Economics Commons^™

Global Economic Outlook: An Interview With The Global Chief Economist Of The Economist Intelligence Unit, Simon Baptist, Simon Baptist, Alvin Lee

Asian Management Insights

Global Chief Economist of The Economist Intelligence Unit, Simon Baptist, discusses trends that are likely to shape the future global economic outlook, in this interview with Alvin Lee.

Political Accountability And Determinants Of Governance Under Principal-Agent Theory, Matthew Bluem

Dissertations

This study examines the theory that quality of governance is largely dependent upon political accountability, and that the effect of political accountability on governance varies based on three main determinants: level of democracy, level of information available to the public, and diversification of the economy (Adserà et al. 2003). With quality of governance, represented by the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators (WGI), as the dependent variable, this study considers how these three independent variables, and several control variables, affect governance quality. Incorporating data from 2010 – 2015 for 143 countries in both cross-sectional OLS and fixed effects panel regression analysis, …

Full Circle: Building A Local Economy Through Pollinator Enterprises In The Food System, Catherine M. Demets

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

As the alternative food movement gains traction in mainstream American society, it is essential to document how enterprises in the movement are building robust local economies. As Eric Holt-Giménez (2010: 1) points out, the movement “has successfully shone the spotlight on hunger and food access in the US, created a drive for more local food, and gotten better policy from the federal to the local level,” yet no assurance exists that our society’s interest in food issues is not a passing fad. Rather, we should ask: “how do we turn initial reforms into lasting food system transformation?” (Holt-Giménez 2010: 1). …

Essays In The Economics Of Health And Ageing, Yi Jin Tan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation consists of four papers in applied microeconomics / the economics of health and ageing that analyse the causal effect of public policies, or of events / issues amenable to policy intervention. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the papers in this dissertation.

Chapter 2 investigates whether a major and growing environmental disamenity – dengue fever – leads to protective behavior that increases residential electricity consumption. Being near a dengue cluster leads to a persistent increase in electricity consumption in 4-room and 5-room/bigger flats (by 1.7% and 1.1% respectively). In addition, electricity consumption rises discontinuously when a dengue cluster’s …

The Nfl And Trump: Did Protesting Cause The Decline?, Jameson Osmond

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This project is a study in econometric modeling of the effects of the protests of the national anthem in the NFL during the 2016-2017 seasons. The project is created to determine the accuracy or lack thereof of President Donald Trump's statement that the cause of the decline in viewership and ratings (and thus business) of NFL games was caused by protests that deterred US viewers.

Using viewership and rating data, along with various protest indexes created by collecting game-level protest data, an econometric model was constructed to allow for control over various endogenous and exogenous variables that surround NFL in-season …

Politics And The Price Of Rice In Thailand: Public Choice, Institutional Change And Rural Subsidies, Jacob Ricks

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Despite the Thai state’s long record of rice market interventions, historically politicians failed to leverage rice subsidies in their pursuit of political support, notwithstanding the large number of farmers in the country. Since Thaksin Shinawatra’s election in 2001, though, each government has subsidised rice producers, although at varying degrees. What explains this change? This article traces the four-decade history of rice price support programmes. It is proposed that these policies be interpreted through the dual lens of institutionalism and public choice theory, demonstrating how political institutions have shaped incentives for politicians to cater to different constituencies. During the pre-1980 period, …

Affirmative Action Bans: Assessing Impacts In A Cross-State Context, Jacklyn M. Sullivan

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper builds on previous research on the effect affirmative action bans have on attendance rates for minorities at public and private universities. In total, nine states have implemented affirmative action bans between the present year and 1997. This paper analyzes data from the American Community Survey and provides an overview of related court cases and voter referendums to discuss this policy's effects. We find that affirmative action bans lead to an overall decrease in college attendance for minority students, most prominently seen in an attendance decrease for black students.

