International Economics Commons^™

Ex Ante Analysis Of Price And Trade Effects For The Rice Sector In The Transatlantic Trade And Investment Partnership, William Lawrence Jacobs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 2013, trade negotiations began between the United States and the European Union to create a free trade agreement with the goal of phasing out tariffs for all but the most sensitive products. To aid negotiators in analyzing potential agriculture agreements, the objective of this study is to quantify policy impacts of a potential trade liberalization of rice. This study will also be a useful analysis for various participants in the rice market to make educated business decisions.

This study utilizes the spatial partial equilibrium model RICEFLOW to project the differences in market prices, production volumes, trade volumes, and consumption …

Three Essays On Racial Wage Differentials In South Africa, Ochas Kashinge Pupwe

Dissertations

Wage gaps amongst the different racial groups in South Africa, have remained high post-apartheid. With the enactment and implementation of several empowerment programs aiming at reversing racial marginalization, it is puzzling to see the persistent wage gaps between the white minority and non-white majority. This dissertation seeks to ascertain factors that may account for the persistent wage gap.

The first essay tests for the presence of over-education and its effects on wage determination amongst South Africa’s racial demographic groups. The results indicate that whites were over-educated whilst marginalized populations exhibited significant levels of under-education in 1991 and 2011 and hence …

Impact Of Women Empowered Through Community Savings Groups On The Wellbeing Of Their Families: A Study From Mgubwe, Tanzania, James Kesanta, Billy Andre

Interdisciplinary Journal of Best Practices in Global Development

This study explores the impact of economic empowerment among women and the well-being of their families and their communities through a community savings and loans association model. The research, conducted in Mgubwe, Tanzania, consists of 83 respondents from four villages, representing 12 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using Focus Group Discussions (FGD), survey questionnaires and key in-depth interview methodologies. The findings indicated women who participate in community-based micro-lending associations have positive impacts on their children’s education, health, and livelihoods. The findings also revealed members of community savings and loans groups do not collectively …

The Economy Of Oaxaca Decomposed, Albert Codina Sala

Honors College Theses

We analyze the internal economy of Oaxaca State in southern Mexico across regions, districts and municipalities from 1999 to 2009. Using the concept of economic convergence, we find mixed evidence for poorer areas catching up with richer areas during a single decade of economic growth. Indeed, some poorer regions thanks to negative growth have actually diverged away from wealthier areas.

Benefits Of Eu Membership For The Transition Countries: The Case Of Latvia, Marko Martinovic

Economics Honors Projects

This paper estimates the benefits of EU membership for Latvia, a former communist country and a member of the former USSR. It is widely believed that the EU membership significantly contributes to raising living standards and growth of the economies of new members. Using counterfactual analysis with the official date of accession of 2003 I find that Latvia demonstrates stronger economic growth from the EU membership, but only up to 2009. After the 2009 financial crisis Latvia’s economic growth is severally compromised as a consequence of joining the EU. When 1999 is treated as the treatment year, the year when …

Determining The Effect Of The Minimum Wage On Income Inequality, Benjamin S. Litwin

Student Publications

Many recent studies have shown a significant increase to income inequality since the 1980s. One of the proposed methods for fixing this trend is to increase the minimum wage, since this policy would help those at the low end of the income spectrum to see economic growth. To analyze the effectiveness of this policy, we studied data from countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation. By forming an econometric model to account for many factors that affect income inequality in nations around the world, including the real value of the minimum wage, we can determine …

Global Hegemon: Chinese Foreign Policy Shifts And Elevated Unpko Involvement, Alex Berge

Political Science Theses and Capstones

A common question being asked in many circles is whether China will emerge as a potential rival to the U.S. as a global superpower? If the answer to this question is “yes” many ask how China will accomplish this. Research suggests that China will obtain superpower status through increased global presence and more cooperation in international organizations, specifically United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). The literature examines Chinese policy changes that allow for more contributions and activity in UNPKOs and also what missions China can now participate in from which it would have formerly abstained. The preliminary results have shown massive …

Mexico Consensus Economic Forecast, Volume 18, Number 2, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Adam G. Walke

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

China's Yuan: Asia's Future Anchor Currency?, Hwee Kwan Chow

Research Collection School Of Economics

The yuan is becoming more widely used in pricing and settling intra-regional trade and investment. Asian currencies' movements are likely to shift more in tandem with the yuan, leading to it becoming one of Asia's lead currencies. Singapore is now the world's second-most- important offshore yuan trading hub after Hong Kong.

Mega-Regional Trade, Joshua Meltzer

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

This lecture will discuss the impact of the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations on U.S. economic competitiveness and leadership in Asia and Europe. This will lead into a discussion of large Free Trade Areas (FTA), or groups of countries that have few or no price controls in the form of tariffs or quotas between each other. FTAs allow the agreeing nations to focus on their comparative advantages and to produce the goods they are comparatively more efficient at making, thus increasing the efficiency and profitability of each country. We will explore the impact …

Signed Peer Reviews As A Means To Improve Scholarly Publishing, Linwood H. Pendleton

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

Peer review is a necessary process with a long history of complaints, including over-solicitation of a small number of reviewers, delays, inadequate numbers of reviewers, and a lack of incentives to provide strong reviews or avoid reviews with little helpful information for the author. In the era of Web-based distribution of research, through working paper or project reports, anonymous peer reviews are much less likely. The Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics will use signed peer reviews and an open communication process among authors, reviewers, and editors. This approach, to be developed over time, should lead to stronger communication of …

State Obligations Concerning Socio-Economic Rights In Times Of The European Financial Crisis, Jernej Letnar Černič

Brigham Young University International Law & Management Review

No abstract provided.

