Economic Impact of Vertical Coordination: A Multi-stage, Multi-player Analysis

Using explicit theoretical models, this study analyzes the economic impact of alternative vertical coordination mechanisms in a three-stages production-marketing chain where interactions among multiples players at each stage, among players at different stages, and the price, output and welfare impact of such strategic behavior were computed. Policy implications are discussed.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Effects of Impulsivity and Self-control on Calorie Intake

Neoclassical economic theory models individuals as making consistent choices over time and it assumes these choices are the outcome of rational utility maximization. Recent theoretical developments in the theory of consumer decision-making have drawn evidence from other disciplines such as, neuroscience (McClure et al, 2004) and psychology, and proposed more generalized models in a dual-self framework explicitly accounting for self-control or impulsivity (Gul and Pesendorfer, 2004; Fudenberg and Levine, 2006; and Brocas and Carillo, 2008). This study attempts to understand the dietary choices in a dual-self framework while explicitly identifying calorie intake owing to impulsivity and self-control. We construct standard psychological measures using the responses to the Dutch Eating Behavioral Questionnaire (DEBQ) filled by the respondents of the UK Diet and Nutrition Survey. These measures have been tested for their validity and apply to a broad range of population: of different weights, across gender, ethnicity (Bardone-Cone, and Boyd, 2007) and are used in experiments (Ouwens, 2005).Using panel data methods, we find that impulsivity increases calorie intake and self-control decreases calorie intake. Further, caloric intake is larger than one can restrain and therefore the result of the intrapersonal conflict is positive calories intake on average.Self-control, Nutrition, diet, health, impulsivity, BMI, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, D12, D03, I00,

Benchmarking the Educational Progress of African American and Latino Students in Arkansas

The Urban League of Arkansas partnered with the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas to produce a report providing data to identify twelve key areas of need in the African American and Latino communities in Arkansas and to assist in the development of programs and policies to address them. The twelve indicators are enrollment, expenditure per student, fourth grade literacy and math achievement levels, eighth grade literacy and math achievement levels, disciplinary actions, dropout rates, graduation rates, college going rates, educational attainment for the population over the age of 25, and median income. Data for each of these indicators was collected for whites, African Americans, and Latinos. The data collected for this report is extracted from the Arkansas Department of Education and the U.S. Census Bureau. Data for each of the twelve indicators was collected for ten municipalities of interest identified by the Urban League of Arkansas. These ten municipalities, highlighted in the map below, are: Bentonville, Blytheville, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and West Memphis

TRAINING AND EVALUATION OF VIRTUAL SENSORS FOR ROOFTOP UNITS

This thesis focuses on assessing and extending specific virtual sensors for rooftop units wit

Benchmarking the Educational Progress of African American and Latino Students in Arkansas

The Urban League of Arkansas partnered with the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas to produce a report providing data to identify twelve key areas of need in the African American and Latino communities in Arkansas and to assist in the development of programs and policies to address them. The twelve indicators are enrollment, expenditure per student, fourth grade literacy and math achievement levels, eighth grade literacy and math achievement levels, disciplinary actions, dropout rates, graduation rates, college going rates, educational attainment for the population over the age of 25, and median income. Data for each of these indicators was collected for whites, African Americans, and Latinos. The data collected for this report is extracted from the Arkansas Department of Education and the U.S. Census Bureau. Data for each of the twelve indicators was collected for ten municipalities of interest identified by the Urban League of Arkansas. These ten municipalities, highlighted in the map below, are: Bentonville, Blytheville, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and West Memphis

Estimating the Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling in Northwest Arkansas

Over the past year, the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas conducted an analysis of the economic and health benefits of bicycling in Northwest Arkansas. The study was commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation and built on a previous study completed in 2018. The data and analysis presented in this study will inform regional and state policymakers, funders, and other community stakeholders about the overall return-on-investment from the significant investments in the bicycling ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas

State of the Northwest Arkansas Region 2017 Report

The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is an annual publication, commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council, that serves as a tool for evaluating the economic performance of the region. In January 2015, the Northwest Arkansas Council created a new blueprint for development that outlines the peer regions and a strategic action agenda for 2015-2017. In the three-year plan, the performance of Northwest Arkansas is benchmarked with other contemporary, high-performing regions, namely Austin, Des Moines, Madison, Durham-Chapel Hill and Raleigh. The 2017 State of the Region Report compares Northwest Arkansas with these geographies in the areas of gross domestic product, employment, unemployment, establishment growth, median household income, average annual wages, poverty, educational attainment, research and development, homeownership costs, commuting time, and average domestic airfares. The table below provides a summary of the performance of the Northwest Arkansas region on these measures. Important indicators such as gross domestic product, employment, business establishment growth, average annual wages, and university R&D expenditures showed strong increases from the previous year, while improvements in metrics such as poverty rate and higher education attainment were more limited

State of the Northwest Arkansas Region 2018 Report

The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is an annual publication, commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council, that serves as a tool for evaluating economic performance. In July 2018, the Northwest Arkansas Council created a new blueprint for development that outlines the peer regions and a strategic action agenda for 2018-2021. In this plan, the performance of Northwest Arkansas is benchmarked with other contemporary, high-performing regions, namely Austin, Des Moines, Madison, Durham-Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Provo-Orem. The 2018 State of the Region Report compares Northwest Arkansas with these geographies in the areas of gross domestic product, employment, unemployment, establishment growth, median household income, average annual wages, poverty, educational attainment, research and development, homeownership costs, commuting time, and average domestic airfares. The table below provides a summary of the performance of the Northwest Arkansas region on these measures. Important indicators such as gross domestic product, business establishment growth, average annual wages, and university R&D expenditures showed strong increases from the previous year, while improvements in metrics such as poverty rate and higher education attainment were more limited

Three empirical analyses of behavioral and nutrition policy influences on dietary choices

This dissertation research is motivated by the reality that an unhealthy diet has long-term health consequences, and is one among the most important factors associated with some of the most prevalent disorders and conditions, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and diabetes. Although there are several factors, including genetics, physiology and evironment that could cause or increase the risk of some of these conditions or disorders, behavioral factors play a significant role in the demand for food products. In the first essay, I find that external stimuli do increase calorie intake, and that restraint behavior does not fully compensate for the excess calories. Another important result is that individuals consuming higher calories show more impulsive behavior but, surprisingly, also show high restraint. My second essay finds important association of added sugars consumption with saturated fat intake and with cholesterol intake. Thus indicating that consumers making healthier choices in one nutrient are not making healthier choices on other nutrients. The third essay investigates effect of nutrition label informational campaign that was undertaken as part of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. I find that the informational campaign had an impact only on select nutrients. Overall, in this dissertation, I establish that behavioral factors and nutrition information influence dietary choices

Estimating the Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling in Northwest Arkansas

Over the past year, the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas conducted an analysis of the economic and health benefits of bicycling in Northwest Arkansas. The study was commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation and built on a previous study completed in 2018. The data and analysis presented in this study will inform regional and state policymakers, funders, and other community stakeholders about the overall return-on-investment from the significant investments in the bicycling ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas