This paper investigates the relationship between energy efficiency and owner reported home value using American Housing Survey data. A hedonic price model is developed in order to isolate the impact of home energy use on the owners perceived market value of the home. In order to limit the impact of fixed housing characteristics on the model, the fixed effect regression technique is used. Empirical estimation provides evidence that homeowners feel the housing market assigns very limited value to the energy efficiency of their homes.

This study evaluates the impact of two cash transfer programs implemented by the Mexican government, Procampo and Progresa, on short-term migration (migration for a period of less than 12 months). Using the 2002 Mexican Family Life Survey, a logit model is used to estimate the effect of these cash transfer programs on household migration decisions. The empirical results suggest that Procampo income is associated with higher migration, while there is no relationship between Progresa and migration decisions of household. After accounting for community fixed effects, the coefficient capturing the relationship between Procampo and migration loses significance. These results suggest that Procampo and/or Progresa cash transfers do not affect the short-term migration rate of Mexican households which is consistent with findings in the literature.

This thesis explores the impacts of fiscal decentralization on woreda level spending and local health and education outcomes in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Using fiscal decentralization theory, we predict that local conditions will affect future local spending patterns because local governments possess superior information and respond to heterogeneous preferences. In similar fashion, we also predict that local spending patterns will impact future outcomes. Government collected household survey data and local government expenditure data are used to investigate this theory. While results indicate that some woreda conditions have an effect on future local spending behavior, the effect of local spending on future outcomes is ambiguous.

Gender empowerment is an oft-cited result of microfinance participation. However, research to verify this outcome continues to produce ambivalent results implying that microfinance programs are not maximizing their potential impact. While gender empowerment may be a desirable end to development, it is less often used as a means to achieve development goals. This paper tests the hypothesis that gender empowerment improves microfinance program performance using data from the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and a theoretical framework based on prevalent institutional ideologies. The results show that empowered clients have a higher likelihood of attaining desirable program outcomes. These results can be taken as evidence that microfinance organizations should consider investments in support programs to directly address social impediments to gender empowerment as a way to increase their overall effectiveness.

Modern sex education recognizes that adolescents need formal guidance and information regarding sexuality and sexual behaviors. From an economic policy perspective, sex education is seen as an important tool in preventing costly social outcomes such as teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Previous literature has shown that sex education was associated with earlier initiation into sexual activity but not necessarily with increased pregnancy rates (Marsiglio and Mott 1984). The evidence has also shown that the relationship may not be causal (Sabia 2006). In order to better understand these conclusions, this thesis uses data from the Center for Disease Controls Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Study (YRBSS) to investigate how effective AIDS education policies are in influencing the more risky sexual behaviors in high school students. The results show that for some risky sexual behaviors, AIDS education significantly decreased the probability of their occurrence. AIDS education appears to have had more of an impact than the general or typical sex education programs evaluated in previous literature. However, future research is needed to determine if AIDS education is being provided in a way that is cost effective by making sure that the students who receive it are the ones who will benefit the most.

Modern sex education recognizes that adolescents need formal guidance and information regarding sexuality and sexual behaviors. From an economic policy perspective, sex education is seen as an important tool in preventing costly social outcomes such as teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Previous literature has shown that sex education was associated with earlier initiation into sexual activity but not necessarily with increased pregnancy rates (Marsiglio and Mott 1984). The evidence has also shown that the relationship may not be causal (Sabia 2006). In order to better understand these conclusions, this thesis uses data from the Center for Disease Controls Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Study (YRBSS) to investigate how effective AIDS education policies are in influencing the more risky sexual behaviors in high school students. The results show that for some risky sexual behaviors, AIDS education significantly decreased the probability of their occurrence. AIDS education appears to have had more of an impact than the general or typical sex education programs evaluated in previous literature. However, future research is needed to determine if AIDS education is being provided in a way that is cost effective by making sure that the students who receive it are the ones who will benefit the most.