A Simple Solution To The Distance Puzzle: Balanced Data And Poisson Estimation, Roger White, David Buehler

Economics

We propose the use of a balanced panel data set and Poisson regression as a solution to the distance puzzle. Employing annual data for the period 1972–2010, we confirm the existence of the puzzle by applying OLS regression to both an unbalanced panel data set and a narrowly defined balanced panel. We find that Poisson regression remedies the distance puzzle, producing a constant trend for the distance coefficient when the unbalanced panel is examined and a positive trend for the balanced data. The findings confirm the common intuition that the influence of transport costs on trade flows has decreased over …

Optimal Design Of Trade Agreements In The Presence Of Renegotiation, Giovanni Maggi, Robert W. Staiger

Dartmouth Scholarship

We study the optimal design of trade agreements when governments can renegotiate after the resolution of uncertainty but compensation between them is inefficient. In equilibrium, renegotiation always results in trade liberalization, not protection. The optimal contract may be a "property rule" or a "liability rule". High uncertainty favors liability over property rules, while asymmetries in bargaining power favor property over liability rules. Moreover, optimal property rules are never renegotiated. With a cost of renegotiation, property rules are favored when this cost is higher, reversing a central conclusion of the law-and-economics literature. (JEL C78, D86, F13, F15, K12)

State Failure And Political Instability: The Impact Of Educational Attainment In Africa, Jesse D. Neugarten

Undergraduate Economic Review

I investigate the role of educational attainment on state failure and political stability across the African continent. For the empirical analysis, I estimate a Linear Probability Model (LPM) for State Failure by Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). I hypothesize that differences in educational attainment in Africa can explain differences in political stability and state failure. Furthermore, I believe that this effect has persisted over time and that early educational attainment in the late colonial and early independence era is a significant determinant of state affairs in more recent times. I find that early secondary educational attainment explains higher state stability, while …

Economic Development And Female Labor Force Participation In The Middle East And North Africa: A Test Of The U-Shape Hypothesis, Kelsey A. Chapman

Gettysburg Economic Review

This paper investigates the relationship between economic development and female labor force participation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Using a panel data set of 20 countries in the region for the period of 1990-2012, I develop an econometric model that tests the U-shape hypothesis. This study builds upon previous literature examining the U-shape hypothesis in time series studies for developing countries, and cross-country studies. The results of this paper suggest that there is a U-shaped relationship between economic growth and female labor force participation rates. The MENA region’s low female labor force participation rates can be explained …

Hdi In Transition Countries: A Panel Data Analysis, Narine Hagopian

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the factors that have the ability to affect development in transition countries. The study incorporates the human development index to examine the influence of outside variables to human development within transition countries. The study looks at a variety of contributing factors such as the Gini coefficient, federal direct investment levels, world governance contributors, health expenditure per capita, personal remittance levels among a few other contributors. Focusing on transition countries, which evolved after the breakup of the Soviet Union, this study aims to understand human development in twelve of the fourteen former Soviet Republics. Using data from the …

Evaluation Of Company Performance Post Acquisition Or Merger In The United States, Harry Waterton

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper answers the question surrounding whether or not company performance for the acquiring company improves or worsens post-merger or acquisition. This will be calculated using two separate but related financial performance tools, return on equity and return on assets. The investigation will span over a 5 year period starting the year of 2010 and end at the closing of the fourth quarter of 2014, and will contain all mergers and acquisitions between $300 million and $2 billion that took place across all sectors in America. The results conclude that acquisitions do not financially benefit the acquirer in the short …

Inequality, Poverty And Economic Growth In Different Income Classifications, Alexandra Zhang

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper defines the relationship between inequality and economic development, analyzes the impact of economic growth on income inequality and poverty rate. The study uses different indicators and panel data over 10 years and across 46 countries worldwide. As the Kuznets Curve suggested, a country’s inequality level and economic development share a non-linear relationship. The author applies this concept to 3 different models and found different results between low and middle-income countries and high-income countries. In result, this study confirms the Kuznets law as the author finds an unequal income distribution in low and middle-income countries.

Peaceful Settlement Of Disputes In The South China Sea Through Fisheries Resources Cooperation And Management, Kuan-Hsiung Wang

Maryland Series in Contemporary Asian Studies

The South China Sea dispute is complicated in terms of its nature, the sovereignty issues of the islands, delimitation issues, resources utilization as well as other matters concerning security (both traditional and non-traditional). In order to solve the dispute, cooperation is one of the main considerations. However, the practice has not been realized.

