Regional Economics Commons^™

Alternate Input-Output Matrix Updating Formulations, Randall Jackson, Alan T. Murray

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

There has been a recent resurgence of interest in biproportional adjustment methods for updating and interpreting change in matrix representations of regional structures, most commonly input-output accounts. Although the biproportional method, commonly called the RAS technique in the input-output literature, has been shown to have a number of theoretically appealing properties, various alternatives do exist. In this paper, we develop and assess empirically a number of alternatives, comparing performance and examining attributes of these adjustment methods. Two of these are sign-preserving updating methods for use when tables contain both positive and negative entries. One of these is shown to generate …

State Minimum Wage Laws And The Migration Of The Poor, Brian Cushing

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

A substantial literature considers migration of the poor, mostly focusing on the relative importance of welfare programs versus labor market opportunities in the migration decisions of the poor. Likewise, a growing literature investigates the effect of changes in the minimum wage on U.S. poverty, focusing exclusively on the federal minimum wage. These two literatures have not intersected to examine how minimum wage laws influence migration decisions of the poor. Real federal minimum wages, minimum wage coverage, and state minimum wage laws all vary spatially. This research investigates the extent to which federal and state minimum wage laws affected migration choices …

Estimating The Impact Of The Local Health Care Sector On A Rural Economy Using An Implan Based Sam, David W. Hughes, Tom Walker

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

An IMPLAN-based social accounting matrix (SAM) is used to estimate health care sector impacts on the Morgan County (West Virginia) economy. The SAM is a hybrid of the IMPLAN-SAM, which has an inadequate linkage between industry payments to workers and resulting household spending. An income distribution matrix provides this linkage. This matrix is based on the 1990 Census Public Use Microdata dataset for money payments and on a variety of data sources that account for the distribution of non-money income. Output multipliers and results of a local hospital impact scenario are compared between the original and reformulated models.

A Survey Analysis Of Participation In A Community Forest Management In Nepal, Vishakha Maskey, Tesfa Gebremedhin, Timothy J. Dalton

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

The main objective of the study is to determine which socio-economic factors affect levels of individual participation in the “Ludi-damgade” community forest. The empirical evidence for participation as a function of social status is obtained by using an ordered probit model. The model also estimates the marginal effects of socio-economic factors on different levels of participation suggesting how per unit change in such socioeconomic characters affects the level of participation. Results from the two-stage least squares model also verify that participation in forest management determines the level of benefits received from the community forest. The study suggests that participation in …

A Method For Testing Low-Value Spatial Clustering For Rare Diseases, Ge Lin, Tonglin Zhang

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

This paper proposes a method that tests for the existence of low-value spatial clustering while accounting for the influence of high-value clustering. Although the method was developed in reference to the Tango test, it can be extended to other testing methods. The simulation results showed that the proposed method is able to effectively detect low-value clustering with substantially lower rates of type I errors than those of the Tango test, while maintaining comparable statistical power. Applying the method in a case study of leukemia in Minnesota demonstrated an overall tendency toward low-value clustering of leukemia mortality for males but provided …

Are Travel Demand Forecasting Models Biased Because Of Uncorrected Spatial Autocorrelation?, Frank Goetzke

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

This paper discusses spatial autocorrelation in mode choice models, including what kind of bias it introduces and how to remedy the problem. The research shows that a spatially autocorrelated mode choice model, not uncommon because of, in terms of transit characteristics homogeneous neighborhoods, systematically overestimates transit trips from suburban transit-unfriendly areas and underestimates transit trips in the transit-friendly city center. Adding a spatial lag term into the model specification avoids the bias, however, it also changes sampling approaches, requires higher quality household forecast data and complicates forecasting.

