Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University

This dissertation consists of three essays on topics in macroeconomics. Chapter One studies whether the rich save a larger fraction than other economic groups. We use The Fiscal Analyzer, a detailed life-cycle consumption-smoothing program, to calculate lifetime net resources, including private wealth, human wealth, and net taxes. We identify a strong negative relationship between the average propensity to consume and lifetime net resources. The average propensity to consume decreases on each component of lifetime net resources except for liquid assets. The results do not change if we consider heterogeneous borrowing constraints among households. Results of models indicate that bequest motives could explain why the rich save more. Chapter Two measures the work disincentives, including explicit taxes and implicit loss of benefits, of the elderly. We use The Fiscal Analyzer to calculate remaining lifetime marginal net tax rates. We find that Uncle Sam is inducing the elderly to retire. The marginal net taxation of labor earnings is extremely high. A significant increase in earnings leads to a higher marginal net tax rate than earning a small extra amount of money. There is enormous dispersion in effective marginal remaining lifetime net tax rates facing households with the same age and resource level. Current-year marginal net tax rates can dramatically understate the work disincentives facing the elderly. Chapter Three explores the different implications of housing price and labor productivity on the skill ratio. I construct a spatial equilibrium model with two skill types of households. When the housing supply increases in the more developed region, the skill ratio in both regions decreases and both types of labor get higher utility. When the labor productivity of high-skilled labor in the more developed region increases, the skill ratio increases in the more developed region and decreases in the less developed region and only the high-skilled labor get higher utility.

Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) are voluntary associations of people with the common goal of encouraging savings and granting credit to members as a means to their economic improvement. For a long period of time, SACCOs have been seen as a way of ensuring savings and investments, especially by the middle and lower economic classes. In Kenya, these institutions have managed to accumulate funds running into billions of shillings, and many members have benefited from them. However, in the last few years, many of these institutions have experienced serious financial challenges that have led to some of them winding up or becoming dormant, resulting in a loss of funds for members. The primary objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the financial sustainability of SACCOs in Kenya. The study explored the influence of financial outreach, financial regulation, corporate governance, size and age on financial sustainability. A sample of 166 SACCOs was drawn for the study, and generalised least square technique was used to analyse the data. Empirical findings of the study reveal that financial outreach, as measured by the number of members, exerts a significant influence on financial sustainability. Similarly, financial regulation, SACCOs' governance, SACCOs' size and SACCOs' age were found to exert a significant influence on the financial sustainability of SACCOs. The study has contributed to theory by applying both monetary and non-monetary measures to profitability theory of financial sustainability. While contributing to empirics, the study has delineated the relationship between the study factors and their financial sustainability status (FSS), as well as documenting the FSS of SACCOs in Kenya. In terms of methodology, the study applied the GLS analysis technique. Finally, the study provides useful information to SACCO policy makers and opens avenues for future research, thus contributing to practice. The recommendations of the study provide insights into how to rescue ailing SACCOs in Kenya and ameliorate the existing situation.

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Thesis (M.M. (Finance & Investment))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2013. / Savings are vital in the functioning of any economy as the level of savings in an economy determines the resources available for investment. If firms plan to invest more than households save in an open economy, resources will have to be borrowed from overseas. Savings flow into the financial system and help provide funds for investment spending by firms. This study draws a comparison between the determinants of household discretionary savings in South Africa and China. This study as well investigates the effect of household savings on the stock market in South Africa and China. Empirical analysis was performed inorder to determine the relationship between household savings and various variables, and the effect of household savings on the stock market. Money and quasi money (M2) is the only significant variable and having a negative relationship with household savings in South Africa yet in China, inertia is present the lagged household saving rate is significant. In-order to figure out the impact of household savings on the stock market, we regressed household savings against stock market capitalization. The regression results revealed significance of the explanatory variable household saving in South Africa and insignificance in China. Household savings have an effect on the level of stock market capitalization in South Africa but not in China.

This study evaluated how well energy savings persisted over time in ten university buildings that had undergone retro-commissioning in 1996. The savings achieved immediately following retro-commissioning and in three subsequent years were documented in a previous study (Cho 2002). The current study expanded on this previous study by evaluating the performance of each building over nine additional years. Follow up retro-commissioning work performed in each building during that time was documented, as well as changes to the energy management control system. Savings were determined in accordance with the methodology outlined in the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP 2007), with ASHRAE Guideline 14 also serving as a reference. Total annualized savings for all buildings in 1997 (the year just after retro-commissioning) were 45(plus or minus 2)% for chilled water, 67(plus or minue 2)% for hot water, and 12% for electricity. Combining consumption from the most recent year for each building with valid energy consumption data showed a total savings of 39(plus or minus 1)% for chilled water, 64(plus or minus 2)% for heating water, and 22% for electricity. Uncertainty values were calculated in accordance with methodology in the IPMVP and ASHRAE Guideline 14, and were reported at the 90% confidence interval. The most recent year of data for most of the buildings was 2008-2009, although a few of the buildings did not have valid consumption data for that year. Follow up work performed in the buildings, lighting retrofits, and building metering changes beginning in 2005 were the major issues believed to have contributed to the high level of savings persistence in later years. When persistence trends were evaluated with adjustment for these factors, average savings for the buildings studied were found to degrade over time, and exponential models were developed to describe this degradation. The study concluded that on average energy savings after retro-commissioning will degrade over time in a way that can be modeled exponentially. It was also concluded that high levels of savings persistence can be achieved through performing retro-commissioning follow up, particularly when significant increases are observed in metered energy consumption data, but also at other times as retro-commissioning procedures and technology continually improve.

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A model of long-haul hybrid-electric trucks was developed and analyzed to identify the economic benefits of hybrids during the 2009 to 2030 timeframe. Variables that were studied included the trucks operating miles, vehicle life years, fuel efficiency, hybrid fuel efficiency, cost of hybrid truck technology and diesel fuel costs. The model was studied using a case study of long-haul tractors to determine the life cycle savings of hybrid trucks during the twenty-year time period. It was predicted that hybrid long-haul trucks will be an option for trucks that have a majority of their operating cost spent on fuel and the truck is capable of achieving an improved efficiency of five-percent or greater. It was concluded that hybrid trucks will become more economical than a conventional diesel truck and generate a savings for fleet owners by as early as the year 2014. Recommendation for further study is enclosed.