In order to solve the dispute and promote cooperation in the South China Sea region, the author suggests that conserving and managing fishery resources could be established as a starting point. There are a great number of management means, institutions, and international instruments (such as conventions, treaties …

The Gettysburg Economic Review, Volume 8, Spring 2015

Gettysburg Economic Review

No abstract provided.

Do Living Wages Alter The Effect Of The Minimum Wage On Income Inequality?, Benjamin S. Litwin

Gettysburg Economic Review

Anker (2006) proposed a new methodology for calculating the living wage in countries around the world. By looking at OECD nations between 2000-2010, we look to see if countries with a national minimum wage higher than this living wage value see a notable difference in the effect of the minimum wage on income inequality. Our results show that countries with the minimum wage higher than the living wage value do see lower inequality, although there is a key value of the minimum wage, at which countries start to see disemployment effects that increase inequality.

The Role Of Fdi, Oda, Remittances, And Institutions On Economic Development In Developing Countries, William Manak

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper seeks to evaluate the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI), official development assistance (ODA), and migrant remittances to economic growth in developing countries, while also taking into account the qualities of the institutions of the countries. This study uses the linear system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) method as developed by Blundell and Bond (1998). Current research has been focused on adding institutions to growth models to understand how institutional quality can help improve outcomes in developing countries. This paper plans to further the discussion on how institutional quality affects FDI, ODA, and remittances. Institutional quality is measured …

The Impacts Of China's Rise On The Pacific And The World 2015-16, Department Of Economics

Werner Sichel Lecture Series

All Lectures will be he.Id at: 2028 Brown Hall from 12 to 1:15 except the lecture on November 11 which will be held in Knauss 3502 .The 2015-16 Sichel Lecture Series Is co-directed by Professors Wei-Chiao Huang and Huizhong Zhou and Is co-sponsored by the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, and Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, WMU, andtheW.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Speakers: Dr. Murray Scot Tanner "The U.S. and the China Challenge", Professor Wing Thye Wop "An Assessment of Napoleon's Prediction that an Awakened China Would Shake the World", Professor Barry J. Naughton "Is there …

Efectos Regionales Del Libre Comercio: El Caso Del Noreste De México, Gaspare Genna, Edgardo Ayala Gaytán, Joana Chapa Cantú, María De Lourdes Treviño Villarreal, Marcos Pérez Estrella

Selected Works Temporary Series

This work documents trade and productivity flows between Northeastern Mexico, US States, and Canadian provinces. It quantifies the effect of NAFTA on exports, investment foreign direct and total productivity of Northeastern Mexico and, through the combination of a general equilibrium model and time series techniques, analyzes the effects of structural change generated by the NAFTA on value added, employment and welfare.

An Analysis Of The Sales Cycle: A Case Of A Cloud-Computing Us Mnc, Matthew Walsh

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates sales techniques used during the sales cycle at a leading global provider of mobile workforce solutions for service-based business of all sizes. At the multi-national corporation, a publicly traded company, business solutions are delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). This study focuses on “Enterprise” customers, fleets of over 100 vehicles, and examines how leads are converted to opportunities and opportunities to sales. Characteristics of the customer, such as, aforementioned fleet size, SIC code, number of employees, region, and annual revenue are examined in an effort to tailor the marketing process when targeting large customers. Additionally, the study looks at …

Financial Deepening On Economic Growth And Productivity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Yaawa Jallow

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates impact of financial deepening on economic growth and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. The study uses variables from various studies that are said to most likely impact economic growth and productivity in a country. This study uses a Panel Data analysis to examine the impact of these variables especially financial deepening on both economic growth and productivity. The fixed effect and random effect model both suggest that overall financial deepening has a positive impact on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. The study also suggest that financial deepening has a positive effect on productivity in sub-Saharan Africa.

Determinants Of Fdi And Economic Integration In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lachlan Davis

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the effects of economic integration, FDI and increased trade liberalization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is a region notorious for low human development indexes, slow economic grown and high levels of corruption. Ever since the inception of western aid and corporate interests, the region has no developed at we should expect. This paper will look to find the effects of increased “globalization” in the region and attempt to suggest reasons for the developmental challenges rampant in this region of the world. I expect to find that even though development has increased in some areas (for variables such …

The Impact Of Innovation And Technology On The Economic Growth In Oecd Countries, Boqian Yin

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the impacts of innovation and technology on the economic growth in the OECD countries. This study is based on the economic growth model from the previous research study from the innovation – economic growth nexus: Global evidence (L. Hasan, et al.). We tried to adjust the original model by substituting a fee variables and focusing only in the OECD nations. In addition, we expect the results to show a positive between the evolution of innovation and technology on economic development in the 34 OECD countries from time period of 1991 to 2012. Moreover, we want to analyze …

The Effects Of Oil Shocks On Total Government Expenditure: A Var Approach, Thomas Mullally

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper aims to examine the relationship between oil price and oil revenue shocks and government expenditures in Venezuela. In order to analyze the relationship between these variables, this study uses a VAR approach. This study aims to find a positive relationship between oil revenues and government expenditures, which will show how countries adjust their public sector spending activities in order to account for changes in demand for oil.