In certain situations, information costs and training related externalities may lead to under investment in human capital, i.e., a non-Pareto equilibrium in which marginal social return to human capital investment exceeds its marginal social cost. When this situation occurs, it may be economically sound to have the public sector make selected human capital investments. The purpose of this thesis is to assess the comparative cost-effectiveness of two general types of publicly funded training programs: those with explicit training and employment agreements between firm representatives and training officials as characterized by State Customized Training (SCT) and those with no such agreements as characterized by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) programs. The methodology was to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the benefits to the programs' graduates and the costs to the public over various working-life scenarios and discount rates. The benefit-cost ratios were higher for SCT for every scenario tested. The conclusion reached was to the extent that SCT and CETA are representative of agreement/non-agreement types of training programs, training programs with training and employment agreements are more cost-effective than those programs without such agreements. / Master of Arts

Public and private concern over the decline of Virginia's oyster industry prompted the General Assembly (GA) in 1977 and 1983 to commission its Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to examine the State's oyster grounds management policies. In response to JLARC's findings the GA directed Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to construct and implement an oyster fisheries management plan. The GA set as the plan's objective to achieve the greatest production level possible subject to limits of physical resource availability and technical feasibility. That the plan should be attentive to cost-effectiveness was also expressed by the GA. In developing its management plan VMRC must consider a variety of environmental, economic and political factors affecting the production and harvest of market oysters. A linear programming model developed for VMRC's use in evaluating alternative oyster grounds management strategies is described. The objective of the programming model is to minimize the public plus private cost of producing a prespecified level of market oyster harvest over a ten year planning horizon. The model includes as its activities the different aquacultural techniques used by private planters and VMRC in its repletion program. The many environmental, economic and political factors are incorporated into the model's constraints and technical coefficients. Several management alternatives are evaluated with the model. The results of these analyses indicate that without a fundamental in the oyster repletion program, even if new oyster grounds management policies are considered, there would be little change in public grounds market oyster harvest over current levels. Under revised repletion program practices, however, marked increases in public grounds harvest could be effected for relatively small increases in repletion program budget allocations over current levels. / Master of Science

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies have proven to be effective at increasing agricultural productivity and have been credited for providing economic, health, and environmental benefits in many developing countries. In South Asia, population growth and the increasing demand for nutritious foods have put pressure on farmers to produce more food with a relatively inelastic supply of land. Productivity enhancing practices, like IPM, have helped some farmers to meet this demand; however, with over 50 million farmers in Bangladesh and Nepal it is difficult to reach them with information about new agricultural technologies. This study evaluates the current IPM dissemination strategy being implemented by the Bangladesh Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and uses a linear programming (LP) model to propose alternative strategies that may extend the total benefits from IPM technologies. Additionally, using data from a household survey, a bivariate probit model and a two-step endogenous participation model are used to identify factors that may influence both knowledge and adoption of IPM practices in three regions of Nepal. The results from the LP model suggest that more farmers could be effectively reached by reallocating funding that is currently used for interpersonal communications (i.e. extension agent visits and farmer field schools) to more widespread methods such as mass media and field days. The model also suggests that a dynamic dissemination strategy is necessary to encourage adoption of IPM technologies with differing characteristics and levels of complexity. The econometric analysis suggests that farmers with "network linkages" to agricultural information and inputs, such as membership in a farmer organization, are more likely to be aware of IPM and to adopt IPM practices. The survey data also suggest that farmers who are members of Marketing Planning Committees (MPC) may be more likely to adopt more IPM practices when compared to non-members. Overall, the study suggests that strategically disseminating IPM information is vital to promote the adoption of these technologies in South Asia. / Master of Science

The economic rationale for public intervention in decisions regarding landslide hazard mitigation was examined through a cost-benefit analysis. A study area in Cincinnati, Ohio was used to test whether a public agency decision rule is suboptimal to a private decision rule in maximizing net benefits from landslide mitigation. A 1985 U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) report on landslide mitigation in Cincinnati, Ohio formed the basis for the cost-benefit analysis. Expected gross benefits from mitigation were determined by multiplying the probability of a landslide by an estimate of the property damages. A landslide probability model developed by the U.S.G.S. was tested against data for a study area in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A Spearman rank correlation test, comparing actual and predicted landslide occurrence, indicated that the model is a good predictor and could be used to predict landslides in other areas of similar geology. Due to the poor quality of data on actual landslide damages, a regression equation was estimated to predict the actual damages resulting from a landslide in the Cincinnati study area. A cost-benefit analysis was performed for the Cincinnati study area using three different approaches to measuring property damages. The results of the analysis support the hypothesis. In the most extreme case, annualized net benefits from mitigation are equal to $2.1 million under the private decision rule compared with only $1.6 million under the public agency decision rule. / Master of Arts

