Economics Commons^™

The Effect Of Safety Net Programs On Food Insecurity, Lucie Schmidt, Lara Shore-Sheppard, Tara Watson

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

Does the safety net reduce food insecurity in families? In this paper we investigate how the structure of benefits for five major safety net programs – TANF, SSI, EITC, SNAP, and Medicaid – affects low food security in families and very low food security among children. We build a calculator for the years 2001-2009 to impute eligibility and benefits for these programs in each state, taking into account cross-program eligibility rules. To identify a causal effect of the safety net, we instrument for imputed eligibility and benefits using simulated eligibility and benefits for a nationally representative sample. Focusing on non-immigrant, …

Strategic Planning For Expanding Medicare And Medicaid Populations, Dave Zoeller

Accounting and Finance Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Coyote Use, Migration Duration And Remittances, David Ortmeyer, Michael A. Quinn

Economics Faculty Publications

The migration of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. is one of the largest bilateral migration flows in the world and remittances from these immigrants represent a crucial source of income for Mexican households. As the United States tightens controls on illegal migration, this may impact both migration durations and remittances. Tighter borders increase crossing costs, often because migrants need to pay smugglers (coyotes). Using data from the Mexican Migration Project, we find that higher crossing costs increase the probability of remitting, the remittance rate and the duration of stay as undocumented workers pay off the crossing debt. If immigrants did …

Understanding Child Work And Child Labor In The 21st Century: A Focus On Malawi And Tanzania, Courage Chikomborero Mudzongo

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Child labor is on the increase and this is exacerbating an already desperate situation in Africa. Past research has focused on which levels of determinants are most effective in influencing the decision on children’s activities. Using the Malawi Integrated Household Survey and the Tanzania National Panel Survey, this research seeks to unearth the factors that influence the number of hours that child workers and laborers work. I can conclude that the greatest degrees of change are at the individual level as child’s enrollment status is significant for child workers from Malawi and Tanzania and laborers from Tanzania. At the community …

Rhode Island Current Conditions Index — October 2012, Leonard Lardaro

The Rhode Island Current Conditions Index

No abstract provided.

University Of Arkansas Athletics Economic Impact, Katherine A. Deck, Mervin Jebaraj

Publications and Presentations

The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas was approached by the Athletic Department to conduct an economic impact study of its operations and the visitor impacts associated with the athletic events held on the University of Arkansas campus. This study examines the economic impact of the athletic department from three broad categories of activities that produce economic impacts. The first category presented in this study is the direct economic impacts of the operations of the University of Arkansas Athletic Department, using annual expenditures of the department and …

Estimating The Economic Impact Of Garvan Woodland Gardens, Katherin A. Deck, Viktoria Riiman

Publications and Presentations

The study is organized as follows. First, the facilities and programs at Garvan Woodland Gardens are described in detail. Next, information on visitor and member counts, employment and volunteers, and financial information from the Gardens are provided. Finally, the results of the economic impact analysis from the IMPLAN input‐output model are presented for employment, value‐added, and output impacts on the Hot Springs area and the state of Arkansas. The detailed employment and output impacts by industry are available in the Appendix. Estimated employment impacts are compared to the county and state employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to …

Family Structure, Work Patterns And Time Allocations: Potential Mechanisms Of Food Insecurity Among Children, Kelly Balistreri

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

Over 469 thousand households in the U.S. experienced very low food security among children, a severe condition characterized by reductions in food intake due to an inability to afford enough food. But food insecurity is not simply about economic resources. There exists a paradox in which some poor households with children are food secure while some non-poor households with children are food insecure. This study moves beyond a singular focus on income and considers how the family context may protect or generate risk of food insecurity for children. The goals of the proposed project were to: 1) to provide a …

Sustainable Water Management On Brownfields Sites, Ryan Fenwick, New England Environmental Finance Center

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

This practice guide was developed by the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) through the Capacity Building for Sustainable Communities program funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Through a cooperative agreement with HUD, EFCN is providing capacity building and technical assistance to recipients of grants from the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities, an interagency collaboration that aims to help towns, cities, and regions develop in more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable ways.

