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Essays On Development Economics, Environmental Economics, And Political Economy, Weihong Li

Economics Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 explores the strategic behavior of provincial leaders in China in response to visits by central government leaders. I find that such behavior is correlated with provincial leaders’ personal characteristics and their connections with the visitors. Meanwhile, acting strategically during these visits has a positive and significant effect on overall promotions, but a positive and insignificant effect on promotions to the most important positions in the Politburo.

Chapter 2 examines the impact of the Confucian norms on the spatial heterogeneity of fertility rates and sex-selective abortions in contemporary China. To overcome the challenge of quantifying cultural norms, I construct …

Higher Growth Rate In The California Manufacturing Sector In The First Quarter Of 2026, Anderson Center For Economic Research

Anderson Center Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Performance Of Digital Economic Indicators During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Payment System Case Of Indonesia, Darjana Darjana, Yanti Rusmawati

Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking

We explore the performance of digital payment system instruments during both the pre-COVID-19 period and during the pandemic. We focus on four main digital economic indicators in Indonesia; namely, electronic money, Automated Teller Machine (ATM), digital banking, and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. Using monthly data covering the period 2013:01 to 2023:04 obtained from Bank Indonesia, we employ the Difference-in-Differences method to assess the impact of the pandemic on digital economic indicators. The results show that during the pandemic, generally, the transaction value of electronic money, digital banking and RTGS are continuously upward trending, while the number of electronic …

National Expenditure On R&D And International Comparison Of Productivity, Aegus Kim

Pennsylvania Economic Review

A higher national expenditure on research and development (R&D) may lead to a higher level of productivity in the national economy because innovations can improve overall efficiency in production by increasing output per worker. Unlike other empirical studies which suggest the positive impact of R&D expenditure on productivity but are often the result from the firm level or the industry level, this paper investigates a positive correlation between R&D spending and productivity using the 2019 national data for the top 25 countries ranked by R&D expenditure. The paper focuses on the relationship between international values of total factor productivity (TFP) …

The Impact Of Green Finance, Trade Openness, And Fossil Fuel Subsidies On Renewable Energy Consumption: A Global And Asia-Pacific Perspective, Alya Ryanti Fitjriyah, Inayati Nuraini Dwiputri

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Fossil fuels are the major source of global emissions, with the Asia-Pacific region being the climate biggest polluter. Despite the global efforts to shift to cleaner energy, fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix. Therefore, renewable energy adoption needs to be encouraged more to improve economic sustainability. The Glasgow Climate Pact emphasises the importance of helping developing countries in addressing the climate change issue through financial support, capacity building, and technology transfer. Hence, this study examines the influence of green finance, open trade, and fossil fuel subsidies on renewable energy adoption in 38 countries from 2017 to 2023. By using …

The Hidden Logic Behind Migration And Success, Elsa Russom

Master's Projects and Capstones

This research paper explores the hidden drivers of financial success among Eritrean migrants navigating uncertainty, displacement, and limited institutional access. Drawing on original survey data collected from diaspora communities across East African host countries, I apply a mixed-methods framework combining ordinal and binary logistic regression, random forest classification, bootstrapping, and Bayesian causal mediation; to identify the structural and cultural variables most predictive of financial stability. The findings reveal that participation in Ekub, a traditional rotating savings association, and engagement in communal support systems are the strongest predictors of financial success, outperforming conventional factors such as age, education, or employment status. …

Tax Increment Financing: A History And Analysis Of Its Success And Failure, Justin Cederlof

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Tax increment financing (TIF) is used by cities and towns to subsidize projects within their jurisdictions. The name derives from the growth in the tax base that a (re)development is theoretically responsible for. The increase in tax revenue is directed to funds to pay for the project. TIF is used in 49 U.S. states and each state has unique legislation for its use of it, though there are large similarities between states on how it’s implemented. Research suggests mixed results with whether or not the increase in the tax base is enough to pay off how much money went toward …

Beyond The Stats: Empirical Analysis Of The Impact Of Performance Metrics And Nationality On Major League Soccer Player Salaries: A Panel Data Analysis, Daniel Pereira

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the possibility of how player in-game individual performance and nationality shape the salary system in Major League Soccer (MLS). The objective is to evaluate the direct relationship between key performance indicators (KPIs) such as field position, goals, assists, appearances, and defensive contributions, and how these factors are different between domestic and international players.

