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Changing Soil Degradation Trends in Senegal with Carbon Sequestration Payments: Author: Gray, Kara Michelle; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: In Sudo-Sahelian Africa, erosion and nutrient mining are prominent causes of soil degradation. In Senegal, harvesting grains and crop residue from the land impact heavily on soil carbon content, while the insufficient replacement of soil nutrients with fertilizers contributes to negative nutrient balances. Given the economic perspective of the rational farmer and the dynamic nature of crop and soil management issues, this thesis used a regional case study in the Groundnut Basin of Senegal to do the following: describe and assess economic incentives specific the to the case study region; model ...; Download File | View full details

Determinants of Seller Choice between Auction and Negotiation: An Empirical Application to Cattle Markets: Author: Swanser, Kole; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Persistent diversity of selling mechanisms is well known to economists, but not well understood. A very interesting (but also very difficult) question of what determines seller choice between mechanisms has received relatively little attention in economic literature. I extend the Applied empirical research in this area by quantifying factors that influence whether livestock producers choose to sell cattle using auctions and negotiated sales. Two major factors identified from the existing literature are expected to influence choice of selling method for cattle: 1) relative selling costs of each...; Download File | View full details

The Effect of Divorce Risk on the Labor Force Participation of Women With and Without Children: Author: Genadek, Katie Rose; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: This paper examines the effects of divorce risk on the labor force participation responses of married women. The empirical analysis uses a difference-in-difference-in-difference estimator to compare changes in labor force participation associated with the passage of state-level divorce laws, focusing on the responses of married women with children relative to married women without children. The most important new finding is that married mothers have greater labor force participation responses to no-fault divorce laws than do married non-mothers in states with such laws, even after controlling ...; Download File | View full details

Health (Cholesterol) Information and Economic Effects on the U.S. Beef Industry: Author: Holzer, Brett Matthew; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The objectives of this thesis were to econometrically estimate and test the impacts of health (cholesterol) information as an exogenous shifter of retail beef demand, and to translate these shifts to structural inverse demands and supplies of the boxed beef, slaughter cattle, and feeder cattle sectors. Given the theoretical model, the empirical work consisted of three stages. First, shifts in retail beef demand were estimated through a retail beef demand index equation by OLS. Second, the system of inverse demand and supply equations for all beef industry sectors was estimated using a full inf...; Download File | View full details

The Impact of Wolves on the Market for Elk Hunting in Montana: Hunter Adjustment and Game Agency Response: Author: Batastini, John Walter; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The gray wolf has become a symbol of controversy in the American West. Hunters, however, are one group that has diverse attitudes toward wolf recovery stemming from the conflicting impacts the presence of wolves creates. Impacts on hunters and big-game populations also affect state game agencies. As of 2005, wolves are still managed by the federal government, so the impact of wolves is exogenous to state game agencies. However, state game agencies can exert control over how wolves affect hunters by adjusting management of big-game hunting. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a method to a...; Download File | View full details

Marketing Minor Crops: The Determinants of Contracting Decisions: Author: Jimmerson, Jason William; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The use of contracts in marketing agricultural production has expanded substantially over the past 30 years. In 2001, around 36 percent of the value of United States agricultural production was marketed under contractual arrangements, compared with 28 percent in 1991 and only 12 percent in 1969. The determinants of contract use are not well understood, especially for row crops. The purpose of this thesis is to examine why contract use for marketing specialty crop production varies among producers and specialty crops. This thesis uses a new data set obtained from a survey of Montana Grain Growe...; Download File | View full details

Natural Resource Rents and Institutional Change: Author: Scarborough, Brandon Christopher; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Recent literature argues that nations with abundant natural resources - primarily oil and minerals - tend to grow more slowly comparatively to resource-poor nations. Much of this cross-national variation in economic performance may be explained by the interaction between natural resources and institutional quality. Focusing on the importance of economic institutions in the form of property rights and the rule of law this paper presents an alternative explanation for the diverging economic paths in resource rich nations. Economic rents generated from abundant oil and gas resources may affect in...; Download File | View full details

Prescription Drug Price Dispersion in Heterogeneous Markets: Author: Ohler, Adrienne Marie; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: A homogeneous good is one that does not vary in quality, time, or space. In a perfectly competitive market with no information or transportation costs, all sellers would charge the same price. However, dispersion exists even for seemingly homogeneous goods. A prescription drug is one of the best examples of a homogeneous good because an individual can buy the drug from several different pharmacies but still receive the exact same good. However, prices for prescription drugs vary tremendously among pharmacies. The purpose of this research is to examine the conditions under which price dispersio...; Download File | View full details