Climate change (CC) science has made significant progress in development of predictive models. Despite these recent advances, the assessment of CC impacts in urban watersheds remains an area of active research, in part due to the small temporal and spatial scales needed to adequately characterize urban systems. Urban watersheds have been the focus of considerable efforts to restore hydrology and water quality, and the aquatic habitat of receiving waters, yet CC impacts threaten to reduce the effectiveness of these efforts. Thus, assessing the impacts of CC in urban watershed assessment are essential for assuring the success of water quality improvement programs and is an important research need. Simulations of CC for the 2041-2068 period were developed using downscaled Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the North American Regional CC Assessment Program (NARCCAP) and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) to forecast precipitation and temperature time series. This data were then used to force a Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of the Difficult Run watershed of Fairfax County, Virginia, a tributary of Potomac River, which flows into Chesapeake Bay. NARCCAP uses a scenario represents a medium-high greenhouse gas emissions assumption, A2; the latter, uses five GCMs, and two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) scenarios in an ensemble approach to better assess variability of model predictions in presenting precipitation, temperature, runoff quantity and quality. Then, the effects of CC on runoff peak, volume, and nutrient and sediment loads delivered to the Chesapeake Bay and on the treatment performance of a very common stormwater control measure (SCM), retention ponds, was assessed. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) systems are an unusual SCM in that they recycle and reuse stormwater, normally from rooftops, and increase water supply and reduce runoff. The efficiency of RWH systems for projected CC for these dual purposes was assessed. NARCAAP data for selected locations across the U.S. were statistically downscaled using a modified version of the equiratio cumulative distribution function matching method to create a time series of projected precipitation and temperature. These data were used to force a simulation model, the Rainwater Analysis and Simulation Program (RASP) to assess the impacts of CC on RWH with respect to the reliability of water supply and runoff capture. To support CC modeling, an easy-to-use software tool, RSWMM-Cost, was developed. RSWMM-Cost automates the execution of SWMM, which is commonly used for simulating urban watersheds. Several features were incorporated into the RSWMM-Cost tool, including automated calibration, sensitivity analysis, and cost optimization modules; the latter can assist in identifying the most cost-effective combination of SCMs in an urban watershed. As an example, RSWMM-Cost was applied to a headwater subcatchment the Difficult Run watershed. / Ph. D. / Urban watersheds have been the focus of considerable efforts to restore water quantity and quality, and the aquatic habitat of receiving waters, yet climate change impacts threaten to reduce the effectiveness of these efforts. The assessment of climate change impacts in urban watersheds remains an area of active research, in part due to the small temporal and spatial scales needed to adequately characterize urban systems. Thus, assessing the impacts of climate change in urban watershed assessment are essential for assuring the success of water quality improvement programs and is an important research need. In this study, simulations of climate change for the 2041-2068 period were developed to forecast precipitation and temperature data. These data were then used to force a hydrologic model for the Difficult Run watershed of Fairfax County, Virginia, a tributary of Potomac River, which flows into Chesapeake Bay. Then, the effects of climate change on runoff, nutrient and sediment loads delivered to the Chesapeake Bay and on the treatment efficiency of a very common management practice called retention ponds, was assessed. Rainwater harvesting systems are an unusual management practice that recycle and reuse stormwater, normally from rooftops, and increase water supply and reduce runoff. The efficiency of rainwater harvesting systems for projected climate change with respect to the reliability of water supply and runoff capture was assessed for the 2041-2068 period. To support climate change modeling, an easy-to-use tool, was also developed to select the most cost-optimized combination of best management practices in urban watersheds considering site constraints, limitations, and size. As an example, the tool was applied to a headwater subcatchment of the Difficult Run watershed. The ability to assess the impact of climate change on both hydrologic and water quality treatment could assist in the selection of the most appropriate management practices to address water management goals and conserve limited financial resources.