Shakeout In The Early Commercial Airframe Industry, Taylor Jaworski, Andrew Smyth

Economics Faculty Research and Publications

The commercial airframe industry in the US experienced a shakeout from the early 1930s into the post‐Second World War period. Unlike shakeouts in automobiles, tyres, or televisions, the commercial airframe industry's early life cycle was affected by external factors, particularly government demand. Using newly digitized data on all planes introduced in the commercial market between 1926 and 1965, we find that commercial airframe manufacturers with bomber contracts during the Second World War were more likely to have postwar market share than firms without such contracts, controlling for plane characteristics and other forms of government contracting. We attribute the effect of …

(Wp 2018-01) Ethics And Economics: A Complex Systems Approach, John B. Davis

Economics Working Papers

This chapter examines the nature of ethics and economics as a single subject of investigation, and uses a complex systems approach to characterize the nature of that subject. It then distinguishes mainstream economic and social economic visions of it, where the former assumes that market processes encompass social processes, and the latter assumes that market processes are embedded in social processes. For each vision, strong and weak theses are compared. Both visions are first explained in terms of their respective views of the positive-normative distinction, then in terms of a central normative principle, and then in terms of their policy …

Analyzing Housing Demand And Its Role In The U.S. Economy, Irina Ayzenberg

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the most recent economic downturn, caused by the burst of the housing bubble and the subprime mortgage crisis, the housing market took a direct hit: mortgage default rates were over 10 percent, housing prices fell 35 percent from 2005 to 2009, more than 5 million homes were foreclosed since 2008, and interest rates hit rock-bottom. In response, the U.S. Federal Reserve adopted aggressive expansionary monetary policies to get the economy back on track, some of which are in effect today. In order to really understand the state and direction of the U.S. economy today, we need to better understand …

Professional Development Needs Of Utah State University Extension Professionals, Callahan K. Ward

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many Utah State University (USU) Extension personnel are nearing retirement age. The purpose of this study was to identify professional development needs of Extension professionals and assess USU Extension by evaluating competencies essential to be a successful Extension professional. USU Extension can conduct more beneficial professional development training by using identified high priority competencies and improve the on boarding process for new Extension professionals. With improvements as suggested, the effectiveness of professional development could be enhanced and produce Extension professionals who work more efficiently and are committed to the success of USU Extension.

When Does Limited Commitment Matter In A Production Economy?, Kyoung Jin Choi, Jungho Lee

Research Collection School Of Economics

We investigate the conditions under which the first-best allocation without commitment is sustainable in a production economy. While it is widely known in the literature that allowing capital accumulation creates a distortion, we find that it can help to sustain the first-best allocation. We also find that for a certain set of endowment economiesin which the efficient allocation is not sustainable, the efficient allocation becomes sustainable once we introduce a production technology with very small returns to scale orany returns to scale higher than that of the minimum value. In some cases, gains fromefficient resource allocation between agents can be …

A Dynamic Network Perspective On The Latent Group Structure Of Cryptocurrencies, Li Guo, Yubo Tao, Wolfgang Karl Hardle

Research Collection School Of Economics

In this paper, we study the latent group structure in cryptocurrencies market by forming a dynamic return inferred network with coin attributions. We develop a dynamic covariate-assisted spectral clustering method to detect the communities in dynamic network framework and prove its uniform consistency along the horizons. Applying our new method, we show the return inferred network structure and coin attributions, including algorithms and proof types, jointly determine the market segmentation. Based on the network model, we propose a novel "hard-to-value" measure using the centrality scores. Further analysis reveals that the group with a lower centrality score exhibits stronger short-term return …

Maskin Meets Abreu And Matsushima, Yi-Chun Chen, Takashi Kunimoto, Yifei Sun, Siyang Xiong

Research Collection School Of Economics

We study the classical Nash implementation problem due to Maskin (1999), but allow for the use of lottery and monetary transfer as in Abreu and Matsushima (1992, 1994). We therefore unify two well-established but somewhat orthogonal approaches of implementation theory. We first show that Maskin monotonicity is a necessary and sufficient condition for pure-strategy Nash implementation by a direct mechanism. Second, taking mixed strategies into consideration, we show that Maskin monotonicity is a necessary and sufficient condition for mixed-strategy Nash implementation by a finite (albeit indirect) mechanism. Third, we extend our analysis to implementation in rationalizable strategies. In contrast to …

The Effect Of Non-Contributory Pensions On Labour Supply And Private Income Transfers: Evidence From Singapore, Yanying Chen, Yi Jin Tan