Economics Of Natural Disasters: A Critical Review, Yasuhide Okuyama

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

Significant progress has been made in recent years for modeling spatial economic impacts of disasters in a regional context (for example, Okuyama and Chang eds. Modeling the Spatial Economic Impacts of Disasters, forthcoming). While these advancements are more toward modeling strategies based on conventional frameworks, little has been dealt with the theory on economics of disasters, since the pioneering work by Dacy and Kunreuther (The Economics of Natural Disasters, 1969). In this paper, “The Economics of Natural Disasters” is reviewed and updated for providing a theoretical perspective toward disaster related research. The review is carried our through restructuring the framework …

The Impacts Of Walter Isard On Geography, Randall Jackson

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

In the course of preparing this paper, which initially focused solely on identifying the impacts of input-output analysis on geography, a much broader perspective on the impacts of Walter Isard on geography ultimately emerged. In the tradition of input-output analysis, these impacts are grouped into direct, indirect, and induced effects, and summarized under the heading of influence. Walter Isard touched the lives of many through personal relationships, books and articles, and an energetic devotion to and enthusiasm for the creation of a regional science association. The Regional Science Association and its publications supported something of a greenhouse environment in which …

Local Economic Development Policies, Timothy J. Bartik

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

This chapter seeks to provide useful advice for local government policy towards economic development programs. The chapter: reviews the size and scope of local economic development programs in the United States; critically analyzes the various rationales offered for these programs; makes recommendations for what local policy should do about business attraction and incentives, business retention, new business development, high technology development, brownfield development, distressed neighborhoods, and downtowns; and discusses how local economic development programs should be organized, managed, and evaluated.

Getting Back On The Horse: Drought Response In 2003, Matthew A. Diersen

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Indiana Women And Their Roles In The Works Progress Administration: Familiar Roles, New Opportunities, Tamara S. Ayer

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For American women, the 1920s were a time of advancement in several areas. They enjoyed a greater role in public life through their involvement in social issues of the day and their fights for the right to vote, and they were seeking and attaining higher education in greater numbers than ever before. Most importantly, though, were the steps American women took toward more representation in the world of work. On the cusp of the Great Depression, more women entered the work force than ever before. They secured jobs in fields traditionally deemed "women's work" such as social workers, teachers, nurses …

Us And European Trends And Policies Regarding Organic Agriculture, Thomas L. Dobbs

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Impacts Of Local Economic Development Policies On Local Economic Outcomes: What Has Been Done And What Is Doable?, Timothy J. Bartik

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

This paper argues that more rigorous evaluations of local economic development policies are feasible. Programs that aid selected small firms can be rigorously evaluated using an experimental approach, without excluding firms from assistance, by randomly assigning some firms to receive more intense marketing efforts by the program. Programs that aid distressed local areas can be rigorously evaluated by random assignment of the program among eligible distressed areas. If an experiment cannot be done, a variety of statistical approaches can be used to compare firms or areas that use the program with comparison groups of firms or areas that do not …

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2002, James V. Koch, Vinod Agarwal, John R. Broderick, Rev. Dr. James Cobb, Chris Colburn, Ellie Costulis, Steve Daniel, Tatiana Isakovski, Sharon Lomax, Trish Manthey, Deborah Miller, Gilbert Yochum, Grace Wu

Economics Faculty Books

This is Old Dominion University's third annual "State of the Region" report.While it represents the work of many individuals connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of the University, or it's president, Dr. Roseann Runte.

Our "State of the Region" reports maintain the modest goal of making Hampton Roads an even better place to live. We are proud of our region's many successes, but realize that it is possible to improve the region's performance. Yet, in order to improve our performance, we must have accurate information about "where we are" and a …

The Effectiveness Of State Enterprise Zones, Alan H. Peters, Peter S. Fisher

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Direct And Indirect Effects Of Drought On South Dakota's Economy, Matthew A. Diersen, Gary Taylor, Alan May

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Economic Analysis Of The Calhoun County Economy: What Needs To Be Done For The Future? Final Report, George A. Erickcek, Brad R. Watts

Reports

No abstract provided.

