentiment should resonate within the Parisian corridors of the Organisation for Cooperation and Development (OECD) which celebrates its 45th anniversary on 30 September. Rival institutional developments, evolving geo-political realities, hostility from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the absence of a precisely defined mission statement have marred the OECD’s fifth decade and left the organisation struggling to justify its place in …

Economic Development And The Gender Wage Gap, Sherri Haas '06

Honors Projects

Economic inequality between men and women is an important problem deserving of in-depth study because of the large number of people it affects. Not only do current gender wage gaps affect women, they also likely affect their children and future generations. A number of studies have found evidence that women tend to spend income differently then men, with greater shares being put back into the household and more equally allocated between children of both sexes (Blau, Ferber, and Winkler, 2001). This in tum improves equality between genders if both girls and boys receive similar benefits and education.

This study will …

The Gender Wage Ratio: Does It Differ Between Races?, Britanny Kirkpatrick '06

Honors Projects

In 1964 the Civil Rights Act made it illegal for employers to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin (Coleman, 2003). This act was passed to help bring equality to men and women of all races; however, a gender wage gap still exists. Up until the 1970s it was estimated that women made only 60% compared to their male counterparts in earnings. Since then the wage difference between men and women has continually decreased due to the large number of women entering the labor force, the outlawing of gender discrimination, and an increase …

High School Dropout Determinants: The Effect Of Socioeconomic Status And Learning Disabilities, Adrienne Ingrum '06

Honors Projects

Considering the growing importance of higher education due to increased global competition, one might wonder why some students still opt to drop out of high school. Previous literature has focused on a number of determinants of high school dropouts, such as socioeconomic status and learning disabilities. However, this literature has not systematically explored the interaction between these two variables. Therefore, my research extends past literature by focusing on this interaction. A logit model is used to predict the dichotomous variable, high school dropouts, and to run simulations with varying values of the independent variables. The results show that low socioeconomic …

The Economic Consequences Of Professional Sports Strikes And Lockouts: Revisited, Robert Baade, Robert Baumann, Victor Matheson

Economics Department Working Papers

Professional sports franchises have used the lure of economic riches as an incentive for cities to construct new stadiums and arenas at considerable public expense. An analysis of taxable sales in Florida cities demonstrates that none of the 6 new franchises or 8 new stadiums and arenas in the state since 1980 have resulted in a statistically significant increase in taxable sales in the host metropolitan area. In addition, using the numerous work stoppages in professional sports as test cases, again no statistically significant effect on taxable sales is found from the sudden absence of professional sports due to strikes …

Economics Of Semiconductor Industry In Taiwan And South Korea, Tamer Mohamed Safwat El-Zayat

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Reaffirmation Of “Ritual Cosmos”: Tibetan Perceptions Of Landscape And Socio-Economic Development In Southwest China, Tyler Denison

Inquiry Journal 2006

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of Education And Training Needs In The Ohio Aerospace Industry, Shari Garmise

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The Ohio Aerospace Institute engaged the Center for Economic Development at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University to conduct an assessment of the education and training needs of Ohio aerospace companies, with an e

Innovation And Entrepreneurship Indicators, Robert Sadowski

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This work is an update to the Regional Economic Indicators: Business and Innovation Climate report that was issued in August 2004. Although many of the same economic indicators are used in the analyses, there is a major difference between the two reports. The August 2004 release had a broad focus on the overall business climate in 36 comparable metro areas. The result was a single index—business and innovation climate. In this report, we focus almost exclusively on innovation and entrepreneurship, each with its own index.

The Turn In Economics: Neoclassical Dominance To Mainstream Pluralism?, John B. Davis

Economics Faculty Research and Publications

This paper investigates whether since the 1980s neoclassical economics has been in the process of being supplanted as the dominant research programme in economics by a collection of competing research approaches which share relatively little in common with each other or with neoclassical economics. A shortlist of the new approaches in recent economics includes game theory, experimental economics, behavioral economics, evolutionary economics, neuroeconomics, and non-linear complexity theory. Two hypotheses are advanced – one regarding the relation between economics instruction and economics research and one regarding the nature of the economics research frontier – to describe social-institutional practices that contribute to …

The Economic Implications Of Price Rounding, Steven Meester

Major Themes in Economics

There has recently been a call to eliminate the penny. Arguments for and against the proposal are presented. The evidence suggests that there would be a net gain if the penny were eliminated and prices were rounded on cash transactions. Unfortunately, the decision to do so is in the hands of politicians who are more interested in narrow self-interest than in the common good.

