George Langelett

Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Locally Produced Ground Beef: A Case Study of the Rural Northern Great Plains

This study examined consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for locally produced ground beef with an emphasis on the impacts of product attributes and the heterogeneity caused by rural consumers’ characteristics. We applied the choice-based conjoint technique to analyze data collected from a typical rural town in the Northern Great Plains. The results indicate that location associated product brand differences and leanness were dominant components affecting consumers’ WTP. The premium of locally produced ground beef for consumers with a close tie to local production is

Elasticity of demand for tuition fees at an institution of higher education

0.48/lb. Cut difference, grass-fed, and organic were trivial factors in determining consumers’ WTP.

The new intellectual property race: Run, walk, or sit it out? Entrepreneur perceptions of the America Invents Act

Using a conjoint survey of 161 students at South Dakota State University (SDSU), we mapped a probability-of-enrolment curve for SDSU students, consistent with demand theory. A quasi-demand curve was created from the conditional-logit model. This study shows that along with the price of tuition fees, distance from home, availability of majors, and family and friend connections to the school have significant effects on a student’s decision to attend SDSU. From these results, we found that for enrolments at SDSU, the price elasticity of demand for tuition fees turns elastic around the

What Numbers Do Teachers Need to Know to Make Sense of Political Campaigns

9000 price point.

An Economic Analysis of September 11th.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how entrepreneurs are reacting to the recent change in patent priority rules under the America Invents Act (AIA). The authors sought to examine the relationship between a significant change in policy concerning a class of intellectual property (IP), patents in this case, and resulting perceptions and attitudes among entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach The authors designed a survey and collected data from 36 practicing entrepreneurs in the upper Midwest. The survey respondents completed either a paper hard-copy survey that was available at a regional entrepreneurship and innovation conference, or an electronic version of the survey (administered through QuestionPro.com). The survey included questions about entrepreneurship experience, area of expertise, IP use history and knowledge, risk tolerance, and demographics. Findings The empirical findings suggest that entrepreneur practitioners have not thoroughly reviewed FTF, but they are seeking legal advice. Also, entrepreneurs disagree with the notion that they are more likely to innovate under FTF. With regard to entrepreneurial knowledge, speaking with an attorney had a significant impact on entrepreneurs’ attitudes toward FTF, leading them to worry more about how they might compete with larger firms and about sharing their ideas. Finally, after controlling for demographics, the authors find that attitudes toward FTF have already significantly impacted recent past and future intended entrepreneurial behavior. Originality/value While the literature is rich with information about the AIA, the history of IP and patenting in the USA, and the merits and challenges of first-to-file vs first-to-invent patenting policy, little has been done to study entrepreneur attitudes and perceptions regarding the implementation of AIA and its policy provisions. Understanding entrepreneur perspectives concerning AIA is a critical component in assessing impacts regarding the critical area of innovation and new venture creation.

Health, Health Insurance, and Decision to Exit from Farming

he rhetoric of political campaigns is loaded with references about the economy. Terms such as unemployment, recession, and GDP are often used carelessly, without regard to definitions or qualifications. That makes economists cringe and is a special problem for social studies teachers who are expected to know about such things. In this article, we offer a primer on economic concepts that are associated with election campaigns. Such a primer may help social studies teachers better understand and teach the economic rhetoric in campaign ads and speeches. In the first part of the article, we review the macroeconomic forces that drive our economy. The second part contains a review of the economic forces that influenced the presidential elections from 1976 onward.

How demand uncertainty and market concentration affect long-term price instability

The United Nations voted in 1947 to partition Palestine, the British mandate, into two states—one for Jews and one for Palestinian Arabs. Through political pressure, the Jewish state assimilated large tracts of land belonging to Palestinians and through intimidation forced three hundred thousand Palestinian Arabs to leave their homes and land and to become refugees. In 1948, when the British gave up Palestine and the United Nations divided Palestine, Israel became an independent state. Palestinian refugees mounted protests in an attempt to get back their land and homes. Through the efforts of provocations on both sides, the protests became violent. Israel then used its army to attack the Palestinian Arabs. Facing death, seven hundred thousand more Palestinians fled their homes and land in terror. Israel promptly announced that it would annex the newly vacated land as a part of the new nation. Angered by that act by Israel, the neighboring Arab countries attacked Israel so that the seven hundred thousand Palestinian refugees could return to their homes and land. The five attacking countries were also former British colonies, and therefore their newly formed armies were ill equipped and poorly trained. By contrast, the United States was committed to the defense of Israel and gave Israel the military equipment and financial means to fight the war successfully. The Israeli forces prevailed in the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. With the military victory of 1948, Israel had the political advantage in negotiations over Palestine, and the 1 million displaced Palestinian Arabs became permanent refugees. Angered and demoralized by the events of 1948, the Arab League refused to recognize Israel as a state and demanded that all Palestine refugees be allowed to return to their homes and land. Realizing that Israel had the upper hand militarily and that the United States gave Israel

Consumer's Willingness to Pay for Locally Produced Ground Beef: A Case Study

4 billion a year in military and financial aid, the Arab League recognized that the imbalance of power favoring Israel would remain indefinitely. Retaliation against Israel began to take different forms. Because of their frustration at the political advantage that Israel and the United States had in the region, protesters resorted to acts of terror, which became widespread in the Middle East.