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an exotic insect pest that has been causing mortality to eastern and Carolina hemlocks. The HWA is currently established in 15 eastern states and is spreading to other states where these hemlock species are found. Hemlocks are an important natural and cultural resource on many public lands throughout their range, and are widely used as ornamental trees in residential landscapes. To date, the economic impact of the historic and potential future spread of the HWA on private residential property values, has not been quantified. As the eastern hemlock is a commonly planted species in residential landscapes, valued both for it?s aesthetic beauty and screening purposes, it is hypothesized that hemlock health on an individual?s private property will affect that home?s value. Furthermore, it is theorized that hemlocks in the area surrounding an individual house are considered neighborhood amenities and will also contribute to residential property values. This research examines the economic impact of HWA on residential landscapes. <br>A limited number of studies have been conducted to estimate the non-market economic impacts associated with forest insect pests. Most of these studies used contingent valuation methods, asking people to state their maximum willingness to pay for specific forest protection programs. Hedonic property value models can also be used to assess the economic impact of a forest pest by estimating how the value of trees is capitalized into private property values. As far as the author is aware, there has only been one published study to use the hedonic pricing method to estimate economic impacts from forest insect pests. <br> In this study, the linkage between residential property values and HWA infestation is investigated by employing a hedonic model. Northwestern New Jersey was chosen for the study site as the HWA has already had a significant impact in this area. In addition to structural housing characteristics, environmental variables used in the model include measures of hemlock health resulting from the HWA infestation, types of land cover, proximity to natural areas and the presence of water bodies. Previously interpreted Landsat satellite imagery data, measuring hemlock health on a landscape scale over the past 20 years, was the source for the hemlock variables used in this research. <br>The analysis for this study spans multiple spatial scales in order to examine both immediate parcel level and larger scale neighborhood effects of hemlock health on the value of homes. Spatial econometric techniques were employed to correct for the spatial dependence found in the data. A general spatial model employing both spatial error and spatial lag terms, with a semi-log functional form was used as the final specification. The results indicate statistically significant signs on hemlock health variables that correspond with the postulation. In the first study area, healthy hemlocks had a positive effect on property values at all spatial scales, while moderately defoliated hemlocks had a negative impact on housing prices. In the second study area, healthy hemlocks contributed positively to housing prices, but only in the larger spatial scale. Dead hemlocks were found to have a negative effect, but were only significant at the parcel level. <br>Invasive species in this country pose an increasing threat to our natural resources, and their impact needs to be quantified from both an ecological and economic standpoint. This study is innovative, combining the work of landscape ecologists and environmental economists, and extending the application of satellite imagery data in examining natural resource management issues. The assessment of the economic impacts of HWA on residential landscapes will also be useful to forest managers and policy makers concerned with resource allocation decisions concerning investments in forest pest management. <br>

More firms outsource information technology (IT) security activities each year, as they determine that they can achieve cost savings or a higher level of security at the same cost. However, despite the estimated benefits, many firms still fail to see a clear positive net benefit from their (private) perspective, given the risks and costs involved. This paper investigates the positive externalities associated with IT security outsourcing. My research suggests that, when one organization decides to outsource its security, both direct and indirect benefits can accrue to other organizations and users. In this paper I analyze how a variety of decision characteristics affect whether and to what level such positive externalities will result. I also discuss implications for public policy and for firm-level decision making.

This thesis uses data obtained from the Rand Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine whether husbands and wives will decide to retire jointly or separately. This paper uses the new data from 1992 to 2006 to show the current prevailing retirement patterns of older couples and estimates a joint retirement function to find out factors that would affect the retirement decisions. This thesis shows 24.29% of couples with each spouse having career jobs prefer retiring jointly. Besides this paper finds both wivesâ earnings before retirement and husbandsâ incomes after retirement have negative effects on the decision to jointly retire, while wivesâ retirement incomes have positive effects.

Economic literature attempts to explain the effect of divorce law on divorce rates. Mutual consent divorce law was promulgated in the 1970âs. Although this amendment was a reflection of the social change occurring in the United States of America, unilateral divorce was still feared because some expected it to increase divorce rate. Friedberg and Wolfers made big contributions in this field of study. Friedberg believed that divorce rates have increased as a result of the law change while Wolfers agrees that an initial spike is clear but argues that the effect of the new legislations dissipates with time. I adjust the data they use to take into account separation requirements which they have not considered or merely thought of as an extra cost. Some states did require individuals to separate for a certain amount of time before granting them divorce. I use the same regressions as Friedberg and Wolfers for the same period of time but with a different dependant variable: divorce initiation rate. My results then differ when aligning divorces with the period when they got initiated. I conclude that Friedberg overestimated the effect but that the effect did persist and did not disappear like Wolfers claimed.