“Podemos Vivir Sin Oro, Pero No Sin Agua”: Un Estudio De La Minería, Sus Efectos Y El Movimiento De Resistencia En Azuay, Ecuador, Kyle Schneider

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

“Si bien los gobiernos neoliberales que se sucedieron en la década de los noventa definieron un marco legal e institucional ‘atractivo’ y permisivo para la inversión extranjera en el sector minero ecuatoriano, el gobierno de Rafael Correa es el primero que apuesta por la gran minería como una actividad estratégica para el modelo económico de Ecuador.”[1] Esta cita explica la política del actual gobierno con respecto a la minería, y como las industrias extractivas se han convertido en parte principales del ambicioso plan del gobierno para recaudar fondos para sus obras públicas y la inversión social. El hecho de …

La Brecha Salarial Entre Hombres Y Mujeres: La Situación Y Los Factores Que Influyen En La Brecha En Los Altos Cargos De Trabajo En Chile, Kaitlin E. Thompson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Many reports and measurements show gender equality in Chile is very poor and the country is lagging behind on the world and regional scale. Opportunities as well as the number of women in the work force are few. The inequality is obvious in the gender wage gap in which men earn on average 20 to 30% more than women. Furthermore, in upper level positions the wage gap is even more profound, reaching almost 40%. This report investigates the topic of gender in Chilean society and specifically, the factors that influence the profound wage gap in high level job positions. In …

Chile, Menos La Solidaridad: El Presente Y Futuro De Desigualdad Económica En Chile, Carolyn Lenderts

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Uno de los pilares del neoliberalismo es un enfoque en el sector privadas y una creencia que el éxito para las empresas trae éxito para la gente. En el caso de Chile, el modelo neoliberal ha sido muy efectivo en lograr tasas de crecimiento altas, aumentar el PIB y subir el ingreso per cápita. Se considera Chile el milagro económico de América del Sur, pero el gran crecimiento no ha sido distribuido igualmente por la sociedad chilena. Detrás de los impresionantes porcentajes de crecimiento, se encuentran algunos datos muy inquietantes. Por ejemplo, el 20% más pobre viven con US$1.855 cada …

Simple, Sustainable Living: An Illustrated Journal, Jenn Livermore

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As we are faced with the gravity of climate change, fundamental lifestyle changes need to occur in order to achieve a sustainable future. The purpose of my creative project was to create an illustrated journal that promotes simple and sustainable living in Melbourne. This paper describes the process undertaken to complete this project. Initially, I discuss the power of art in transitioning to a post-growth society and the benefits of using an illustrated journal as an artistic medium. I also outline the background of the voluntary simplicity movement. In my Methods section, I discuss why Melbourne was a perfect location …

Effects Of Globalization And Tourism On The Commercialization Of Hue Royal Cuisine, Helenka Lepkowski Ostrum

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The ancient royal city of Hue, located in the center of Vietnam, is known for being the former capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802-1945. Since receiving the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, Hue has become a popular tourist destination in Vietnam. Many foreigners visit the city to experience the remnants of an ancient past still visible in the architecture, music, and cuisine and to see how the people live today. The royal cuisine of Hue, created under the Nguyen Dynasty, is one element of the city’s royal history that is becoming increasingly available for …

Perceptions Of Wealth And Poverty In Samoa, William Glass

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The current literature on perceptions of wealth and poverty is lacking. There is a growing need to understand the current state of wealth and poverty in Samoa. Globalization has brought foreign values that are in stark contrast to those of traditional Samoan culture and issues surrounding wealth and poverty which are creating new challenges. This research is looking at the traditional concepts of wealth and poverty in Samoa from traditional and contemporary perspectives, while also providing new insights to the current state of wealth and poverty in Samoa. Research was conducted using interviews with ten informants from various backgrounds. Along …

[Sabbatical Report], Youn Kim

Sabbatical Reports

I commenced the research as proposed in my application in collaboration with Keith McLaren of Monash University, Australia and Gary Wong of the University of Macau, China. I had worked with them on a related project which will be published in a journal this year. The new project is titled "Consumer Demand, Consumption, and Asset Pricing: An Integrated Analysis."

