The Economic Impact of the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005

The economic impact of the gulf opportunity zone act of 2005 politicians utilize tax policy investment incentives to foster economic growth and stimulate investment. On December 21, 2005, president bush signed the gulf opportunity zone act of 2005, otherwise known as the go zone act. The go zone act provided tax incentives to stimulate economic growth and assist in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. This research evaluates the economic impact of tax policy investment incentives provided by the go zone act of 2005. Congress continues to use tax incentives to stimulate economic growth even though empirical research on the impact of incentives is inconclusive. Prior literature supporting the neoclassical theory of investment behavior suggests that tax investment incentives that reduce the cost of capital should increase investment spending and spur economic growth. The purpose of the research is to assess the effectiveness of tax policy investment incentives at the regional level and to examine whether these regional incentives create economic growth within policy coverage areas at the expense of the surrounding regions. Specifically, this study addresses the following research questions: 1) Do tax policy investment incentives promote economic growth and spur business investment spending at the regional level? 2) Are regional tax policy investment incentives a zero-sum game, where growth in one local area comes at the expense of reduced growth in other local areas? The research questions are tested utilizing linear mixed-effects modeling, multiple ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and binary logistic regression on a matched sample panel data set using observations from 2002 through 2008. Results indicate that the regional tax policy investment incentives provided by the go zone act did not generate significant increases in key economic indicators included in this study. These tax incentives were intended to accelerate capital spending and spur economic recovery, but do not appear to have had the desired impact. In addition, the results do not indicate that the tax incentives provided by the go zone act has had a statistically significant negative impact on the surrounding region

The Social Security Cost of Smoking

Our paper is an examination of the Social Security cost of smoking from an individual point of view. It is well known that smokers have a shorter life expectancy than nonsmokers. This means that by smoking they are giving up potential Social Security benefits. We estimate this cost and consider the effects on the system as a whole. We use mortality ratios, which relate the annual death probabilities of smokers and nonsmokers, and the percentage of smokers in each age group to break down the life tables for men and women born in 1920 into the approximate life tables for smokers and nonsmokers. We then calculate expected Social Security taxes and benefits for each group, using median earnings as a base. We find that smoking costs men about $20,000 and women about$10,000 in expected net benefits. The implication of this for the system as a whole is that the prevalence of smoking has a direct effect on the financial viability of the system; every decrease in the number of smokers in society increases the system's liability. Changes in smoking behavior should be recognized as affecting the system.

Does the Sequencing of Exam Sections Impact Candidate Success on the CPA Exam?

Accounting educators and CPA Exam candidates are always looking for ways to increase exam pass rates. While many studies have identified factors that increase exam performance, very little research has been done concerning the order in which CPA Exam sections should be taken by exam candidates. This study extends prior research by examining pass rates for individual CPA Exam sections. Findings indicate that while first-time candidates typically take the BEC section first, evidence suggests that it might be more beneficial to take the FAR section of the CPA Exam first

Recent Legal Literature

Washburn: A Treatise on the American law of Real Property; Frost: A Treatise on Guaranty Insuranc

Illustrative Cases on Equity Jurisprudence

“‘Hutchins & Bunker’s Illustrative Cases on Equity Jurisprudence” is a recently published collection of 286 cases, selected by Dean Harry B. Hutchins and Prof. Robert E. Bunker, both of the University of Michigan. These cases cover the entire subject of Equity Jurisprudence, and are classified according to the arrangement that is followed in Eaton on Equity….” -- American Law School Review 1, no.1 (1902): 30, “Recent Legal Publications.”https://repository.law.umich.edu/books/1080/thumbnail.jp

Hydrology of carbonate aquifers in southwestern Linn County and adjacent parts of Benton, Iowa, and Johnson counties, Iowa

https://ir.uiowa.edu/igs_wsb/1014/thumbnail.jp

Compilation Report Timeliness in Local Governments: An Investigation of Entities Exceeding State Deadlines

This study identifies variables that influence compilation report timeliness in governments. Logistic regression is used to estimate effects of several variables of interest on the incidence of filing reports after state filing deadlines. Ordinary-least-squares regression is used to estimate the effect of those variables on the time it takes to file compilation reports with the state auditor’s office. The number of auditors’ findings was found to be associated with longer compilation report delay and late compilations. Travel distance between the auditor’s office and the client’s office was found to be associated with longer compilation report delay and late compilation reports

An Analysis of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Ratings of Lean Versus Non-Lean Companies

Lean manufacturing is a business philosophy concerned with continually eliminating waste from business processes while producing quality products with greater efficiency. In addition to profits, organizations worldwide are beginning to focus on environmental, social, and corporate-governance (ESG) factors because of the changing global environment. The Environmental Protection Agency has specifically stated that many organizations have found that implementing lean manufacturing concepts and tools results in improvements in environmental performance. This study uses a matched-pairs design, matching lean companies with non-lean companies, and assesses whether lean companies experienced better Sustainalytics ESG risk ratings than non-lean companies. Results show that lean companies achieved more favorable ratings in environmental, social, and corporate-governance factors than did non-lean companies