Workers' Compensation Under Alternative Insurance Arrangements

The authors use a unique panel data set of state-level data for 48 jurisdictions between 1975 and 1995 to explore the effects of insurance arrangements on workplace safety, the structure of the workers' compensation insurance market, and the employers' costs of workers' compensation insurance. In addition, we examine the trade-off between the benefit adequacy and affordability objectives of state workers' compensation programs and estimate the impact that the imposition of federal standards for benefit adequacy would have on workers' compensation costs

The Employers' cost of Workers' Compensation Insurance: Magnitudes, Determinants, and Public Policy

This paper presents estimates of the average cost of the workers' compensation insurance program for a homogeneous group of employers by state. These estimates are of interest because they reflect the operation, direct nominal costs, and efficiency of workers' compensation. The paper estimates cost equations for a variety of alternative specifications. The main finding is that when cost equations are estimated by ordinary least squares there is a unit elasticity of costs with respect to benefits, but instrumental variable estimates of the effect of benefits yield a greater than unit elasticity. The results also indicate that the presence of a state insurance fund is associated with higher average costs to employers, all else equal. Finally, we explore the impact that the minimum standards recommended by the National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws would have on workers' compensation costs.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUES FOR A CONVENIENCE LEARNING COURSE

This paper explores and analyzes supply and demand of university-level convenience learning courses. Procedures involve use of microeconomic theory to conceptually analyze supply, demand, benefits and costs and a case study comparison of a traditional course to a convenience learning course that has been offered for three years.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Agricultural Health and Safety: A Research Agenda for Agricultural Economists

Replaced with revised version of paper 01/26/06.Health Economics and Policy, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,