Research Collection School Of Economics

Non-contributory pensions are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. As their effects are likely to be context-dependent, evaluating their effects in a wide range of settings is important for establishing the external validity of the non-contributory pension literature. We use a new monthly panel dataset and a difference-in-differences strategy to study the effect of a new non-contributory pension in Singapore (the Silver Support Scheme or SSS) on labour supply, work expectations, private cash transfers, and expenditure, 1 year after its implementation. We find no evidence that receiving SSS payouts led to a fall in labour supply, work expectations, or the receipt of …

Income And Subjective Well-Being: Evidence From Singapore's First National Non-Contributory Pension, Yanying Chen, Yi Jin Tan

Research Collection School Of Economics

We use a new monthly panel and a difference-in-differences strategy to study the effects of an exogenous permanent income shock on subjective well-being along previously unexplored dimensions. This permanent income shock is the introduction of Singapore’s first national non-contributory pension, the Silver Support Scheme. The pension improved the life satisfaction of recipients, and appeared to be driven by social, household income, and economic satisfaction. Consistent with the predictions of standard consumption-savings models, well-being improved when the shock was unanticipated (at announcement), but did not improve significantly further when the shock was anticipated (at disbursement). In addition, we find evidence that …

Speech Excerpts: Controlling Government Spending

Saffy Collection - All Textual Materials

Excerpt from speeches by Governor Bill Clinton regarding his position on government spending and the need for reducing defense spending, consumption spending and control health care costs. The Clinton Administration would invest more federal funds in education, child care, health care, environment technology, infrastructure and basic research. Printed on Bill Clinton for President Committee letterhead. No date given.

Market Imperfections, Macroeconomic Conditions, And Capital Structure Dynamics: A Cross-Country Study, Moonsoo Kang, Wei Wang, Ying Xiao

Business Faculty Publications

This paper investigates how “systematic” adjustment costs proxied by market imperfections and macroeconomic conditions affect capital structure dynamics in a cross-country setting. We document substantial variations in firms’ capital structure adjustments across countries and, particularly, over time. Consistent with adjustment costs impeding firms from rebalancing their capital structures, worse market imperfections are associated with slower speeds of adjustment (SOA) and larger leverage deviations. Intertemporally, capital structure adjustment is procyclical, with SOA increasing by 0.9 percentage point for a one-percentage-point increase in GDP growth rate. The procyclicality is attributable to good macroeconomic conditions mitigating market imperfections through channels of 1) facilitating …

Partisan Conflict And Income Inequality In The United States: A Nonparametric Causality-In-Quantiles Approach, Mehmet Balcilar, Seyi Saint Akadiri, Rangan Gupta, Stephen M. Miller

Molasky Family Department of Economics and Real Estate Faculty Research

This paper examines the predictive power of a partisan conflict on income inequality. Our study contributes to the existing literature by using the newly introduced nonparametric causality-in-quantile testing approach to examine how political polarization in the United States affects several measures of income inequality and distribution overtime. The study uses annual time-series data between the periods 1917–2013. We find evidence in support of a dynamic causal relationship between partisan conflict and income inequality, except at the upper end of the quantiles. Our empirical findings suggest that a reduction in partisan conflict will lead to a reduction in our measures of …

Females Are More Accepting Of Intimate Partner Violence Than Males, Internationally, Anna R. Eckenrode

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

What factors shift the social norms of acceptance of intimate partner violence within couples? I address this broad question using global Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data on attitudes toward intimate partner violence. Much of the existing research in this field only examines female acceptance without analyzing the dynamics within a couple. I determine females are more accepting of intimate partner violence than males, regardless of cultural context and time, in an exploration of new stylized facts. I find existing theory and conclusions about female acceptance of violence can be expanded on when considering total male acceptance levels within a couple. …

The Impact Of Foreign Direct Investment On The Composition Of The Female Labor Force, Liam Missios

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This study examines the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on female employment. I use a fixed-effects model with a panel of 69 countries to estimate the impact of FDI on female employment at the sector level. I then disaggregate the data and estimate the effect of FDI on female employment in both developing and developed countries. This is based on the assumption that motivation for FDI differs based on the receiving country’s stage of development. I find evidence that FDI inflows cause a slight increase in female employment in the service sector of developing countries. I also find evidence …

Using Monetary Incentives To Motivate Female Entrepreneurs In Abuja, Nigeria, Imuetinyan Aiguwurhuo