Redlining in Montana: Author: Schumacher, Joel Brent; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Redlining is the practice of using the attributes of geographic location of a mortgage loan as the basis for differential and typically adverse treatment of an application. This is a particularly important social problem in the home mortgage market due to benefits which have been shown to be correlated with home ownership. Minority and low income applicants may find redlining to be a major barrier to obtaining home ownership and the benefits associated with being a home owner. This thesis uses a data set collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act to examine the mortgage market in Montana...; Download File | View full details

The Relative Poverty of American Indian Reservations: Why Does Reservation Poverty Persist Despite Rich Neighbors?: Author: Cookson Jr., John Anthony; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: American Indian reservations have per capita incomes $9,000 lower than adjacent counties. This paper seeks to explain why using an approach akin to the analysis of country-level data. I estimate differences in levels of income and income growth for a decade where Indian economies were transformed greatly by casino gambling - the 1990s. I test several recent innovations in the theory of economic growth within the context of American Indian economies and assess how economic performance depends on veto players, human capital investment, and windfall wealth. I find that measures of rule of law, re...; Download File | View full details

Satellite Production Forecasts: Valued with Simulated Futures and Options Trading: Author: Martin, Lucanus Earl; Date: 2005-12-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Both the USDA and private firms are allocating substantial capital towards providing accurate and timely crop production forecasts. Production forecasts based on satellite imagery have been suggested as a means of making forecasts earlier, more frequent, and cheaper. This thesis attempts to determine if satellite data increases information with respect to crop condition and final production. If so, does the additional information have value and can it be used to make profitable trades in the futures market? These questions are answered using NDVI data for Iowa and Illinois. Jackknifed out-of-s...; Download File | View full details

Why do Households Cultivate Landraces?: Wheat Variety Selection and In Situ Conservation in Turkey: Author: Kruzich, Tyler Joseph; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Socioeconomic household characteristics, agroecological heterogeneity, market access, and variety characteristics are used to empirically explain why households continue to cultivate traditional varieties of wheat in Turkey even though higher-yielding modern varieties exist. These determinants are then used to examine on-farm diversity outcomes and how the availability of modern varieties is affecting the in situ conservation of crop genetic resources from landraces. Socioeconomic/household characteristics, agroecological heterogeneity, and market access are all found to jointly influence hous...; Download File | View full details

US and Canadian Cattle Markets: Integration, The Law of One Price, and Impacts from Increased Canadian Slaughter Capacity: Author: Grant, Brenna Beth; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The objectives of this study are to econometrically determine if the US and Canadian fed steer, feeder steer, and slaughter cow markets were integrated from 1985 to 2006. The law of one price was tested for individually defined policy regimes. Price transmission and exchange rate pass-through are tested in each regime to determine the degree of market integration for each cattle market. Regimes are tested for changes in market structure to determine if the policy change had been significant. The increase in Canadian slaughter capacity is then quantified on cattle prices in Canada and the US. A...; Download File | View full details

An Empirical Analysis of Hunting Leases by Timber Firms: Author: Cook, Frank Chase; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Private hunting lease agreements offer an example of the private provision (land access) of a public resource (wildlife). Privately owned forests play an important role in wildlife conservation because of land ownership and recreation trends in the United States. The implicit values in hunting lease markets are important to understanding market incentives of wildlife access leasing. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the underlying marginal values of annual hunting leases agreements. In this thesis, the hedonic valuation technique is used to empirically estimate two forms of consumer re...; Download File | View full details

An Economic History of the United States Sugar Program: Author: Wiltgen, Tyler James; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The United States Sugar Program has utilized tariffs, import quotas, domestic processor marketing allotments, and a non-recourse loan program to raise U.S. sugar prices. The intent of the program has been to increase the incomes of U.S. sugar beet and sugarcane producers and processors. This thesis analyzes world and domestic sugar market conditions surrounding major changes in the sugar program. A theoretical model is developed in which sugar beet processors are depicted as monopsonist purchasers of sugar beets as inputs into sugar production. This model suggests that incentives exist for sug...; Download File | View full details

The Economic Value of Carcass Traits, and Their Differences Across Bull Sales: Author: Vanek, Joseph Keith; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Higher quality beef can only be distinguished from lower quality beef in the final stages of production when animals are slaughter. Because of quality measurement issues it is difficult to determine and value higher quality animals at the individual levels of beef production. Cow-calf producers are the primary supply of cattle into the beef marketing chain. The genetics introduced at this level follow through to the slaughter stage. Cow-calf producers use expected progeny differences (EPDs) provided at seed stock bull sales to make selective breeding decisions. The introduction of carcass EPDs...; Download File | View full details

An Analysis of the Enactment of Anti-Price Gouging Laws: Author: Davis, Cale Wren; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Anti-price gouging (APG) laws are state-level price controls only effective during times of emergency. From standard economic analysis, there are no apparent beneficiaries from price ceilings. Thus, the enactment of APG laws is puzzling from an economic perspective. The passage of APG laws is first analyzed with case studies of all thirty-one state laws. The case studies include information such as disasters that triggered the enactment of the laws, detail on enforcement and penalties, and information on supporters and opponents. This information is used to help determine why policymakers enac...; Download File | View full details

