Efficiency of Water Markets under Prior Appropriation: Evidence from Permanent Water Rights Sales in Nevada

Throughout much of the semiarid West, water is managed by states under the legal doctrine of prior appropriation, where those with the earliest claim to a beneficial use of water have the first right to use that water in times of scarcity. In Nevada, as in other western states facing water scarcity concerns, there have been efforts to adopt new formal water market institutions to encourage water conservation and achieve a more efficient allocation of the state’s water supply. Many such proposals are based on the assumption that voluntary exchanges under the existing prior appropriation system do not result in efficient reallocation of water. In this paper, we study water right-level and basin-level drivers of prices of water right sales to evaluate the efficiency of water rights markets under prior appropriation in Nevada. We use a new dataset of all reported water rights sales in Nevada between 2006 and 2019. Our findings show that characteristics of water rights, buyers and sellers, and basins all significantly affect the transaction price of a given water right. We find a price premium for more reliable rights, with a 4.1% decrease in price for every ten years after the earliest priority date in the basin, and no significant price difference between groundwater rights and surface water rights. Our model shows that M&I buyers purchase at only 12% higher prices than agricultural users when controlling for the types of rights purchased and basin of purchase. This suggests that the conclusions of previous literature that many water markets are inefficient may be a result of agriculture, mining, and M&I buyers being represented differently across geographically distinct markets. Finally, through utilizing an instrumental variable, we show that transaction volume has no significant effect on prices. Based on a Nash bargaining framework, our findings suggest that bargaining power lies more in the hands of sellers than buyers of water rights. These findings suggest that prior appropriation water markets may be efficient at allocating water between uses. This motivates investments in infrastructure rather than new water market institutions for addressing water scarcity

Holocene Chronostratigraphy of Dune Fields in Southern Utah: Geomorphic Record of Past Aridity in the Central Colorado Plateau

The southwestern United States is characterized by dry climate, and droughts are common. The region is currently in an extreme drought that began in 2000 CE and has lasted longer than any previous drought in at least 500 years. Models predict greater future climate extremes under human-caused climate change. Understanding of the natural range of climate variability is important to put these changes in context. Sedimentary archives of past sand dune activity can help extend the available instrumental observations (last century) and tree-ring records (last millennium). Sand dunes are landforms that are sensitive to aridity and decreased vegetation cover. They can reactivate and migrate downwind during periods of aridity leaving behind a sediment record of past dune field activity. Research goals were to reconstruct past dune activity the Kanab and San Rafael dune fields in southern Utah. This was accomplished by mapping the dune forms and sampling for age control and sediment character. Modern wind data were compared to the orientation of the older dune forms to determine if wind directions have changed. The Kanab dune field, in southwestern Utah, was found to have been active five times over the last 10,000 yr. The data indicate 1000 yr-long periods of activity separated by similar duration periods of stability. The San Rafael dune field, in east central Utah contained records of seven episodes of eolian activity from late Pleistocene (~17,000 years ago) to the present. Dunes are active today in this dune field with thinner dune deposits and sparser vegetation suggesting greater wind erosion than in the Kanab dune field. Comparing records between the two dune fields indicates three time periods when they were both actively migrating, suggesting regional aridity ~9,500-7,500, 2000-1500 and 1000-500 years ago. Expanding this comparison to existing sand dune records across the Colorado Plateau suggests at least these three periods, and as many as five periods of regional aridity, may have occurred in the last 10,000 years. Wind and geochemical data indicate similar wind and source sediments have been active over the history of the dune fields

Holocene chronostratigraphy and paleoclimate implications of dune fields across southern Utah

Sand dunes are threshold systems capable of recording past changes in effective moisture and aridity, and sensitive to sustained, decadal-scale drought. Records of past drought can provide a reference to past climate variability and expected extremes in an area. Such records provide data for climate modeling refinement, and regional and community adaptive planning. We use optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and radiocarbon ages from charcoal to investigate eolian activity in two dune fields in southern Utah, located 250 km apart in the central Colorado Plateau. Dune forms in this semi-arid region have been mapped and auger samples obtained from mapped units, typically to depths of 3.5 m with two OSL samples from each core. With OSL ages, chronostratigraphic reconstructions are based on grain size analysis, geochemistry, organic and magnetic properties, and identification of paleosols (representing periods of dune stability). Kanab dune field, located 13 km northwest of Kanab, Utah, covers approximately 12.5 km2 and is oriented WSW with active and stabilized parabolic dune forms and sand sheets. Initial OSL results from the windward (presumed older) end of the dune field have identified at least four periods of dune activation between 8 and 0.7 ka. San Rafael Desert dune field, located approximately 25 km southwest of Green River, Utah is composed of multiple dune fields encompassing a greater area (\u3e2500 km2). Linear sand ridges, oriented NNE dominate here, with barchanoid and parabolic dunes present. Preliminary OSL ages identify at least five periods of dune formation between 13 and 0.5 ka. We interpret coeval dune activity the dune fields to represent persistent (at least decadal scale) regional droughts. Chronologically distinct patterns of dune activity are interpreted to reflect local disturbances impacting vegetative cover. Further analyses will refine chronologies of both sites for regional comparison and with existing Holocene climate records