Basketball Market Efficiency And The Big Dog Bias, Ladd Kochman, Randy Goodwin

Faculty Articles

A betting rule is devised to profit from an alleged unwillingness of strong favorites in the National Basketball Association to cover large point spreads. Imaginary wagers placed on NBA underdogs awarded 10+ points by Las Vegas oddsmakers produced a significantly nonrandom wins-to-bets ratio of 53.4 percent during the five consecutive seasons ending in 2007. The failure to generate a W/B ratio of at least 55.4 percent over the 758 games meeting our point spread constraint precludes any claim of profitability.

From Recyclers To Risk-Takers: The Social, Economic And Political Challenges Of Selling Second-Hand Clothes In Kenya, Hailey Chalhoub

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Informal sectors across the world are gaining popularity for their prominent roles in development. They provide employment for those who have been excluded from mainstream economies and they make everyday goods and services accessible and affordable for all people. In Kenya the second-hand clothing trade has become an increasingly important industry within the informal sector as it provides affordable clothes to Kenyans of all socio-economic classes. Kenya has become East Africa’s hub for importing second-hand clothes, commonly referred to as mitumba and this trade depends on second-hand clothes that are donated in Western countries and collected and packaged by textile …

Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery Using Telecommunication, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

Telecommunication offers a low cost solution to increasing client and counselor contact during the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process, particularly for clients at a distance from the VR office. Despite the advantage telecommunication provides, however, counselors report using email with fewer rural as compared to urban clients (Ipsen, Rigles, Arnold, & Seekins, 2012). In part, this may relate to counselor perceptions that rural clients have less Internet access than their urban counterparts (Ipsen et al., 2012). This disparity may be diminishing, however. Government incentives and public access in libraries and community centers are improving telecommunication infrastructure across the country, especially in …

Mexico Consensus Economic Forecast, Volume 15, Number 4, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr, Adam G. Walke

Departmental Papers (E & F)

No abstract provided.

Chogyal's Sikkim: Tax, Land & Clan Politics, Hong Tran

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

During the Chogyal (Tib. chos rgyal1) reign, the first and last monarchy in Sikkim, land and various forms of taxes derived from land ownership were powerful instruments of the ruling class, namely the Chogyal family, the aristocratic clans, and the royal lamas. It is the objective of this paper to examine the institution of land ownership and taxation as a reflection of the deeply seated and potent clan politics of Sikkim. Through available records and literature as well as interviews with head lamas, monastic affiliates and the Sikkimese public, using a combination of narratives and analysis, this author hopes to …

Identifying The Effect Of Wic On Very Low Food Security Among Infants And Children, Brent Kreider, John V. Pepper, Manan Roy

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) is considered a crucial component of the social safety net in the United States, yet there is limited supporting evidence on the effects of WIC on the nutritional well-being and food security of infants and young children. Two key identification problems have been especially difficult to address. First, the decision to take up WIC is endogenous as households are not randomly assigned to the program; recipients are likely to differ from nonrecipients in unobserved ways (e.g., prior health) that are related to associated outcomes. Second, survey respondents often fail to report receiving public …

Part-Time And Short Hours In Retail In The United States, Canada, And Mexico: How Institutions Matter, Françoise Carré, Chris Tilly

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Unlocking The Complexity Of The Health Care System: Kentucky’S Health Navigators, Michael T. Childress

CBER Research Report

From the preface:

Health navigation comes in many forms. Sometimes it takes the form of helping an individual find the treatment, medication, or health services they need. Other times navigation takes the form of helping a patient overcome barriers of child care, finances, or transportation so they can see a doctor. In other cases navigation means working with patients to enhance health literacy so they comply with medical instructions and are not readmitted to a hospital. And sometimes health navigation entails lending an empathetic hand to patients under‐ going the rigors of cancer treatment.