Using geotextiles in secondary roads to stabilize weak subgrades has been a well accepted practice over the past thirty years. However, from an economical point of view, a complete life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), which includes not only costs to agencies but also costs to users, is urgently needed to assess the benefits of using geotextile in secondary road flexible pavement. In this study, a comprehensive life cycle cost analysis framework was developed and used to quantify the initial and the future cost of 25 representative design alternatives. A 50 year analysis cycle was used to compute the cost-effectiveness ratio for the design methods. Four flexible pavement design features were selected to test the degree of influence of the frame's variables. The analysis evaluated these variables and examined their impact on the results. The study concludes that the cost effectiveness ratio from the two design methods shows that the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio using Al-Qadi's design method is 1.7 and the highest is 3.2. The average is 2.6. For Perkins' design method, the lowest value is 1.01 and the highest value is 5.7. The average is 2.1. The study also shows when user costs are considered, the greater TBR value may not result in the most effective life-cycle cost. Hence, for an optimum secondary road flexible pavement design with geotextile incorporated in the system, a life cycle cost analysis that includes user cost must be performed. / Master of Science

M.S.

Public school teachers have, with few exceptions, invested four or more years in higher education to prepare themselves for the teaching profession. These four years of college education can be viewed as an investment when one realizes that the teacher had to pay for that education and could have otherwise been earning an income during that time. Some teachers make an additional investment in education by earning a master's degree or a doctorate. This study looked at the practice of teachers in Virginia who decide to make the additional investment in graduate education at selected Virginia institutions of higher education. This study used econometric methods to analyze this investment in graduate education. Social benefits and costs of education were not included in the study. Private costs included both direct and indirect acquisition costs. The salary supplements paid by school divisions to teachers who hold an advanced degree were used as the private benefits. Non-pecuniary benefits were not included in the study. Net present valuation, discounted benefits and costs, benefit-cost ratio, and internal rate of return calculations were made. Data from similar studies done in other areas of graduate study and in other areas of the nation and world were reviewed. The purpose of the study was to review the practice of all school divisions in Virginia which provide a salary supplement to teachers who hold a master's degree or a doctorate, and also to analyze the costs involved in the acquisition of such degrees. The cost-benefit analysis of the teachers' investment in graduate education provides information which can be used by teachers who are considering such an investment. The analysis can also be used by those school divisions which are currently spending considerable amounts of money for such salary supplements. The cost-benefit analysis of acquiring a master's degree with a subsequent change from the classroom to an administrative position has implications for school divisions and state level policy makers. / Ed. D.

A prototype cost estimating tool was built using an iterative design approach to help training managers assess the impact of changes in the training environment on course life cycle costs. In the first of two evaluations, training managers evaluated the prototype tools during a demonstration for both functionality and face validity in their environment. They also evaluated the usefulness of different levels of graphics and detail in a guide designed to assist the user with the tool. Feedback from the first evaluation was used to revise the prototype tool, and the guide usefulness ratings were used to select the guide for use in the second evaluation. The impact of the guide on performance with the tool was analyzed in a second evaluation. The second evaluation analyzed the difference in performance of two groups. The first group only had the users manual to help them solve the problems. The second group had the users manual and a performance aid to help them. Subjects' performance was compared on the number of spreadsheets used, number of errors made, and the amount of time they took to complete the tasks. The two groups did not significantly differ on these measures. / Ph. D.

Yes / Preliminary evidence suggests that goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation (CR) may be a clinically effective intervention for people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, vascular or mixed dementia and their carers. This study aims to establish whether CR is a clinically effective and cost-effective intervention for people with early-stage dementia and their carers. Methods/design: In this multi-centre, single-blind randomised controlled trial, 480 people with early-stage dementia, each with a carer, will be randomised to receive either treatment as usual or cognitive rehabilitation (10 therapy sessions over 3 months, followed by 4 maintenance sessions over 6 months). We will compare the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation with that of treatment as usual with regard to improving self-reported and carer-rated goal performance in areas identified as causing concern by people with early-stage dementia; improving quality of life, self-efficacy, mood and cognition of people with early-stage dementia; and reducing stress levels and ameliorating quality of life for carers of participants with early-stage dementia. The incremental cost-effectiveness of goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation compared to treatment as usual will also be examined. Discussion: If the study confirms the benefits and cost-effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation, it will be important to examine how the goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation approach can most effectively be integrated into routine health-care provision. Our aim is to provide training and develop materials to support the implementation of this approach following trial completion. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN21027481