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The subject of this study is the comparison of the annual instructional pupil-subject cost in five class a high schools and a determination of the factors in each schools which affects its instructional cost, and finally, an attempt to set up criterion for determining the annual pupil-subject instructional cost in a high school in a city of from 5,000 to 25,000 population.

This research will contribute the literature of managerial ability and cost of capital. This study is the first to investigate the association between managerial ability and cost of capital to the best of our knowledge using Demerjian et al. (2012). Managerial ability is the measurement methodology which is the most commonly used method to evaluate the managerial ability in the literature. In a previous study, Mishra (2014) investigates the relation between CEO managerial ability and cost of capital by using Custodio’s (2013) CEO managerial ability methodology. This method only measures the ability of CEOs based on their experience. Those who have several experiences in different departments and other sectors are regarded as generalist CEOs, while some others who have one specific experience in a department and/or sector are regarded as specialist CEOs. Mishra shows a positive relation between generalist CEOs and cost of capital; it is regarded as the dark side of managerial ability. Mishra explains this relation by the risky behaviors of generalist CEOs. Mishra argues that generalist CEOs have lots of job opportunities. They also tend not to focus on the long-term financial soundness of the corporations—aiming to increase revenues sharply in short terms to improve their reputation. We extend Mishra’s analysis by employing firm fixed effect to its model. We find that the impact of general CEO managerial ability which is defined by Mishra (2014) as the dark side is not significant once the employ firm fixed effect is considered. This analysis assesses the effect of managerial ability on cost of capital by using Demerjian’s methodology. It was found that the impact of managerial ability on cost of capital shows a negative significant relation in line with expectations. More able managers lead to less cost of capital. This finding is in line with literature of the impact of managerial ability on company performance. We also employ firm fixed effects to our models and confirm the study’s findings. It is shown that the relation between institutional ownership and cost of capital is also significant. Further, there were many channels examined to identify possible causes of this negative relationship. It is expected that able managers disclose more information; they also help to reduce forecast error and eventually improve performance. The relationships between managerial ability and information disclosure, managerial ability and forecast error, as well as managerial ability and performance are significant. The channel effects are also explored by employing firm fixed effect, as mentioned previously. All the models present significant relationship.

The primary purpose of this paper is to analyze the research field of cost of voting and review the relevant literature on voter participation. After reviewing the literature, a development of a theoretical framework to categorize multiple variables associated with the cost of voting will be completed. The goal is to create clear, concise, and simple categories that define the cost of voting. This should add conceptual clarity to the field by linking variables into a common foundation. The research also connects the sociological and psychological category of intrapersonal to concepts of social group needs, sense of achieving a greater good, and “us vs. Them" theory. This link to human psychology and sociology will set up future research in the field of election studies to be on a more individual level basis, to better understand voter perception and feelings towards the potential cost to voting.

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This report presents and interprets the Cost/Schedule Control System Criteria, management techniques which have been determined by the Department of Defense to represent appropriate methods for adequately controlling program costs and schedules. Applied to selected contracts of significantly large dollar value, these standards provide for a system which affords the contractor the ability for effective program management and the customer sufficient output visibility for proper program progress evaluation. These criteria differ from typical management methods in that they include a means for assessing the value of completed work in terms of its planned cost. Comparing this with the planned cost of work scheduled for the same period, and actual costs, results in a quantitative development of cost and schedule variances.

Background: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals have been found to be of higher dietary quality than home-packed lunches. Objective: To explore the cost, including time, of NSLP versus different categories of home-packed lunches. Methods: Data from pre-kindergarten and kindergarten lunches from three schools in southwest Virginia were used for this study. Each lunch item was priced, and a direct cost was assigned based on the lunches contents. Time assessments were conducted to determine the amount of time to prepare each lunch, with a monetary value for time computed based on average salary of the respective county. A non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the direct cost, time, time cost, and the full cost of the meals. Medians were computed based on outlier data. Results: The lowest median direct cost was found for homemade packed lunches ($1.55), followed by homemade school lunches ($2.11), then convenience packed lunches ($2.12), and then NSLP lunches ($2.15). When incorporating preparation time, the NSLP lunch cost the least ($2.15), followed by convenience packed lunches ($2.56), then homemade packed lunches ($2.92), and then homemade school lunches ($11.32). Seventy-six percent (n=414) of home-packed lunches contained sugar-sweetened beverages and/or dessert food items, accounting for almost one-quarter (21.8%) of the cost of all home-packed lunches. Conclusion: When time is computed as part of the total cost of NSLP versus home-packed lunches, the NSLP is the least expensive option. In conjunction with the nutritional benefits of the NSLP, this time-cost data may help shift purchasing and consumption patterns. / Master of Science