Here we adopt a fairly broad …

Asymptotic Efficiency Of Semiparametric Two-Step Gmm, Xiaohong Chen, Jinyong Hahn, Zhipeng Liao

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

In this note, we characterize the semiparametric efficiency bound for a class of semiparametric models in which the unknown nuisance functions are identified via nonparametric conditional moment restrictions with possibly non-nested or over-lapping conditioning sets, and the finite dimensional parameters are potentially over-identified via unconditional moment restrictions involving the nuisance functions. We discover a surprising result that semiparametric two-step optimally weighted GMM estimators achieve the efficiency bound, where the nuisance functions could be estimated via any consistent nonparametric procedures in the first step. Regardless of whether the efficiency bound has a closed form expression or not, we provide easy-to-compute sieve …

Food Insecurity In Bloomington-Normal: How A Grocery Cooperative Might Help Meet The Needs Of Low-Income Residents, Nichole Brants, Emma Healy, Raina Kirchner, Jeff Koch, Ben Mcnair, Aaron Tester, Ashley Toenjes,, Alex Trimble, Dave Warren

Community Project Design and Management Reports - Sociology

The purpose of this report is to understand the current food needs of marginalized community-members in the Bloomington-Normal area, to learn how Green Top Grocery may help improve food security among these residents, and to ascertain viable mechanisms to encourage involvement in the cooperative among a diversity of local residents. The findings are based on data from three focus groups and nine key-informant interviews conducted in the Bloomington-Normal community. Key findings most relevant to Green Top’s goal of encouraging a diverse membership include the following: Green Top may wish to use existing networks to build trust in the Bloomington-Normal community, …

From Financing Social Insurance To Insuring Financial Markets: The Socialisation Of Risk And The Privatisation Of Profit In An Age Of Irresponsibility, Simon Lee, Richard Woodward

Books/Book Chapters

Commentaries on the financial meltdown that began with Lehman Brothers’ collapse in September 2008 trace its origins to greedy bankers exploiting lax regulatory practices to take excessive risks through exotic and arcane financial instruments. While not wishing to demur from this analysis this chapter takes issue with the frequent failure to acknowledge that this has come about as a consequence of the (mis)application of state power over the past 50 years (see Helleiner 1994). Starting with the tacit support for the development of the Euromarkets in the 1960s and culminating with the responses to the turmoil of 2008-2010 the chapter …

Let's Talk About Text: Contracts, Claims, And Judicial Philosophy At The Federal Circuit, Andrew T. Langford

IP Theory

No abstract provided.

A Necessary Effort: The Construction Of A Binational Immigration Policy For Nicaraguan Immigrants In Costa Rica, Irma Castañeda

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although the experiences of Nicaraguan immigrants to Costa Rica have been well-studied, the investigation of this topic through the lens of the construction of public policies is missing. Through the testimonies of Nicaraguans that emigrated or still live and work in Costa Rica, I learned that immigrants, especially those that are undocumented, are vulnerable to the violation of their rights, for example, through the lack of access to public services or mistreatment by their bosses. Because of these violations, it is necessary to examine the topic of the immigration policies of both countries because they influence the treatment and integration …

Implementation Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act: Workforce Development And Unemployment Insurance Provisions, Burt S. Barnow, Jing Cai, Yvette Chocolaad, Randall W. Eberts, Richard A. Hobbie, Joyce Kaiser, Tara Smith, John Trutko, Wayne Vroman, Stephen A. Wandner

External Papers and Reports

No abstract provided.