Objective Tests and Their Discriminating Power in Business Courses: a Case Study

Evaluating students’ learning experiences outcomes cannot be considered a simple task. This paper aims at investigating students’ overall performance and the discriminating power of particular tests’ items in the context of business courses. The purpose of this paper is to contribute with this issue while analyzing it, with scientific approach, from an accounting information systems standpoint: two experiments based on a database management system (DBMS) undergraduate course, involving 66 and 62 students (experiments E1 and E2, respectively). The discriminant analysis generated discriminant functions with high canonical correlations (E1=0.898 and E2= 0.789). As a result, high percentages of original grouped cases were correctly classified (E1=98.5% and E2= 95.2%) based on a relatively small number of items: 7 out of 22 items from E1 (multiple-choice), and 3 out of 6 from E2 (short-answer). So, with only a few items from the analyzed instruments it is possible todiscriminate “good” or “bad” academic performance, and this is a measure of quality of the observed testing instruments. According to these findings, especially in business area, instructors and institutions, together, are able to analyze and act towards improving their assessment methods, to be of minimum influence whileevaluating students’ performance

Voting And Lottery Technologies: A Potential Jackpot? An Economic Analysis

Voting irregularities and recount mechanisms used in Florida during the 2000 U.S. Presidential election have brought calls for re-vamped voting technologies and procedures. Many in both the public and private sectors have focused on the Internet as a possible underlying technology that could provide the ease, accuracy, and reliability a twenty-first century voting system should possess. Apart from the difficulties inherent in building an Internet based system from scratch, this solution ignores existing, proven technology, already in use by a majority of states, which could be adapted to provide a cost effective voting system with many desirable characteristics. The technology: computerized, “on-line” lottery systems. Inherently, these lotteries are transaction processing systems, which is what a voting system, at its base, is. Lottery systems are state based, handle vast quantities of transactions reliably, operate under an extremely high level of scrutiny, and are familiar to millions of Americans. This paper examines a lottery technology based voting system from several perspectives and develops an economic welfare analysis of a lottery technology based voting system

Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, Renewal, and Cost-Sharing Policies as of January 2016: Findings from a 50-State Survey

January 2016 marks the end of the second full year of implementation of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) key coverage provisions. This 14th annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, renewal, and cost-sharing policies provides a point-in-time snapshot of policies as of January 2016 and identifies changes in policies that occurred during 2015. Coverage is driven by two key elements -- eligibility levels determine who may qualify for coverage, and enrollment and renewal processes influence the extent to which eligible individuals are enrolled and remain enrolled over time. This report provides a detailed overview of current state policies in these areas, which have undergone significant change as a result of the ACA.Together, the findings show that, during 2015, states continued to implement the major technological upgrades and streamlined enrollment and renewal processes triggered by the ACA. These changes are helping to connect eligible individuals to Medicaid coverage more quickly and easily and to keep eligible people enrolled as well as contributing to increased administrative efficiencies. However, implementation varies across states, and lingering challenges remain. The findings illustrate that the program continues to be a central source of coverage for low-income children and pregnant women nationwide and show the growth in Medicaid's role for low-income adults through the ACA Medicaid expansion

Sampling Methods for Luminescence Dating of Subsurface Deposits from Cores

Study of subsurface deposits often requires coring or drilling to obtain samples for sedimentologic and geochemical analysis. Geochronology is a critical piece of information for stratigraphic correlation and rate calculations. Increasingly, luminescence dating is applied to sediment cores to obtain depositional ages. This paper provides examples and discussion of guidelines for sampling sediment core for luminescence dating. Preferred protocols are dependent on the extraction method, sedimentology, core integrity, and storage conditions. The methods discussed include subsampling of sediment in opaque core-liners, cores without liners, previously open (split) cores, bucket auger samples, and cuttings, under red lighting conditions. Two important factors for luminescence sampling of sediment core relate to the integrity of the natural luminescence signal and the representation of the dose rate environment. The equivalent dose sample should remain light-safe such that the burial dose is not reset (zeroed) by light exposure. The sediment sampled for dose rate analyses must accurately represent all units within at least 15 cm above and below the equivalent dose sample. Where lithologic changes occur, units should be sampled individually for dose rate determination. Sediment core extraction methods vary from portable, hand-operated devices to large truck- or vessel-mounted drill rigs. We provide recommendations for luminescence sampling approaches from subsurface coring technologies and downhole samplers that span shallow to deep sample depths

Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, Renewal, and Cost Sharing Policies as of January 2018: Findings from a 50-State Survey

