Regional Economics Commons^™

Rent Control—Is The Cure Worse Than The Disease?, Brian J. Asquith

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Business And Consumer Confidence Indexes: January 4, 2019, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

Consumer confidence fell in Nebraska during December 2018. The Consumer Confidence Index – Nebraska (CCI-N) fell to 99.1 in December 2018, below the neutral value of 100, and well below the November value of 106.4. The Business Confidence Index – Nebraska (BCI-N) stood at 109.9 in December, well above the neutral level and slightly up from 107.2 in November. When asked about the most important issue facing their business, 36 percent of respondents chose customer demand while 26 mentioned the quality and availability of labor and 11 percent mentioned competition from other businesses. Half of responding households listed a cost …

Uncontested: A Case Study Exploring The Effects Of Long-Term Incumbency In Sarnia, Ontario, Rebecca Hay

Student Work - Language & Liberal Studies

Mike Bradley has been the mayor of the City of Sarnia since 1988 and is the second-longest serving mayor in Ontario. In 2018, he won yet another municipal election with a whopping 64.4% of the vote. Although voter turnout and high margin election wins would suggest residents are pleased with their mayor of 31 years, recent census statistics point to unaddressed problems. This case study aims to explore the effect that long-term mayoral incumbency has had on municipal public engagement in the City of Sarnia and whether the 2018 mayoral election is a true reflection of voter sentiments.

New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Program Assessment 2019, Thomas Edison State University, Pel Analytics, Anderson Economic Group, The John S. Watson Institute For Public Policy

Urban Mayors Policy Center

In 2019, the State of New Jersey sought an evaluation of its Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Program to determine the program’s economic impact and make recommendations for the program’s future. The John S. Watson Institute of Public Policy of Thomas Edison State University joined with PEL Analytics and Anderson Economic Group to produce the following study. The main recommendation of this analysis is to retain the UEZ Program while instituting various changes to make it stronger. Recommended changes in brief include reinstating some form of Zone Assistance Funds (ZAFs), creating a better system to collect data and track outcomes, assisting …

The Effects Of Fundamentals, Speculation, Government Policies, And International Capital Flows On China's Stock Market, Yanshen Qi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper, based on the relationship between the economy, policy and the financial market seeks to explore the leading force in China's stock market and identify how the government policies affect the stock market, through an analysis of the performance of the Shanghai Stock Exchange Index over the past 10 years. Comparing the stocks' intrinsic value to their market price can present an aerial view of China's stock market. When the market prices deviated from fundamentals, we can find what government did to respond to the market and lead market opinions.

Through our estimation, comparing the sample fundamental prices with …

State Of The Northwest Arkansas Region 2019 Report, Mervin Jebaraj, David Sorto

State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report

The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is an annual publication, commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council, that serves as a tool for evaluating economic performance. In July 2018, the Northwest Arkansas Council created a new blueprint for development that outlines the peer regions and a strategic action agenda for 2018-2021. In this plan, the performance of Northwest Arkansas is benchmarked with other contemporary, high-performing regions, namely Austin, Des Moines, Madison, Durham-Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Provo-Orem. The 2019 State of the Region Report compares Northwest Arkansas with these geographies in the areas of gross domestic product, employment, unemployment, establishment …

The Economic Value Of A Place-Based Resource For Regional Development, Aisling Conway Lenihan, Helen Mcguirk

Dept. of Management & Enterprise Publications

Regional economic development has long been acknowledged as an important objective of government policy. Natural resources are also recognised as drivers of economic development. However, the importance of place-based resources such as peripheral coastlines and Harbour areas are less understood. This research provides insights into an industry based on its region’s natural resource and the value it generates for sustainable economic development. Using the world’s second largest natural Harbour region, the current research measures the economic activities associated with the Marine Leisure Industry in Cork Harbour, and estimates the economic impact on the local economy. The research establishes a multiplier …

2019 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Ethan Crouson, Steve Daniel, Addie Gregory, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Janet Molinaro, Bailey Park, Terry Park, Jay Walker, Hannah White

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is Old Dominion University’s fifth annual State of the Commonwealth Report. While it represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, John R. Broderick, the Board of Visitors, the Strome College of Business or the generous donors who support the activities of the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy.

While the enthusiasm we have for our work remains high, it has been dampened by the recent passing of George Dragas, the individual most responsible for perceiving the need for an …

Part 4: Marijuana In Virginia, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Over 30 states permit the personal use of marijuana for medical purposes and more than 10 states have legalized the possession of small amounts for personal use. With increasing calls in Virginia for the decriminalization or legalization of small amounts of marijuana, we examine who uses the substance, who is being arrested for possession or use, and what the revenue impact might be if marijuana were legalized in the Commonwealth.

Part 3: The Virginia Retirement System: Assessing Its Challenges And Charting Its Future, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) manages the assets in the Commonwealth’s public employee retirement systems. The available evidence suggests that the VRS has been well managed and has outperformed many other state pension funds. We evaluate the VRS’s performance and suggest changes that could enable it to lower its costs even while improving its rate of return.

