Sponsored by the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics
at the Ohio State University
Winners: Spring 2004 Undergraduate Research Contest
Rules and Entry Guidelines, 3rd Annual Contest, Spring 2004 (pdf version)
Winners: Fall 2002 Essay Contest
Winners: Fall 2001 Essay Contest
Winners: 2004 Undergraduate Research Contest
The Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at Ohio State University is pleased to announce the winners of its 2004 National Undergraduate Research Contest in Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics:
Grand Prize Thesis: “Rural Credit Markets in Vietnam: Theory and Practice”
By Giang Ho, Macalester College (Advisors: Professors Vasant Sukhatme and Gary Krueger)
Honorable Mention Thesis (Agriculture): “The 1996 FAIR Act and its Effects on Agricultural Land Values in Southwestern Minnesota”
by Elizabeth Pennie, Carleton College (Adivsor: Professor Nathan D. Grawe)
Honorable Mention Thesis (Environment): “Certified Forest Products: An Exploratory Study”
by Stacy Alboher, Lafayette College (Advisor: Professor James M. DeVault)
Honorable Mention Thesis (Development): “Is Growth Good for Women?”
by Rong Ling You, Hamilton College (Advisor: Professor Ann Owen)
Grand Prize Thesis: “Rural Credit Markets in Vietnam: Theory and Practice”
By Giang Ho, Macalester College (Advisors: Professors Vasant Sukhatme and Gary Krueger)
Abstract: Rural credit markets in many developing countries are characterized by imperfect information and the co-existence of formal and informal credit institutions. Lenders, especially informal lenders, use indirect or direct screening mechanisms to address problems of incentives and enforcement. Based on this understanding, this study develops a theoretical model for the determination of the interest rate on loans from informal sources. Utilizing data from a World Bank-sponsored Vietnam Living Standard Survey of 1997-98, I also investigate the empirical determinants of interest rates on informal loans, as well as the factors underlying the decision by households to utilize informal credit sources. Results indicate that both loan terms and household characteristics significantly affect borrower’s choice of which sector to borrow from and lender’s choice of interest rates.
Honorable Mention Thesis (Agriculture): “The 1996 FAIR Act and its Effects on Agricultural Land Values in Southwestern Minnesota”
by Elizabeth Pennie, Carleton College (Adivsor: Professor Nathan D. Grawe)
Abstract: This paper provides a quantitative economic analysis of the effect of the 1996 Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform (FAIR) act on farms in Southwestern Minnesota. Economic theory argues that the effect of government agricultural subsidies is to raise the value of a piece of farmland. Based on this theory, the paper performs an econometric analysis of the impacts of the FAIR Act on farmland values. Using a simple linear model based on previous specifications in the literature, this paper arrives at three separate findings. The first finding is that as a result of the FAIR act, the price of an average acre of farmland in Southwestern Minnesota increased by $42.14. The second finding is that the implementation of the FAIR act prompted no change in the distributional effects of government agricultural subsidy. The third finding is that the FAIR act was structured such that the law of one price became more applicable to the agricultural land market of Southwestern Minnesota. The results of this study, combined with pre-existing economic theory show that the 1996 FAIR act increased government subsidies to Southwestern Minnesota farmers.
Honorable Mention (Environment): “Certified Forest Products: An Exploratory Study”
by Stacy Alboher, Lafayette College (Advisor: Professor James M. DeVault)
Abstract: In recent decades, environmental issues, and specifically those surrounding the world’s forests, have garnered significant attention. In this context, forest certification emerged as one option for preserving the remaining global woodlands. As a market-based mechanism, certification works to reward those companies engaging in responsible practices, and has become widely regarded as the most significant conservation measure of the past decade. Since its inception, many have noted that consumers must be willing to pay a price premium for certified products if certification is to succeed. Through a study conducted at three The Home Depot stores, this research tests actual consumer willingness to pay, questioning whether consumers will follow their stated preferences and actually purchase the certified goods, even if they have to pay extra for them, or if monetary considerations are really the most important factor. In addition, what effect does information provision have on this decision?
Honorable Mention (Development): “Is Growth Good for Women?”
by Rong Ling You, Hamilton College (Advisor: Professor Ann Owen)
Abstract: Although growth theory suggests that economic growth in a country usually correlates positively with increases in quality of life among the overall population, whether or not all groups benefit equally at the individual level is questionable. Using mainly the data from the World Development Indicator 2002 and the World Value Surveys, I estimate the effects of growth (measured by an increase in GDP per capita) on various women's economic welfare indicators as well as general attitudes towards women. One main finding is that gender inequality does seem to exist when measuring various economic welfare indicators, but this inequality is expected to decrease as GDP increases. In other words, the findings of this study confirm the expectation that growth promotes equality. Another important finding is that growth increases the value which people place on the family unit and helps people to perceive males and females more equally. These two main findings can in fact influence each other: if the males and females begin to benefit more equally from increases in GDP, then it is likely that they will be perceived more equally in the society; or if people begin to perceive both males and females equally due to an increase in GDP, then it is also likely that they will be able to receive equal economic welfare, such as education and health. This study also uses the instrumental variable technique to address the problem of endogeneity; the similarity of results provides more confidence in concluding that income growth affects the welfare indicators.
