An empirical analysis of the interactions between environmental regulations and economic growth

This dissertation examines the relationship between environmental regulations and economic growth in the Appalachian Region. The study employs county attainment status data as a proxy for environmental regulations and allows the cross-sectional variation of the attainment variable. Cognizant of the fact that air pollution emanates from a variety of sources, the study assumes that per capita income, population, employment, and environmental regulations are jointly determined, which is the major distinction from previous studies which have assumed a unidirectional relationship between environmental regulations and economic growth.;Using endogenous growth theory, a theoretical model is developed that highlights the role of environmental regulations in economic growth. The major theoretical conclusions reached suggest that: enforcement of environmental regulations affects economic performance only in the short-term, while in the long-term, firms become more efficient in production and output increases. In the long-term, environmental regulations lead to improved environmental quality and this has a direct effect of stimulating growth in population, income, and employment.;In the empirical applications, two econometric techniques are employed. First, the structural equations are estimated using three stage least squares. Second, the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) is applied in order to account for spatial spillovers that emanate from neighboring counties. Results from the three stage least squares and SDM model are robust. The statistical evidence supports the theoretical analyses that enforcement of environmental regulations only affects regional growth in the short-term. Additional evidence from empirical models support the \u27jobs follow people\u27 and \u27people follow jobs\u27 hypotheses. In addition, empirical estimations show that changes in population, per capita income, and employment, including socio-economic, political, and demographic characteristics influence the stringency of environmental regulations.;With regard to the SDM estimations, important findings are that a county\u27s regional growth and environmental regulation stringency not only depend on own county characteristics, but are indirectly influenced by neighboring counties\u27 characteristics. Furthermore, results from the SDM model indicate that there is some form of strategic interaction in environmental policymaking among some counties in the Appalachian Region in the form of a race to the top.;The research findings reinforce the need to design and implement environmental regulations that stimulate economic growth and enhance environmental quality. Another policy implication is that besides imposing stringent environmental regulations on major polluting industries, attention needs to be paid to other socio-economic and demographic forces that contribute to emission of pollutants

Review on Organic Fertilizer and Its Roles in Sustaining Soil Fertility in Ethiopia

Organic fertilizers increase the quality and yield of agricultural crops in ways similar to inorganic fertilizers. As the price of synthetic fertilizers continues to increase, manure is becoming a more valuable and less expensive source of nitrogen fertilizer. Crop producers are increasingly buying manure from livestock producers or adding livestock to their crop operations so that they can incorporate manure into their practices. On-manufactured nitrogen fertilizers are increasingly being used as a means to reduce vulnerability to the price changes in fossil fuels. The most common alternatives to non manufactured nitrogen fertilizers identified include green manures and integrating livestock into crop production. These practices, combined with other techniques such as conservation tillage, have shown to greatly decrease the need for synthetic fertilizers by increasing nutrient efficiency and improving soil health. Organic nutrient source improves the physical, chemical and biological quality of soil besides providing both macro and micro nutrients to crops. The improvement in qualities include improvement in soil structure, water holding capacity, electrical conductivity, bulk density, lesser soil erosion, preventing the leaching of nutrients and provide nutrients to soil micro flora. Keywords: Compost, Organic fertilizer; Vermicompost DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-4-02 Publication date: February 28th 202

THE PREVALENCE OF LEPROSY AMONG DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE BLUE NILE VALLEY OF WESTERN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: An epidemiological study of leprosy among different ethnic groups in the Blue Nile valley of western Ethiopia was conducted to obtain baseline data on disease prevalence. A total of 1430 people in three villages were examined for clinical signs and symptoms of leprosy. History, physical examination and skin smears were done. The prevalence rate of leprosy was found to be the highest (53/1000) among the Nilotic people on the southern banks of the Blue Nile River, while the prevalence for Oromo people of the highest altitudes was near zero. For the Nilotic people of Dalati (altitude 1,200 m) the prevalence rate was 18/1000. Although it constitutes a major health problem in the lowlands, leprosy seems to be comparatively less prevalent in the highlands. Possible socio-cultural explanations for this epidemiological pattern of leprosy in Mendi District are discussed and suggestions for further investigation and control measures are given

Assessing Teachers’ Beliefs and Awareness of Integrating Grammar and Teaching About the Reading

Teachers’ beliefs in any field are thought to have a profound influence on their practical decision making. This study examines teachers’ beliefs and awareness of integrating grammar and reading in the  language teaching. Ten EFL teachers were observed for 1260 minutes and similar participants engaged on an  FGD to express their beliefs. The study also employed the third data gathering tools, the document review.  The result of this study reveals that teachers hold a positive beliefs about grammar and teaching about the reading in one way. Their awareness and techniques of making a link between grammar and  reading is too low in the other way. However, this came to show change and steadily growing after the intervention and training on integration of the skills. It is evident that the lack of awareness to integrate the grammar and reading and poor techniques highly affect teachers’ beliefs of grammar and teaching about the reading. The major finding reveals that improving teachers’ awareness to integrate grammar with reading at sentence, or paragraph or essay/text levels can enhance the teachers’ productivity.  Based on the finding this paper suggests that attempts should be made to  teach integratively either by using the existing text or by adapting the materials. Furthermore, teachers would be encouraged to foster the techniques to integrate grammar with reading. The curriculum designers should play their role since most of the existing reading texts failed to inspire the teachers to integrate the reading and grammar in the language class. Findings of the study may have important implications for EFL teachers and practitioners. Keywords: Teachers’ beliefs and awareness, teaching grammar and reading,  integration DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-25-04 Publication date:September 30th 201

The effects of acculturative stress on marital adjustment among African immigrants

This quantitative exploratory cross-sectional study collected data through self-administered questionnaires given to 60 African immigrants living in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles area to examine the effects of acculturative stress on marital adjustment

THE PREVALENCE OF LEPROSY AMONG DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE BLUE NILE VALLEY OF WESTERN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: An epidemiological study of leprosy among different ethnic groups in the Blue Nile valley of western Ethiopia was conducted to obtain baseline data on disease prevalence. A total of 1430 people in three villages were examined for clinical signs and symptoms of leprosy. History, physical examination and skin smears were done. The prevalence rate of leprosy was found to be the highest (53/1000) among the Nilotic people on the southern banks of the Blue Nile River, while the prevalence for Oromo people of the highest altitudes was near zero. For the Nilotic people of Dalati (altitude 1,200 m) the prevalence rate was 18/1000. Although it constitutes a major health problem in the lowlands, leprosy seems to be comparatively less prevalent in the highlands. Possible socio-cultural explanations for this epidemiological pattern of leprosy in Mendi District are discussed and suggestions for further investigation and control measures are given

Telecommunications Investment and Economic Development: Evidence from a Panel of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

The objective of this paper is to study the role of government effectiveness, institutional and political factors in aggregate output and telecommunications penetration in SSA countries. The contribution of these factors in aggregate output and telecommunications evolution is examined using a framework that accounts for the endogeneity and interactions between aggregate output and telephone penetration rates. Results from the study indicate that government effectiveness is an important determinant for aggregate output. Another supplemental finding is that the incessant political upheavals in SSA countries have a detrimental effect on aggregate output. From this, we endorse that SSA countries should design and implement efficient institutional frameworks and mechanisms that will expand telecommunications network infrastructure in both rural and urban areas and thus spur growth and development