Air Quality And Asthma Hospitalization: Evidence Of Pm2.5 Concentrations In Pennsylvania Counties, Elham Erfanian, Alan R. Collins

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

According to the World Health Organization, 235 million people around the world currently suffer from asthma, which includes approximately 25 million in the United States. There is substantial epidemiological evidence indicating linkages between outdoor air pollution and asthma symptoms, more specifically between concentrations of particulate matter and asthma. Using county level data for 2001-2014, a spatial panel framework is imposed based upon prevailing wind patterns to investigate the direct and indirect impacts of PM2.5 concentration levels on asthma hospitalization in Pennsylvania. This model controls for population density, precipitation, smoking rate, and population demographic variables. Results show that PM2.5 concentrations as …

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2019, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Cover, front matter, table of contents, sponsors, and other materials for the 2019 The State of the Region report authored by Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2019, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Ethan Crouson, Steve Daniel, Addie Gregory, William Heffelfinger, Saloni Jain, Elizabeth Janik, Nikki Johnson, Kiran Karande, James V. Koch, Timothy M. Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, George Mcleod, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Bailey Park, Emily Steinhilber, Jay Walker, Hannah White, Robert M. Mcnab

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

[From the introductory material]

This is Old Dominion University’s 20th annual State of the Region Report. While it represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, John R. Broderick, the Board of Visitors, the Strome College of Business or the generous donors who support the activities of the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy.

While the enthusiasm we have for our work remains high, it has been dampened by the recent passing of George Dragas, the individual most responsible for perceiving …

Part 2: 420 In The 757: Marijuana And Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

More than 30 states permit the personal use of marijuana for medical purposes and 11 states have legalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Over 50 percent of Americans have used marijuana in their lifetimes and young adults in Hampton Roads use it at a higher rate than their peers in all other regions of the Commonwealth. We take a look at how a change in the status of marijuana could affect Hampton Roads.

Part 1: Full Speed Ahead: The Regional Economy Continues To Improve, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

For the first time in a decade, the Hampton Roads economy is poised to grow for the third straight year. Unemployment has declined, incomes have increased and output has risen. Increases in defense spending, tourism, and education and health services have fueled our recent growth. Yet, there are storm clouds on the horizon. How long can the good times last?

Part 4: The State Of Soccer In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The "beautiful game" is thriving in Hampton Roads. Two new professional soccer teams now play in the region and thousands of children, teenagers and young adults play on pitches from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach. We look at the demographics of soccer, how the model of youth sports has changed in America and the prospects of growth in the coming years.

Part 3: Mind The Gap: Women's Leadership In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

We examine whether there is a leadership gap between women and men in Hampton Roads. While a gap in earnings can be explained partly by occupational choice, part-time versus full-time employment and the risks of certain occupations, there remains the challenge of women being able to ascend to the higher levels of their chosen profession. We explore the extent of the leadership gap in our region and discuss what can be done to narrow it.

Part 5: Can Defense Save Us?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Sequestration is blamed for many of our region's problems. In this chapter, we assess what would have happened to the Hampton Roads economy if sequestration had never occurred. We compare the impact of sequestration with the drawdown from the Cold War. We ask whether it is time to prepare for the next downturn in defense spending.

Part 6: The Economic Impact Of A Hurricane On Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In 1821, a Category 3 hurricane made landfall in Hampton Roads, flooding Norfolk before moving on to New York City. What would be the impact of a similar hurricane today on the region's economy? We find that a major hurricane would cause almost $20 billion in property damage, create more than 2 million tons of debris and reduce economic output by over $20 billion in the first year following landfall.

A Mobile Solution To Drug Prescription And Dispensation With Privacy Protection For Developing Economies, Kingsley C. Nwosu

Journal for the Advancement of Developing Economies

It is unarguable that many countries within the developing economies have not been able to reap many of the benefits from the innovations in Computer and Information Technologies (CIT) as they pertain to the advances in healthcare delivery systems. The contributing factors to the problems in these countries are multifaceted, such as, ethnic, cultural, environmental, governance, and infrastructural. To address these problems, current efforts have focused mostly on the issues of disease control and management. However, insufficient attention has been given to the concomitant problems of medication (drug / prescription) management especially as they relate to information management between patients, …

Determinants Of Cost Of Treating Water-Borne Diseases Among Rural Households In South West Nigeria, Alaba M. Dare, Idris A. Ayinde, Adebayo M. Shittu, Sammy O. Sam-Wobo, Sakiru O. Akinbode

Journal for the Advancement of Developing Economies

This study determined the factors that influence the economic burden of water-borne diseases and the associated financial cost for rural households in southwestern Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select four hundred and thirty-seven rural households from whom data were collected for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cost of illness approach. The results revealed that an average household had six members with an average quarterly income of N80,717.52 (N160.00 = 1US dollar, at time of study). The sum of N28,571.36 was incurred as economic cost of water-borne diseases per household per quarter in …

