John Robst

Liberalism and Interdependence: Extending the Trade-Conflict Model*

The question of whether trade affects conflict is important for public policy. To date, theoretical studies have treated trade or the gains from trade as exogenous. However, a dyads gains from trade are influenced by a number of factors, including foreign aid, tariffs, contiguity, and relative country size. This article presents a mathematical model to extend the conflict-trade model to incorporate foreign aid, tariffs, contiguity, and country size. In particular, we examine how the gains from trade are affected by these factors, with foreign aid, and contiguity increasing the gains from trade and tariffs reducing the gains from trade. Small countries have larger trade gains when trading with a large country than with a small country. If countries seek to protect their trade gains, the model predicts that foreign aid and contiguity will decrease conflict, while tariffs will increase conflict. The contiguity result suggests that conflict between neighboring countries would be greater than observed if not for the mitigating effects of trade. Trade with large countries decreases conflict more than trade with small countries. In addition, rather than concentrating solely on bilateral interactions, the models are specified in enough detail to garner implications concerning the effects of changes in the terms of trade on third parties. Empirical results, generally supporting the hypotheses, are presented using a sample from the Conflict and Peace Data Bank.

College quality and overeducation

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between college quality and overeducation. If workers attending lower quality colleges receive less human capital in a year of schooling, they may require more schooling than the typical person to be qualified for their job. Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a negative relationship is found between college quality and the likelihood of being overeducated. In addition college quality is found to influence the ability of overeducated workers to exit the classification.

Income variability, uncertainty and housing tenure choice1

Abstract Prior theoretical and empirical studies, generally suggest that individuals facing greater uncertainty are less likely to own their home. However, Fu (1995) [Fu, Y., 1995. Uncertainty, liquidity, and housing choices. Regional Science and Urban Economics 25, 223-236] finds the theoretical relationship between uncertainty and housing choices is ambiguous. This paper employs several measures of uncertainty to reexamine the empirical relationship between uncertainty and housing tenure. Results indicate that income uncertainty reduces the likelihood of individuals owning homes at a point in time.

The effect of gender composition of faculty on student retention

Abstract The gender composition of faculty is an important issue on many campuses. Substantial efforts are taken by colleges to hire a diverse faculty where women are equitably represented. Several papers suggest that female faculty can act as role models for female students. This issue is particularly emphasized in science and engineering programs. However, empirical research finds mixed support for this hypothesis. We provide a new test of this issue by examining whether female students have higher first-year retention rates when a greater percentage of their classes are taught by female faculty. There is a positive relationship between retention of female students and the percentage of their science and mathematics classes taught by female faculty. Also faculty gender has a greater impact on female students when their classes have few female students. Thus this study provides support for gender-based programs for hiring.

Education, College Major, and Job Match: Gender Differences in Reasons for Mismatch

Abstract Many studies have examined the match between years of schooling and the schooling required for the job. The quantity of schooling is only one way to consider the match between schooling and jobs. This paper considers an alternative match between education and jobs based on the relationship between college majors and work activities. Twenty percent of workers report their work is not related to their degree field. Work‐reported reasons for accepting such a position outside the field of study differ for men and women. The wage effects of mismatch vary considerably across the different reasons for accepting the position.

Overeducation and College Major: Expanding the Definition of Mismatch between Schooling and Jobs

In this paper we expand the concept of educational mismatch to incorporate both the quantity and type of schooling into a measure of the distance between schooling and work. The wage effects increase as the distance between schooling and work increases, suggesting heterogeneity of both schooling and workers among the overeducated. The transferability of skills between college major and occupation, as well as the reason for accepting the position, is also examined.

Geographic Proximity, Trade, and International Conflict/Cooperation

This article examines the interactive effect of distance and trade on international conflict and cooperation. The effect of geographic distance depends on trade, while the effect of trade varies with geographic distance. Trade reduces conflict to a greater extent when dyads are geographically close, but has a greater effect on cooperation when countries are more distant. Geographic proximity increases conflict and cooperation more among nontrading dyads.

Measurement error and the returns to excess schooling

This paper considers the degree of measurement error in estimates of required schooling for jobs and the bias created by errors when estimating the returns to overeducation. Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, it finds substantial differences between estimates of required schooling. Thus errors in measurement may seriously bias previous results examining the wage effects of overeducation. This paper uses instrumental variable techniques to correct for measurement error and finds no significant returns for surplus schooling.

The effect of worker mobility on compensating wages for earnings risk

The effects of worker mobility on the payment of compensating wage differentials for earnings risk are examined. Previous research consistently finds compensating wages are paid to workers facing earnings uncertainty. However, job shopping models suggest that if workers have sufficient mobility, they may prefer uncertain situations. Here, simultaneous equations are estimated where both wages and worker mobility are endogenous to examine whether workers with greater uncertainty have greater mobility and whether workers with greater mobility receive lower compensating wage differentials. Results indicate that workers facing more uncertainty have a greater degree of mobility. Also, workers with greater mobility receive lower compensation for income uncertainty, although on average this compensation is positive. These results are consistent with the traditional model predictions and supportive of job shopping models.

Access to health care and current health status: do physicians matter?

A number of studies examine the link between access to medical care and health status. Previous studies find little or no relationship between the availability of health care and health status. We examine the issue separately for metropolitan and rural areas. We find that the number of physicians in a county has a positive influence on the health status of individuals in rural areas. Also, older people benefit more from the presence of physicians than younger people. Consistent with previous studies, no clear relationship is found in metropolitan areas. These results support several United States government programmes that encourage physicians to locate in rural areas.