William Levernier

The Causes of Regional Variations in U.S. Poverty: A Cross-County Analysis

The persistence of poverty in the modern American economy, with rates of poverty in some areas approaching those of less advanced economies, remains a central concern among policy makers. Therefore, in this study we use U.S. county-level data to explore potential explanations for the observed regional variation in the rates of poverty. The use of counties allows examination of both nonmetropolitan area and metropolitan area poverty. Factors considered include those that relate to both area economic performance and area demographic composition. Specific county economic factors examined include economic growth, industry restructuring, and labor market skills mismatches. Copyright 2000 Blackwell Publishers

Trends in U.S. income inequality: Evidence from a panel of states

Many studies have attempted to explain the sharp increase in U.S. income inequality. These studies typically used time series data of the U.S. or compared the trends in the U.S. with those in other countries. We employ panel data from 1960-1990 for the 48 contiguous states to examine trends in U.S. income inequality. Advantages of our panel data set include the addition of a large number of sufficiently similar cross-sectional units and extension of the period of analysis to before the increase in U.S. income inequality. Based on state fixed effect estimates, we find that greater international migration, greater metropolitan shares of population, and increased percent of households headed by females increase income inequality while greater participation rates decrease income inequality. Also, advanced stages of economic development may increase income inequality. Other factors such as unionization did not affect state income inequality.

Variation in U.S. State Income Inequality: 1960-1990:

This study examines regional trends in state income inequality in the United States. Data for the 48 contiguous states are used to estimate separate cross-sectional equations of state income inequality for I960, 1970, 1980, and 1990. Thus, previous cross-sectional studies of state income inequality are updated with the addition of recent census data. Moreover, the model specified includes variables not previously examined, which reduces the possibility of omitted variable bias and provides a richer policy framework. State characteristics are identified that may explain the convergence of state income inequality both during earlier years and in recent years.

The Differential Effects of Output Shocks on Unemployment Rates by Race and Gender

This article employs a recently developed time-series econometric technique to examine the magnitude and persistence of unanticipated changes in real output on unemployment rates by race and gender. Through the use of generalized impulse response analysis, we measure the extent to which the behavior of unemployment rates of white males, black males, black females, and white females differ in response to real output shocks. The results suggest that, while real output growth reduces the unemployment rate of all demographic groups, the effect is larger and more persistent for blacks than whites and for males than for females. The findings are particularly important for understanding the demographic impacts of policy initiatives aimed at inducing changes in real output growth.

AACSB International and the management of its brand: implications for the future

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how AACSB might better position itself through brand management.Design/methodology/approach – The paper attempts to offer suggestions on a different branding strategy for AACSBFindings – The paper suggests that AACSB establishes different levels of accreditation, each having different standards and each having a different level of prestige. This repositioning of the AACSB brand would make the accreditation standards flexible, depending on the resources a school wanted to devote to business education, and the prestige that the school wished to achieve with accreditation.Originality/value – The paper contributes to the literature by proposing a solution that will enhance the value of AACSB accreditation to schools of different resource endowments.

Effects of AACSB Accreditation on Academic Salaries

Abstract The effect of business accreditation on academic salaries is a subject of some importance to both higher education administration and faculty. The present study empirically assessed two questions central to the issue of professional accreditation: (a) Is there a salary differential between AACSB-accredited schools and schools that are not AACSB accredited? (b) Is the salary differential across disciplines greater at AACSB-accredited schools than at unaccredited schools? The findings suggest that AACSB accreditation positively affects both the magnitude of business school salaries and the cross-disciplinary salary differentials.

The effect of relative economic performance on the outcome of gubernational elections

ConclusionThis study finds that one of the most important determinants of election outcomes in gubernatorial elections is the voters familiarity with the candidates. When an incumbent governor seeks re-election, his partys share of the vote increases by about 7.3 percentage points, ceteris paribus. Likewise, when a former candidate represents the opposition party, the incumbent partys share of the vote decreases by about three percentage points, ceteris paribus. The electoral history of the state also has a significant effect on the share of the vote received by the incumbent party.The major finding of this study is that state economic conditions exert only a weak influence on the outcome of gubernatorial elections. Assuming that voters are rational, a major implication of this finding is that voters do not view a governor as being able to substantially influence a states economy. If, during a gubernatorial campaign, voters view the candidates as having little or no control over the state economy they will evaluate candidates on the basis of non-economic positions.The results of this study seem to imply that the outcomes of gub ernatorial elections are determined primarily by non-economic factors. Factors such as candidate personality and positions on a wide variety of non-economic issues that voters deem important appear to be the major determinants of gubernatorial election outcomes.

An Analysis of the Home-Field Advantage in Major League Baseball Using Logit Models: Evidence from the 2004 and 2005 Seasons

Using data from the 4,858 baseball games that were played in the major leagues during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, four logit regression models that measure the likelihood of a team winning a game are estimated. Of particular interest is the effect of being the home team. As expected, the results indicate that a home-field advantage does exist in the major leagues, but only under certain circumstances. Specifically, the strength of the home-field advantage varies with the number of runs scored by the home team and with the run differential between the winning and losing team. The probability of a home team winning a game increases as it scores more runs, but it increases at a decreasing rate. Also, for a given number of runs scored, a home team is more likely to win a game than a visiting team. The home-field advantage is strongest in games where the run differential between the winning team and losing team is one run. It is weaker in games where the run differential is two runs and is non-existent in games where the run differential is three runs or more.

Election outcomes and economic conditions: An application of a logit model

In this paper the author examines the impact of macroeconomic conditions on the probability of the incumbent party winning a gubernatorial election. Using a sample of 265 gubernatorial elections held during the 1970–1988 period, the findings of this study indicate that the incumbent party’s probability of victory is not significantly affected by either state or national macroeconomic conditions. The author also finds that neither the unemployment rate nor per capita income growth affect the incumbent party’s probability of winning an election.