Market Reaction to Executive Compensation Disclosure: Evidence from the Security and Exchange Commission's 1992 Disclosure Initiatives: Author: Sullivan, Jared James Crofts; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The SEC's disclosure initiatives passed in 1992 required increased levels of executive compensation disclosure accompanied by new formats for disclosure. I examine the market response to this new regulation at the firm level. I also test for external information spillovers. I find no evidence that the market systematically values the additional information provided by the new proxy format. I also find no evidence of new information spillovers being created by the new disclosure mandates; lending no support for proscriptive regulations....; Download File | View full details

An estimation of the demand for gasoline in Montana, and projections of future gasoline consumption: Author: McNay, Aaron David; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: How gasoline consumption responds to changes in its own price is of interest to many different groups. States fund a large portion of their road construction and maintenance by a direct tax on gasoline. The federal government also receives revenue by directly taxing gasoline. Automobile manufacturers are interested in how consumers' demand for fuel efficiency changes with changes in the price of gasoline. For these reasons, and more, it is important to understand how gasoline consumption will respond to changes in price. Other researchers have already attempted to measure gasoline demand at t...; Download File | View full details

The impact of family leave laws on Cesarean delivery: Author: Hogenson, Elise Catherine; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Cesarean rates have increased dramatically since 1965, with nearly a third of all births being delivered by cesarean section in 2006. Although numerous factors have contributed to this increase, this paper estimates the impact of family leave laws on cesarean rates. Leave laws led to increased health insurance coverage, thus altering the financial incentives facing both parents and physicians in the choice of delivery method. The laws also changed leave taking by parents, which may have impacted cesarean rates. The impact of leave laws on cesarean rates is estimated using a difference-in-diffe...; Download File | View full details

The influence of political factors on the allocation of disaster relief payments: Author: Zhorayev, Olzhas Zhumadillayevich; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: There are different models predicting a connection between political variables and the allocation of federal spending. A major focus of this study is the effect of political factors on the distribution of disaster aid payments. Using U.S. state-level data on disaster assistance programs, this research analyzed whether a difference in federal funds flowing to states can be explained by political incentives. Empirical results showed that political factors do matter in explaining that difference....; Download File | View full details

Assessing the venture captial legacy: an investigation of post-IPO performance and impact: Author: Cochran, Andrew Carl; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: While extensive literature documents the venture capital impact around the initial public offering, little is known about the enduring effects of venture financing. This paper follows the post-IPO performance of venture-backed U.S. firms in different IPO cohorts from 1970 to 2006, and measures the duration of any venture capital advantages after the IPO. Venture capital strongly correlates with higher R&D and market-to-book ratios ("q"), and venture-backed firms grow faster and perform better particularly in high-tech industries. This apparent advantage for venture-backed firms r...; Download File | View full details

Institutions, third-parties, and water markets: an analysis of the role of water rights, the no-injury rule, and Water Code 386 on water markets in California counties: Author: Dutkowsky, Monique Renee; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Given the apparently large potential gains from the trade of water, why do we observe so few market transactions? This paper argues that policy-driven transaction costs are an important trade-hindering factor. More specifically, this paper examines the allocation of property rights under the No-Injury Rule, which gives rights to riparian users, and Water Code 386, which gives quasi-blocking rights to third-parties, making water rights less clear. Both laws are predicted to decrease the likelihood of observing an active export market and the volume of exports in the county. To test these predic...; Download File | View full details

Human capital accumulation among Native Americans: an empirical analysis of the national assessment of educational progress: Author: Fischer, Stefanie Jane; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Native Americans have low levels of human capital accumulation. In 2005, only 21% scored at the proficient level on the NAEP math test compared with 37% of all other test takers. One cause of their low human capital accumulation may be factors that commonly explain low academic performance among other minority groups within the United States, such as school quality and family background. Alternatively, Native American students may perform low academically due to factors that are unique to this population such as living on Native land or the political institutions that govern them. This paper w...; Download File | View full details

Minimum-data analysis of ecosystem service supply with risk averse decision makers: Author: Smart, Francis Clayton; Date: 2009-08-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: There is a need for models that produce results that are both timely and sufficiently accurate to be useful to policy makers. The minimum-data approach of Antle and Valdivia (2006) responds to this need by supplying a spatially explicit first order approximation that models ecosystem supply by producers. However, producers in developing nations often are observed to deviate from simple expected profit maximization. Risk is one possible explanation for this divergence. This study builds upon the minimum-data approach by allowing for risk averse producer preferences. The study presents a framewo...; Download File | View full details

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