Ai Adoption And Wage Growth In U.S. Industries: A Sectoral Analysis, Demitrius Andrellos

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every sector and has significant implications for workers and their wages. This paper examines the impact of the utilization of AI on wage growth across various industries in the United States. Through analysis of trends, examination of current research, and regression analysis using real industry data, the research demonstrates the disparate impacts of AI. Research suggests that AI raises wages in tech- and finance-centric sectors where it complements humans but keeps wages down in labor-intensive sectors where it replaces them. Understanding this disparity is important to build equitable workforce policies for the AI age.

Empirical Analysis Of The Impact Of Macroeconomic Determinants On Equity Reit Performance, Chris Morello

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates how equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) respond to key macroeconomic factors: stock market performance, interest rate changes, and inflation. Using annual data from 1972 to 2024, multiple linear regressions are conducted to assess which variables significantly explain REIT returns. The results reveal a strong and consistent relationship between equity REIT performance and S&P 500 returns, while interest rates and lagged inflation measures show no statistically significant impact. These findings suggest that REITs behave more like equities than fixed-income assets, particularly in the long term. While the models have limited explanatory power, the analysis supports the idea …

Determinants Of Wealth Inequality In Central America: A Panel Data Analysis Of Socioeconomic And Institutional Factors, Jose Manuel Fernandez Pou

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This study applies a non-linear panel threshold regression model to examines the factors of economic development in Central America, with an emphasis on institutional and socioeconomic factors. Using data acquired between 2000 and 2023 the research evaluates how different variables like trade openness, FDI, financial development, education spending, inflation and population growth impacts the growth of GDP at different levels of institutional quality. The results demonstrate that institutional quality levels create a distinct threshold effect when trade openness and FDI fail to promote growth in weak institutional settings while inflation volatility strongly hinders growth. FDI and financial development show positive …

Beyond The Road Trip: Investigating The Impact Of Travel Fatigue On Nba Team Performance, Anthony Pugliese

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the impact of travel fatigue on NBA player performance. In this paper we will look at key variables such as back-to-back games and long-distance travel. By using specific team by team data on factors like game results, travel distance, and rest days. This study examined how specific factors like time zone shifts and travel length influences winning percentage and player efficiency. This paper will also show a regression analysis and visual data to back up results using real life data. The results showed that team performance decreased significantly when teams were at a higher rate of travel …

The Contemporaneous Impact Of Unemployment And Income Inequality On Violent Vs Property Crime Rates In New England: A Panel Data And Machine Learning Approach, Cora Sousa

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the possible impact of unemployment and income inequality on property and or violent crimes in the New England region in the United States from 2003 to 2022. Using a panel data analysis looking at unemployment rates and factors of income inequality in New England states, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont, along with demographic factors like race and gender aim to find a relationship between unemployment and income inequality with crime rates. Economic distress, usually caused by unemployment, can cause an individual to commit crimes due to hard times. Using machine learning decision trees …

The Price Of Victory: A Machine Learning Analysis Of How Salary Dispersion Influences Team Success In Major League Baseball, Joseph Belsanti

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the effect of salary dispersion on team success in Major League Baseball (MLB). Using data from 29 MLB teams over eight seasons (2012-2019), this study uses multiple models, such as Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), panel data regressions, and Random Forest machine learning, to investigate the degree – if any – that inequalities in a team's payroll impacts success, measured by winning percentage. The study's results show that, contrary to prevailing theories, salary dispersion – measured by a Gini coefficient – is not a significant predictor of a team's winning percentage (team success). Instead, team performance metrics, such …

The Impact Of Tariffs And Institutional Quality On Economic Growth In Latin America: A Panel Data Analysis, Blaisedel Frampton

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the relationship between tariffs and economic growth in Latin American countries and how institutional quality may impact this relationship. The study will use data from the World Development Indicators Data Bank. The data used comes from 18 high- or middle-income countries within South America and the Caribbean from the years 2003 to 2023. Results from this study were found using a fixed-effects regression model. The results from this study show that overall, there is a negative correlation between tariffs and economic growth in South America. There is also a positive correlation between institutional quality and economic growth …

Passive Vs. Active Etfs: A Comparative Data Analysis Of Market Performance And Investor Behavior, Herrick Louis

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the long-term performance of passive vs active ETFs. Using a comparative analysis of historical returns from 2015 to 2024, Regression modeling, and time Series Analysis, I assessed whether passive investing offers a strategic advantage overactive management. Drawing on data from VOO Passive, SWANX active, Bitcoin, and MAG 7 technology ETFs, and the Financial Sector.