Analyzing The Debate Over Offshore Outsourcing In The Service Industry: Is There A Reason For Concern?, Gwynn Vanderweerdt

Major Themes in Economics

The United States has experienced an increase in the offshore outsourcing (offshoring) of jobs in the service industry. Although offshoring is common in the manufacturing industry, it only recently began in the service industry. The recent increase in the service industry has occurred because of new technology and the ability to access information from anywhere. Those who oppose offshoring believe it takes away American jobs, lowers wages, causes a decline in America’s standard of living, and any benefits from offshoring are unevenly distributed. Statistics on unemployment rates, mass layoffs, the trade deficit, GDP, and wage rates are analyzed to show …

Should Corporate Farming Be Limited In The United States?: An Economic Perspective, Nathan Wittmaack

Major Themes in Economics

Farming in the United States has changed drastically over the last century. Technology has improved farmers’ ability to produce. Economies of scale available from new technology have led to restructuring in the agricultural industry. Fewer and larger farms are now the norm. As technology improved, corporations began to increase activity in agricultural sectors. Sectors such as livestock are more susceptible to corporate farming. Many Americans are opposed to corporate farming because of the perceived negative effects on rural America. Limiting corporate farming, though, is not a good way to protect rural America. Corporate farming leads to a more efficient industry …

The Effects Of Natural Disasters On Long Run Growth, Aaron Popp

Major Themes in Economics

This paper seeks to determine the relationship between natural disasters and long run growth. Natural disasters affect several important macroeconomic variables, most notably technology, that can increase or decrease economic growth. Recovery following disasters is important, and the institutions of a country help determine how the recovery progresses. Institutions also help determine the outcomes of some events, such as inflation, that could affect long run growth. Countries can help maximize the positive effects of natural disasters on growth by improving their response to disasters and preparing for the next disaster.

The Economic Inefficiency Of Title Ix, Alicia Irons

Major Themes in Economics

Title IX of the Educational Amendment Act of 1972 has expanded the opportunity for women in athletics. At the same time, it has been detrimental to men’s athletics. The elimination of men’s teams is analyzed through a theoretical model and empirical evidence. College athletic departments have used an inefficient method to comply with Title IX because they use the method the NCAA encourages. The NCAA needs to reevaluate the methods that it has encouraged and improvements should be made to Title IX.

Nicaragua's Survival: Choices In A Neoliberal World, Stanley G. Hash Jr.

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

In January 1990 the Nicaraguan electorate chose to abandon the failing Sandinista Revolution in favor of the economic neoliberal rubric. However, since 1990 Nicaragua's economy has been stagnant. Today it is one of the four poorest states in Latin America having been one of the wealthiest before 1975.

The purpose of this work is to explain Nicaragua's poor performance since 1990. The hypothesis is that domestic independent variables are central to recovery and are the underlying causes of Nicaragua's failure to fully recover.

The abuses of the Somozas' ancien régime before the 1979 revolution are well documented; less well documented …

A Study Of The Formative Factors Of The Free Trade Agreement Between Oman And The United States, Gregory Smith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study investigates the process by which the Omani-American Free Trade Agreement was so quickly agreed upon between Omani and American negotiators. By interviewing the major government officials involved in the architecture of the agreement, and by examining the role of other institutions and interest groups that are typically involved in the process in the US, the author demonstrates how very narrow the policy-making arena in Oman is. He argues that the benefits Oman hoped to gain from the agreement were far more political than economic, but that political liberalization is more important than economic liberalization for the long-term interests …

Casa Da Mulher Do Nordeste: Feminist Visions Of Development, Sarah Frazer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study presents the unique approach of Casa da Mulher do Nordeste to rural women’s empowerment and sustainable development. Their approach focuses on three main areas: 1) raising collective consciousness about unequal gender relations; 2) providing technical skills and assistance to in the areas of production and commercialization; 3) providing institutional support to the networks created in the occupation of economic and political spaces. CASA intimately links women’s empowerment to movements of agroecology and economic solidarity, thus extending the vision of equality between women and men to equality between human beings and the Earth—an ultimate definition of sustainable development. Their …

La Economía Solidaria: Ayudando A Las Mujeres A Cambiar Su Destino De Pobreza, Michele Frix

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the last two decades in Latin America many social movements have arisen in response to the permeation of neo-liberalism throughout. These movements have many different labels (economía solidaria, economía comunitaria, economía social, solidaridad social, etc) but are all centered around the objective of forming a network of groups in the fight for economic justice, joining in solidarity, cooperation and mutual support. The idea of “economía solidaria” has become an alternative method of development in Latin America on the micro level, alleviating the effects of poverty that result from neo-liberal policies. Many non-governmental organizations have adopted the beliefs of “economía …

Viviendo Sin Bosques: Perspectivas En Disputa Sobre El Desarrollo Y Su Impacto En El Pueblo Mbya Guaraní, Maya Politis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The indigenous populations all over the world have been and continue to experience drastic transformations in these past decades, each at its own pace and in its own form. Although throughout history all cultures and societies experience transformations, for the most part the recent transformations have been forced on these communities to a degree more brutal than ever. The powerful effects of the modern capitalistic system are quickly displacing and endangering indigenous populations. Practically every square foot of land and air has been privatized, sold to big corporations and exploited to benefit productivity without even the consideration of sustainability. This …