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Gender gaps in entrepreneurship are a major problem everywhere, but especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Women across the world face high levels of discrimination. The process of empowering women in a society has the potential to boost economic growth and development. Inspired by the success of the Family Independence Initiative (FII), we designed a field experiment to estimate the impact of using monetary incentives to motivate female entrepreneurs in achieving their goals in collaboration with the National Center for Women development (NCWD) in Abuja, Nigeria

The Controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: America's Most Expensive Weapons System And Its Global Impact, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Creative Materials

Provides an overview on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program involving the U.S. and many allied countries. Describes the costs of this program, the technical problems it has experienced, its economic impact on the U.S. and allied countries, the JSF's operational capabilities, potential combat scenarios in which it could be used, and the campaign finance impact aerospace companies and unions have in the electoral process.

Segregation Of Student Financial Aid In Higher Education: The Effects On Low-Income Students When Ebt Is Not Accepted At University Campuses In San Diego, Ca., Tanisha-Jean Martin

M.A. in Leadership Studies: Capstone Project Papers

The student bodies of universities are made up of a diverse financial class of students which utilize various methods to cover financial obligations on campus, even with the use of welfare governmental assistance. Low-income students that are involved in government welfare programs are given an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to support them while they are pursuing an education; however, every university in San Diego, CA (and nearly the entire United States), segregate EBT into an unacceptable category and refuse to accept the card at any venues on campus. The EBT card is a plastic card that can be used …

Testing Option B+: Measuring The Impact Of Perceived Clinic Access On Human Capital Investment In Malawi, Annalivia J. Robinson

Economics Honors Projects

From 1985 to the current day, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been responsible for increasing mortality and morbidity rates amongst Malawi citizens. In addition to causing negative health and economic shocks to adults living with HIV/AIDS, this virus reduces capital available for families' educational investments. Providing subsidized antiretroviral treatment (ART) has potential consequences for human capital investment and economic growth. Using data from 2010 and 2015/16 Demographic Health Surveys for Malawi, I estimate the effect of increased ART services and perceived access changes on educational outcomes of children living in HIV+ homes. I find that children belonging to households with an …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: April 25, 2018, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) 1 rose by 0.88% during March of 2018. The increase in the LEI-N, which is designed to predict economic activity six months into the future, suggests that the Nebraska economy will grow steadily through the summer of 2018. Strong business expectations, rising manufacturing hours and rising air passenger enplanements were the reasons for the LEI-N increase. Respondents to the March Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase both sales and employment at their businesses over the next six months. Initial claims for unemployment insurance changed little during March but there was a …

Do Business Cycles Make Babies? The Effect Of Business Cycle Fluctuations On Fertility, Nicoletta Peters

Economics Honors Projects

Economic models often treat fertility as both constant and exogenous, while neither assumption is true. In this paper, I develop a Real Business Cycle model to analyze the impact of business cycle fluctuations on household fertility decisions. I incorporate a fertility decision into a search-based labor market and conduct a general equilibrium analysis of the effects of business cycles. The simulated results show that households increase their fertility during positive economic times, and reduce fertility as unemployment rises.

Does Agglomeration Account For Process Innovation In Vietnamese Small And Medium Enterprises?, Van Anh Le

Economics Honors Projects

Although small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the Vietnamese economy, this sector’s growth is hindered by low level of technology and innovation. This paper uses firm-level panel data to examine whether process innovation activities in SMEs are influenced by their industrial environments. It measures the effects that agglomeration, the geographic concentration of firms within the same locality, has on firms’ total outputs and their propensity to introduce new technology. Using a logistic model with firm fixed-effects, I find that agglomeration decreases outputs of informal firms and the likelihood of new technology introduction in all firms. However, …

How Deep Is Your Love? Loss Aversion In Dating Markets, Genevieve Gregorich

Economics Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

2008 Financial Crisis And The Deviation From The Taylor Rule, Uzoma H. Okoye

Honors College Theses

In this paper, we derive possible causes of the 2008 financial crisis, as well as provide evidence of a possible deviation from the Taylor rule by the Federal Reserve. This research draws up mostly primary sources such as published books and speeches by John B. Taylor himself, as well as articles from academic journals related to the topic. Other prior research tends to take a side on the argument as to whether the Federal Reserve deviated or not. This paper serves as a descriptive analysis of different sides of the argument to come up with suggestions regarding the Fed’s actions.