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Gendered Happiness: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Oecd Countries, Anusha Khan

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper explores how socioeconomic factors influence life satisfaction across OECD countries and how these effects vary by gender. Using a cross-sectional dataset, the study runs three separate regressions, total, men’s, and women’s happiness to test whether factors like health, education, safety, and support networks impact life satisfaction differently for men and women. A Random Forest model is also used to validate the robustness of selected predictors. Findings show that health and support matter universally, but men’s well-being is more closely tied to educational attainment, while women’s happiness is more sensitive to feelings of safety.

Decarbonization Under Carbon Policy And Pricing Shifts: A Machine Learning-Driven Synthetic Control And Panel Data Analysis, Chanboremey Teng

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This study evaluates the effectiveness of carbon pricing instruments – Carbon taxes and Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) – in reducing CO2 emissions per capita across 152 countries from 1990 to 2023 using dynamic panel regressions with fixed effects. The analysis estimates both short-run and long-run effects while controlling economic structure, energy mix, and environmental policy stringency (EPS). The results show that ETS policies yield the strongest long-term reduction in emissions at approximately 7.35%, followed by carbon taxes at 5.6%, and EPS regulatory measures at 6.35%. However, when all three instruments are modeled together, the marginal effects of pricing mechanisms weaken, …

The Importance Of The Safety Net Program For Informal Workers’ Food Security Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic In Indonesia, Rodhiah Umaroh, Amirusholihin Amirusholihin, Yuliawati Yuliawati

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

This study examines the effects of social safety-net programs on food security among vulnerable groups, focusing on households with informal workers. Utilizing data from the High-Frequency Monitoring of the COVID-19 Impacts 2020 (HiFy) and estimates with the Longitudinal Propensity Score Matching (LPSM) method, the findings reveal that cash and food assistance significantly reduce food insecurity among informal workers’ households. The households receiving these safety net programs experienced an 8–11% lower probability of food insecurity compared to non-recipients, as indicated by the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) value. The study highlights the need for continued investment in inclusive and …

The Effect Of Crime On Tourism In Indonesia, Muhammad Farhan, Hera Susanti

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Tourism sector is widely known as one of economic sectors that can be the engine of economic growth in an effort to reduce poverty in a country. However, growth in the tourism sector can be influenced by safety factors. Tourists tend to avoid tourism destination areas with high crime rates in order to avoid becoming victims of crime. This study aims to analyze the effect of crime on the number of tourist arrivals in Indonesia by using four proxies of crime, which are total crime rate, property crime rate, violent crime rate, and fraud crime rate. This study utilizes a …

The Strategies Of The Ziswaf Ctarsa Institution In Fundraising And Allocating Ziswaf, Cahyania Nursyabani, Wiwit Musaada, Nurul Huda

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

Zakat, infaq, alms, and waqf (ZISWAF) are Islamic social finance instruments that contribute to improving community welfare. On this basis, the CT ARSA Foundation established the ZISWAF CTARSA Institution. This study aims to determine the strategies of the ZISWAF CTARSA Institution in managing ZISWAF funds. The research method used is descriptive-qualitative with a field study approach. The data used came from interviews and literature studies. The results showed that the ZISWAF CTARSA Institution, as a relatively new institution, has successfully managed ZISWAF funds. ZISWAF's fundraising activities have proven to be very effective, both online and offline. The distribution model of …

Capital Flows And Corruption On Southeast And East Asia’S Economic Growth: A Panel Data Analysis, Tithvitou Teng

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the role of capital flows both from internal and external sources on economic growth, as well as the main social obstacle factor to growth, corruption. The paper attains this by conducting panel data analysis for Southeast and East Asian countries from 2005-2022. Sources of capital flows are divided into external sources, i.e. foreign direct investment (FDI) and personal remittance, and internal sources, i.e. domestic bank credit and stock market capitalization. The results show that corruption hinders economic growth and only some sources of capital have a positive impact on the economy while the effect of other sources …

Hosting Mega Events Impact On Gdp Growth: A Panel Data Analysis, Silas Pearce

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the impact of hosting “mega events” such as the Olympics on a country’s GDP growth. The study incorporates information on the country’s factors of economic development. Spillovers will be modeled through the state of the global economy by using controls such as countries that did not host mega events. The results show that countries that host the Olympics do not see any extra GDP growth than those that did not host an event.