This 16th annual 50-state survey provides data on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility, enrollment, renewal and cost sharing policies as of January 2018. It takes stock of how the programs have evolved as the fifth year of implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) begins, discusses policy changes made during 2017, and looks ahead to issues that may affect state policies moving forward. It is based on a survey of state Medicaid and CHIP officials conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.Key FindingsMedicaid and CHIP provide a robust base of coverage for low-income children. All but two states cover children with incomes up to at least 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL, $41,560 per year for a family of three in 2018), including 19 states that cover children with incomes at or above 300$8,935 for a family of three in 2018) and other adults generally are ineligible. Alabama and Texas have the lowest parent eligibility limits at 18% FPL or $3,740 per year for a family of three. Additional states may expand Medicaid for adults in the coming year, which would reduce the number of poor uninsured adults who fall into the coverage gap. States moving forward with expansion may seek waivers to add requirements or restrictions for adults as a condition of expanding.Through significant investments of time and resources, most states have transformed their Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and renewal processes to provide a modernized, streamlined experience as outlined in the ACA. With these processes, a growing number of states are processing real-time eligibility determinations and automated renewals through electronic data matches with trusted data sources. Looking ahead, waivers and other proposed changes for adults, including premiums and cost sharing, work requirements, and lockout periods, require complex documentation and costly administrative processes that run counter to the simplified enrollment and renewal processes states have implemented under the ACA

HABILIDADES DE RACIOCÍNIO CRÍTICO DE ALUNOS DE CONTABILIDADE

Educational systems around the world judge student academic performance based upon reading and writing abilities, with evidence of critical thinking playing an essential role. In order to improve business education, a better understanding of students’ critical thinking and communication skill is required. This study aimed at assessing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills of accounting students using validated instruments: (a) Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, (b) Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test, and (c) Flesch Reading Ease (English and Portuguese). Students wrote a short essay that was evaluated for writing quality and critical thinking based on the EW-CTET. Scores provided indications of good writing quality and evidence of high levels of critical thinking. No significant differences (i.e., gender, parenthood, program level, and program stage) of measured reading levels of the written products were found. Elements for improving learners’ performance aligned with their critical thinking skills are discussed along with a deep reflection on how educators would behave as agents of change in the reported scenario. Observed cultural differences in critical thinking related to perception of authority should be examined in further investigations.Sistemas educacionales alrededor del mundo evalúan el desempeño académico de los alumnos con base en habilidades de lectura y redacción, con evidencias sobre el papel esencial del raciocinio crítico. Para mejorar la educación en el área de negocios es necesario mejor entendimiento sobre el raciocinio crítico de los alumnos, así como sobre sus habilidades de comunicación. Esta investigación se centró en la evaluación de habilidades de lectura, redacción y raciocinio crítico de alumnos de contabilidad utilizando instrumentos validados: (a) Cuestionario de Estrategias Motivadoras para Aprendizaje (Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, MSLQ), (b) Prueba Escrita de Raciocinio Crítico de Ennis-Weir (Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test, EW-CTET), y (c) Indicador Flesch de Facilidad de Lectura (Flesch Reading Ease, en Inglés y versión adaptada al Portugués). Los participantes escribieron una pequeña redacción que fue evaluada en términos de calidad de escrita y de raciocinio crítico con base en el EW-CTET. Los resultados mostraron la buena calidad de la escrita e hicieron evidentes los niveles elevados de raciocinio crítico. Diferencias significativas (por ejemplo: género, maternidad / paternidad, nivel de estudios, y nivel en el programa) no fueron observadas en las métricas sobre niveles de facilidad de lectura de los productos escritos generados por los participantes. Elementos para la mejora del desempeño de los participantes alineados con sus habilidades de raciocinio crítico son discutidos juntamente con la reflexión profunda sobre el comportamiento de educadores como agentes de cambio en este escenario. Se sugiere que las diferencias culturales sobre raciocinio crítico observadas en este estudio relacionadas con la percepción de autoridad sean examinadas en futuras investigaciones.Sistemas educacionais ao redor do mundo avaliam o desempenho acadêmico de alunos com base em habilidades de leitura e redação, com evidências sobre o papel essencial do raciocínio crítico. Para aprimorar a educação na área de negócios é necessário melhor entendimento sobre o raciocínio crítico dos alunos, bem como sobre suas habilidades de comunicação. Esta pesquisa focou na avaliação de habilidades de leitura, redação e raciocínio crítico de alunos de contabildiade utilizando instrumentos validados: (a) Questionário de Estratégias Motivadoras para Aprendizagem (Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, MSLQ), (b) Teste Escrito de Raciocínio Crítico de Ennis-Weir (Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test, EW-CTET), e (c) Indicador Flesch de Facilidade de Leitura (Flesch Reading Ease, em Inglês e versão adaptada para o Português). Os participantes escreveram uma pequena redação que foi avaliada em termos de qualidade de escrita e raciocínio crítico com base no EW-CTET. Os resultados trouxeram indicações de boa qualidade de escrita e evidência de níveis elevados de raciocínio crítico. Diferenças significativas (e.g., gênero, maternidade/paternidade, nível de estudos, e estágio no programa) não foram observadas nas métricas sobre níveis de facilidade de leitura dos produtos escritos gerados pelos participantes. Elementos para o aprimoramento de desempenho dos participantes alinhados com suas habilidades de raciocínio crítico são discutidos juntamente com reflexão profunda sobre comportamento de educadores como agentes de mudança neste cenário. Sugere-se que diferenças culturais sobre raciocínio crítico observadas neste estudo relacionadas com a percepção de autoridade sejam examinadas em futuras investigações