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published_or_final_version / Economics and Finance / Master / Master of Economics

China is growing old before it is growing affluent. This situation is not unique to China; at least three other countries are in the same situation. While some of these had family planning campaigns, none had a one-child policy which implies that one-child policy is not the direct cause of this predicament. While China’s working-age share of the population has peaked, any shortages of low-skill labor currently observed in China are primarily caused by the hukou system and its barriers to labor mobility. A reform of the hukou system would secure ample supplies of migrant labor even in the face of mildly declining working-age share of the population. The absence of reforms could mean the arrival of a policy-induced Lewis Turning Point, prompting a premature and potentially counterproductive reorientation of industry. China does not yet possess an advantage in capital and technology intensive production and thus risks falling into the middle-income trap if the reorientation of industry takes place too early. If the Lewis Point can be postponed and the current rate of capital stock growth can be maintained for another decade or two, China might be able to avoid the middle-income trap. Both China’s and Japan’s current pension systems are unsustainable and their PAYGO nature is detrimental to long-run economic growth, especially so for aging societies. It is possible for China to make the system sustainable in the long if reforms are implemented while the transition costs are manageable. Although China is aging, the pace will be relatively slow until 2030. It will still take many years before the country is as old as Japan is a present. A low debt-to-GDP ratio also offers China more flexibility than Japan currently enjoys. / published_or_final_version / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts in China Development Studies

The overall objective of the research reported here is to empirically measure the ability of farmers to mitigate the impact of rising electricity prices by substituting relatively inexpensive alternative inputs. A dual cost methodology is employed because it allows theoretically consistent derivation of own price and factor substitution elasticities, conditional upon exogenously determined environmental, economic and technological constraints. Furthermore, the framework allows for an assessment of the appropriateness of producer cost minimization behavior, which has been assumed but not explicitly tested in earlier studies. A secondary objective is to analyze possible implications of future irrigation electricity price changes on producer, regional economic and electric utility company welfare. The most notable finding is that the demand for irrigation electricity is quite price elastic. This indicates that, historically, when the price of electricity has been relatively high, producers have found ways to use less of this input. The derived price elasticity of demand for irrigation electricity (-1.45) confirms results of other researchers. Gardener and Young; Whittlesey; and Maddigan, Chern and Rizy all estimated price elasticity for irrigation in the range from -1 to -2. Tests of the conditions necessary to maintain the assumption of cost minimization, do not confirm that this assumption is strictly justified in the present study. / Graduation date: 1988

The main objective of this study was to evaluate alternative marketing strategies involving options on live cattle futures contracts during the period of 1966-85. To predict the option premiums that would have occurred at various points in this period of time, the study did research on market premiums of options on live cattle futures contracts from October 30, 1984, to November 22, 1985. The research showed that actual premiums conform closely to the premiums estimated by the Black model of option pricing. The generalized stochastic dominance with absolute risk aversion function intervals is demonstrated in the study in order to make the evaluation. The results showed that under different risk preferences, the commodity options provide the dominant alternative for cattle producers. Options provided protection from losses resulting from falling cash price and in some cases raised average income of hedgers.

The aims of this study were to identify alternative mechanisms for financing nongame wildlife management in Arizona and to evaluate the mechanisms based on criteria drawn from the fields of public finance and political science. A public opinion survey was conducted to estimate support for the funding of nongame management and the employment of specific mechanisms. The results of the study indicate that a combination of state general fund appropriations and user charges would provide the best means for financing nongame wildlife management. In order to gain financial support from the public and the state legislature it is suggested that the Arizona Game and Fish Department focus its efforts on enhancing its image as an agency that serves a diverse constituency of nonconsumptive and consumptive wildlife enthusiasts.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The objective of this research is to provide recommendations and guidelines for building and maintaining a comprehensive Continuing Education Units (CEU) and qualification tracking system specifically for the Continuing Education Units (CEU) and Qualification program. The guidance includes topics ranging from designing, managing, and implementing a tracking program, through post-implementation of the program. This research includes the training needs of all personnel within the IP community, from users to supervisors to executive-level mangers extending to include designated sponsors/mentors and external subject matter experts. The key research focus of this thesis is to examine the risk and cost benefits in automating the training record for the Information Professional community and further discuss interface design issues and considerations to maximize the flexibility and functionality provided by automation. / Lieutenant, United States Navy Reserve

M.Phil. (Mineral Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. (Economics) / Combating poverty is at the frontier of analyses in South Africa today. The study to combat poverty in South Africa is six-fold. After setting the nature of the study to be pursued in Chapter 1, the dissertation analyses the theories of poverty in Chapter 2. The record of poverty in South Africa is analysed in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 focuses on the methods to combat poverty in South Africa. Chapter 5 is a summary of the main findings of the study. A proposed structure plan to combat poverty in South Africa is investigated in Chapter 6. Chapter I analyses the problem and its setting. Reducing poverty is the fundamental objective of economic development. It is estimated that 18 million people in the RSA live in absolute poverty. They live in households with incomes below the minimum income level ofR695 per month at 1990 prices. Sustainable economic growth is needed in the RSA to combat this poverty. Chapter 2 discusses the theories of poverty. Theories of poverty are today in a state of crisis. The alternative model derived from radical and structuralist interpretations of poverty has also proved disappointing. Myrdal's theory argues that poverty is caused by the inequality problem which is closely related to unemployment and material poverty. The minority group theory explains that poverty is caused by the death of the chief wage-earner and chronic irregularities of work opportunities. The sub-culture theory explains poverty as a way of life.