A Panel Data Analysis Of The Effect Of Corruption And Macroeconomic Factors On Inequality And Poverty In Latin America, Annie Mcdonald

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates how a country’s income inequality and poverty are affected by corruption, and other economic indicators. The study’s purpose is to find which countries harbor corruption that causes more inequality and poverty and if high or low levels of macroeconomic factors, like unemployment for example, cause an increase in inequality/poverty as well. The panel data will include 11 countries located in Latin America and it will cover a ten-year period (2012-2021). After running six regressions, the results showed there were some differences from other papers. It was found that certain countries exhibit unique challenges that contribute to their …

Economic Peaks, An Analysis Of Financial & Real Estate Speculations In The Top 5 U.S Cities, Nicholas M. Basley

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Economic Peaks conducts a comprehensive analysis of financial and real estate speculations in the United States, more specifically the top five cities per population in the United States. This study spans the period from 2000 to 2023, utilizing time series data to reveal economic trends and identify potential structural breaks during recession periods. By employing advanced statistical methods, the research aims to discern distinctive patterns in the housing and financial markets of each of the major cities, unveiling the presence of unsustainable price appreciation and the factors contributing to its emergence. This study seeks to offer valuable insights into the …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Status Of Income Inequality New England In 2022, Aidan Wilkinson

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the status of income inequality within the New England states in 2022. The empirical analysis conducted within this paper uses a similar model within Fadi Fawaz et al. for high income countries to analyze and predict the Gini coefficient within the six New England States. More specifically, the model that is tested analyzes monthly unemployment rate, the labor force participation rate, welfare spending, and the top 1% wealth distribution. The results show that Rhode Island and Maine Gini indexes could only be described by the top 1% wealth distribution and welfare spending, respectively. We also find that …

Hdi And Standard Of Living: A Panel Data Analysis Of Latin America, Matthew Susich

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the correlation between the Human Development Index and other significant measures of standard of living. The study incorporates data for upper- and middle-income countries in Latin America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Guatemala, Jamaica, Belize, and Bolivia) surrounding standard of living, including GDP per capita, public spending on education, public spending on health, GNI per capita, unemployment, infant mortality, and inflation. The conclusions from this study are drawn from regression analysis and tests of correlation between the Human Development Index and alternative measures of standard of living. The results show that unemployment and infant …

Hitting The Books: An Empirical Analysis Of The Effect Of Education Expenditure On Gdp Per Capita And Economic Growth, Matt Simmons

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the link between education spending in Mexico and Central American countries and illegal immigration to the United States. Despite challenges like poverty and governance issues, these nations experience significant migration to the U.S., underscoring the need for deeper insights. Analyzing economic motivations and migration costs, the study emphasizes education expenditure's role in economic growth. Through empirical analysis, it highlights the importance of addressing root causes and offers policy recommendations. Overall, this research contributes to understanding the intricate relationship between education, immigration, and economic development.

How Unsdgs Are Reflected In Folklore, Jacob Mann

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the relationship between the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in a country and the prevalence of those goals in that country’s folklore. The study incorporates folklore collected into an aspect-based sentiment analyzer to examine the prevalence of, and attitude towards various aspects of the text. A combination of ConceptNet and the widely available Natural Language Toolkit is implemented to retrieve polarity scores related to key aspects of the texts. The results indicate that there are correlations between the attitude towards a theme in folklore, and the attitudes towards that theme in a country. JEL

Shifting The Ice: Analyzing The Impact Of The 2013 Nhl Cba To The Competitive Balance Of The League, Ryan Lacy

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates whether the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which hardened the existing salary cap, increased team revenue sharing, and instituted additional restrictions on player contracts, results in a more competitively balanced league. The study incorporates an OLS regression and Quantile regression to examine the impact of the 2013 CBA on the competitive balance of the league. The results show that the changes allow for a dispersion of talent, specifically offensive talent, and demonstrated a positive relationship between spending and points obtained by teams in the top 25% of the league. Conversely, teams that did …