Education - Human Capital Investment, Richard Shane

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

The Farm Security And Rural Investment Act Of 2002: A Chang Ein Policy Or A Continuation Of Freedom To Farm?, Gary Taylor

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

South Dakota Agricultural Land Values And Rental Practices: 2002, Burton Pflueger, Larry Janssen

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Does International Trade Hold Profit Potential For The U.S. Dairy Industry?, Donald L. Peterson

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

The Integration Of The Hispanic/Latino Immigrant Workforce State Of Nebraska Mexican American Commission Project Report, Miguel A. Carranza, Lourdes Gouveia

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

The main purpose of the study was to explore the degree to which Latino newcomers are being effectively and positively integrated into the economic, social, and political lives and institutions of the state and local communities. The project consisted of three phases. The first was based on analysis of Census 2000 figures, government documents, media archives, and published research. The second phase developed a survey questionnaire mailed to a wide array of agencies and organizations directly or indirectly charged with integrating newcomer populations. In the third phase we conducted focus groups with newcomers and key organizations in three Nebraska communities. …

A Look At Federal Spending In South Dakota, Evert Vaner Der Sluis, Sam Cordes

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Arkansas Research And Technology Park: A Strategic Analysis, Jeffery T. Collins

Publications and Presentations

This study is a detailed strategic plan and economic impact analysis for development of a university related research and technology park to be located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Arkansas Research and Technology Park (ARTP) is an essential component of the state’s overall strategy for equipping Arkansans to compete in the new economy.

It is critical to the economic vitality of the state that new and different types of employment be created. The ARTP is an effort to jumpstart formation of the knowledge-based economy in Arkansas by creating the clusters of expertise necessary to achieve critical mass in knowledge-based industry. This …

An Update On Prices Of Organic Crops In Comparison To Conventional Crops, Sherry K. Bertramsen, Thomas L. Dobbs

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Priming The Pump: Research As A Catalyst For Economic Growth, Jeffery T. Collins, Craig T. Schulman

Publications and Presentations

This analysis is designed to answer several important questions regarding the impact of research dollars invested in the state of Arkansas. We begin by discussing the state of the state in terms of income measures and measures of educational attainment levels. Throughout this analysis, the state of Arkansas is compared to the U.S., to a group of peer states , and, initially, to the state of Mississippi.

Next, we examine the linkage between income and education. We also examine higher education in the state in terms of spending, access and research dollars. From this general description we examine the present …

Scale And Unit Specification Influences In Harvest Scheduling With Maximum Area Restrictions, Alan T. Murray, Andrés Weintraub

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

This article examines alternative approaches for representing a forest region to be scheduled for harvesting, where the primary concerns are maximizing return and imposing a maximum contiguous area of disturbance restriction. One approach assumes that any two adjacent management units exceed a regulated maximum area of disturbance. An alternative approach recognizes that management units may be substantially smaller than the maximum area restriction, so simultaneously disturbing two neighboring units does not necessarily represent a maximum area violation. The distinguishing feature of these two approaches is the way in which a forest is spatially represented. A single time period, 351 management …

Economic Impacts Of Unscheduled Events: Sequential Interindustry Model (Sim) Approach, Yasuhide Okuyama, Geoffrey Hewings, Michael Sonis

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

Regional economic models have been challenged to incorporate with structural changes in the economy. Especially, when a structural change is sudden, unpredictable, yet extensive, such as damages from a natural disaster, conventional models can hardly confront such significant changes due to their assumption of incremental changes. Sequential Interindustry Model (SIM) is an extension of the input-output framework that enables to trace the production process and the path of the impacts. SIM is particularly useful to simulate the dynamic process of impact propagation and of structural changes after a catastrophic disaster. In this paper, the issues and extensions of SIM are …

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2002, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Cover, front matter, table of contents, and other materials for the 2002 The State of the Region report authored by the Regional Studies Institute at Old Dominion University

Part 1: Hampton Roads… A Comparative Tour, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

We compare Hampton Roads to other metropolitan areas by means of more than 30 different economic, social, and educational variables. This section should be a valuable reference