An Alternative Model for Analyzing the Physician-Hospital Relationship in Rural Areas

We introduce a modeling framework called Transaction Cost Economics to help decision makers in rural health care markets choose among alternative organizational relationships in order to more cost-effectively deliver healthcare services. In particular, the hospital-physician relationship is analyzed and the transactional attributes, institutional environment, and market characteristics are identified as key variables influencing the organizational relationship between hospital and physician. As asset specfic investments are made by either the hospital or physician, vertically integrated relationships are more likely to occur. The degree of remoteness of rural areas is also considered to affect the impact of these asset-specific investments.Community/Rural/Urban Development, Health Economics and Policy,

Analyzing Differences in Rural Hospital Efficiency: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

This study analyzes difference in efficiency among the U.S. rural hospitals using a two-stage, semi-parametric approach. Data Envelopment Analysis is used in the first stage to calculate cost, technical and allocative efficiencies of Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and non-CAH rural hospitals. Following Simar and Wilson (2007), bootstrapped truncated regressions are used in the second stage to infer on relationship between the cost, technical and allocative inefficiencies of hospitals and some environmental variables. The estimated results show that CAHs are less cost, technical and allocative efficient than non-CAH rural hospitals. The results also show that Medicare cost-based reimbursement for CAHs has a negative effect on the efficiency of these hospitals while Medicare prospective payment system for non-CAH rural hospitals has a positive effect on hospital efficiency.efficiency, two-stage, semi-parametric, bootstrap, data envelopment analysis, Health Economics and Policy, I12, I18,

Forest resources and rural livelihoods in the north-central regions of Namibia

Economics, Forestry, Markets, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Factors Affecting Outsourcing for Information Technology Services in Rural Hospitals: Theory and Evidence

As health information technology becomes more prevalent for most healthcare facilities, hospitals across the nation are choosing between performing this service in-house and outsourcing to a technology firm in the health industry. This paper examines factors affecting the information technology (IT) outsource decision for various hospitals. Using 2004 data from the American Hospital Association, logistic regression models find that governmental ownership and a proxy variable for hospitals that treat more severe injuries positively impact the probability of outsourcing for IT services.Health Information Technology, Outsourcing, Hospital, Health Economics and Policy, Labor and Human Capital, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, I12, C140,

The Organizational Evolution of Markets for Wood Products in the Southern United States

This paper represents the first case study attempt to develop a transaction cost conceptual model to describe industry evolution of the paper and lumber industries in the Southern United States around the late 1800s and early 1900s. We use transaction cost theory to explain the co-evolution of markets for wood products noting that variation in the level and type of investments made in physical and human capital assets needed to manage paper and lumber miller operations had a significant influence on the use of wood dealer systems compared to more vertically organized business arrangements. We identify some testable hypotheses and areas of future research.Industry Evolution, Contracting, Property Rights, Vertical Integration, Forest Products, Industrial Organization, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, L14, L24, L73, J24,

The Coase Theorem, or the Coasian Lens? An Application to GMO Regulation

We develop a property rights-transaction costs framework called the Coasian Lens (CL). We argue the CL captures Coase's seminal ideas (1937; 1960) more closely than the Coase Theorem. We use the CL to examine how regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may affect contract structures in the global agri-food chain.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Visualizing the Geology of Lake Trout Spawning Sites: Northern Lake Michigan

Geologists and biologists are working together to understand the links between lake floor geology (composition and shape) and the distribution of lake trout throughout their life cycle. Lake floor geology is one of the main factors determining where lake trout spawn, feed, and hide. In support of ongoing research to study Lake Michigan trout habitats, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mapped the morphology of principle lake trout spawning sites. Using the Army Corps of Engineer\u27s SHOALS airborne lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) system we mapped six regions in Northern Lake Michigan in order to identify ideal spawning regions composed of shallow, clean, gravel/cobble substrate, adjacent to deeper water. Lidar mapping systems, which use laser pulses to measure water depths from an airplane, are now available to map the nearshore lake morphology at meter-scale detail. Maps generated from the bathymetric data are used to define regions with smooth homogeneous substrate, regions with higher relief, and mixed regions with both smooth and rough relief. This morphologic information combined with sediment samples and direct bottom observations enable geologists to map areas with rougher relief composed of rock outcrop, boulders, and cobbles, as well as smooth regions covered with sand or mud. This information helps biologists, fishery managers, and ecologists visualize the lake floor in significant detail which promotes better fishery management, species protection, and habitat identification. These maps present the maps and discuss the geology of the six lake trout spawning sites mapped by the lidar system. Where the mapping approached land, aerial photography of the land is combined with the bathymetric data to help visualize the scale of the offshore features. Map and perspective views of Boulder Reef, Hog Island Reef, and Little Traverse Bay are shown on sheet 1, whereas map and perspective views of Trout and High Island Shoal, Gull Island Reef, and Dahlia Shoal are shown on sheet 2. Additional information, bathymetric data, imagery, and metadata are available online athttp://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of03-120/

Organizing to Use Facebook Advertisements: A Planning Tool for Extension Professionals, Businesses, and Communities

The purpose of this article is to explain how Extension professionals, businesses, and communities can use Facebook advertisements effectively. The article is a planning tool that introduces Facebook\u27s Advertiser Help Center, explains some applicable key concepts, and suggests best practices to apply before launching a Facebook advertising campaign