All For One Or Each For Her Own: Do Polygamous Families Share And Share Alike?, Kristin Mammen

Journal for the Advancement of Developing Economies

This paper examines whether the mother’s rank (whether she is a senior or junior wife) in polygamous households in Côte d’Ivoire injects favoritism that could lead to differential investment in children (based on mother’s rank), a concern that could cause an inefficient allocation of household resources. The hypothesis is that the younger is a junior wife relative to the senior wife, the greater favoritism she will receive from the husband, and the better her children will fare. This question is analyzed employing Ordinary Least Squares on a Living Standards Measurement Survey microdataset collected by the World Bank. An interesting pattern …

Credit Constraints And Agricultural Productivity Of Rural Households In Nigeria, Olugbenga K. Omolade, Abimbola O. Adepoju

Journal for the Advancement of Developing Economies

This study, employing descriptive statistics and the Endogenous Switching Model, examined the link between credit constrained condition and agricultural productivity of rural households in Nigeria. Findings show that under credit constrained condition, education, labour, technology and other production inputs were not optimally utilized by the households. Credit constrained households had lower productivity than a random household from the sample would have had. However, in credit constrained households, being a male-headed household implied higher productivity. On the other hand, high value of assets and cost of hired labour had negative effects on productivity, while level of education and access to information …

Economic Impact Of Ethanol Biorefineries In The U.S. Midwest From 2001 To 2015: A Quasi-Experimental Approach, Scott W. Hall

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

The objective of this dissertation is to analyze the economic impact of newly operational ethanol biorefineries on rural counties in the U.S. Midwest region for the period 2001 to 2015 using a quasi-experimental approach. Rapid growth in the ethanol industry expanded the number of ethanol plants located in the U.S. Midwest from 54 in 2001 to 173 in 2015. Out of the counties with 119 new ethanol biorefineries, 97 counties met the general treatment criteria defined in this dissertation, but only 56 of those counties qualified for the rural treatment criteria. Counties with ethanol biorefineries that qualified for treatment were …

Federal Regulations And U.S. Energy Sector Output, Joshua Hall, Shishir Shakya

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

A large body of literature finds that the energy sector is important to economic growth and development. The production of energy has negative environmental impacts, however, which has resulted in the sector being highly regulated. While several studies examine the effect of particular regulations on the energy sector, in this study we use the recently developed measure of regulation called RegData to estimate the impact of federal regulations on the energy sector. We employ a panel ARDL model to find an inverted U-shaped relationship between federal regulations and U.S. energy sector output. Federal regulations appear to increase energy sector outputs …

A Role For Regional Science In Analyzing Water Issues, Christa D. Court, Elham Erfanian

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

The World Economic Forum has consistently ranked water crises as one of the top five most impactful issues facing humanity, alongside but not completely separate from issues such as climate change and natural disasters (World Economic Forum, 2019). A growing population and changing climate will only further stress the constrained water system. Acute and ongoing societal disruptions, caused by significant declines in the available quality and quantity of fresh water around the globe, underscore the importance of water to human life and a functional society. The papers in this special issue highlight the role that regional scientists can and should …

Institutions, Trade, And Economic Prosperity: An Examination Of The U.S. And Mexican States, Dean Stansel, Meg Patrick Tuszynski

Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Research

We provide the first subnational-level examination of the relationship between the presence of policies and institutions that are consistent with economic freedom and trade volume. To do so, we create a new comprehensive dataset detailing export activity between each U.S. state (that is, for the volume of trade between Texas and Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, etc.) and between each U.S. state and each Mexican state (Texas and Chihuahua, Texas and Coahuila, etc.). Our empirical strategy allows us to explore what effect institutions have on both interstate trade and cross-border trade, and also what impact the national border has on …

Modeling And Forecasting Glacier National Park Visitation, Michael James Kernan

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

National parks have recently seen increased visitation demand. Glacier National Park is located in an area where changes in weather and climate will occur at an accelerated rate. Changes in fire and precipitation regimes are taking place at a time when Glacier National Park is setting new visitation records. This paper uses regression and forecast models to investigate the changing landscape of park visitation.

Findings suggest important impacts to monthly visitation and cycling on Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park are associated with forest fire activity and precipitation. The conclusions of this paper support perceptions about the effect natural occurrences …

Part 2: Virginia's Metropolitan Areas: Moving Forward, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Many indicators of economic performance suggest that the Commonwealth’s metropolitan areas grew in 2018 and into 2019. Unemployment is below 3% across Virginia’s metros, and average wages have risen over the last three years. Compared to 2015, the metros are in a better place today but there are storm clouds on the horizon.

Front Matter- 2019 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Cover, front matter, table of contents, sponsors, and other materials for the 2019 State of the Commonwealth Report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University.