Grand Prize Essay: “Examining the Education Nexus in the Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services:
by Tom S. Vogl, Princeton University (Advisor: Professor Christina Paxson)
Honorable Mention Essay (Environment): “Modeling CO2 Emissions: Applying Empirical and Economic Analysis to a Global Environmental Issue”
by Brian Anthony Nickerson, Davidson College (Advisor: Professor David Martin)
Honorable Mention Essay (Development): “Moving Forward with Land Reform in Namibia”
By David Oladipupo Kuranga, Columbia University (Advisor: Professor Macartan Humphreys)
Honorable Mention Essay (Agriculture)
None awarded in 2004
Grand Prize Essay: “Examining the Education Nexus in the Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services:
by Tom S. Vogl, Princeton University (Advisor: Professor Christina Paxson)
Abstract: Although the link between maternal education and health care utilization in developing countries is well established, relatively little research has explored the specific mechanisms behind this relationship. Drawing on data from Peru, this paper attempts to disentangle these mechanisms. Two broad hypotheses help explain the effect of education on the utilization of maternal health care service (MHCS). The “absolute empowerment hypothesis” posits that education makes women more skilled and better informed consumers of biomedical care. The “relative empowerment hypothesis” holds that as women become more educated relative to their husbands, they gain autonomy in the obstetric decision-making process. Using a framework that allows for differentiation between these two hypotheses, I estimate multivariate models for prenatal and delivery care utilization in Peru. The results indicate that maternal and paternal education, when considered independently, are significant predictors of MHCS utilization, and the effect of the mother’s education is larger than that of the father’s. These effects remain constant even as I consider the role of relative education differentials within the household. I find that women with more education than their husbands are more likely to receive prenatal and delivery care, and that this effect decreases as the woman’s education increases. These findings imply that both absolute and relative empowerment are at work behind the education-MHCS relationship.
Honorable Mention Essay (Environment): “Modeling CO2 Emissions: Applying Empirical and Economic Analysis to a Global Environmental Issue”
by Brian Anthony Nickerson, Davidson College (Advisor: Professor David Martin)
Abstract: The Environmental Kuznetz Curve (EKC) proposes an inverted-U relationship between per capita GDP and carbon dioxide emissions such that income growth alone will reduce emissions over time. This paper tests that relationship by relating national per capita emissions to per capita GDP, indices of regulation, and manufacturing exports in a nation while holding constant for science and technology, energy from fossil fuel sources, and the relative percentage of industry to agriculture with regards to total economic output. Analyses point away from the Kuznetz relationship and instead towards a cubic function affected significantly by the presence of regulation and the development of competitive markets, both important tenets of the Porter Hypothesis. These results encourage the development of competitive and regulated private enterprise to stimulate the long-term abatement of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions as well as suggesting that the tastes and preferences of the high income consumer may be outweighing the many benefits to the environment of economic growth.
Honorable Mention Essay (Development): “Moving Forward with Land Reform in Namibia”
By David Oladipupo Kuranga, Columbia University (Advisor: Professor Macartan Humphreys)
Land reform is one of the most important political, economical, and social issues in Namibia and has the potential to become an explosive issue within the Southern African region. The findings derived in this manuscript have been developed over a year of research. The information provided has come from personal interviews with government officials, press statements and reports issued by various agencies and government officials, as well as official documents from the Republic of Namibia. It also reflects knowledge of the economic forces of supply and demand. Overall this exercise seeks to lay out a roadmap for the future of land reform in Namibia by taking into account the successes and the shortcomings of the past.
3rd Annual National Undergraduate Research Contest
in Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics
Entries are being solicited for the Ohio State University National Undergraduate Research Contest in Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics. Undergraduate students from accredited domestic universities are encouraged to submit an essay in one of the following fields:
· Agricultural Economics · Environmental Economics · Development Economics
The top essay and top thesis among the three fields will each receive a Grand Prize of $250. One additional finalist in each field will be recognized in both thesis and essay contests. All four winning essays and four winning theses summaries will be published by the Ohio State University. Entries will be evaluated via blind review and prizes awarded based upon:
1. Importance and clarity of the economic problem (20%)
2. Appropriate and original use of economic concepts and theory (20%)
3. Logic and conceptualization of the essay (10%)
4. Strength of conclusions and implications drawn from the analysis (20%)
5. Clarity and quality of written presentation (20%)
6. Evidence of student creativity and originality (10%).
Essays should be targeted to an audience with a thorough undergraduate training in economics or business while theses should be submitted as is. Submissions must follow the rules listed below to be eligible:
1. All participants must be enrolled as an undergraduate in an accredited U.S. or Canadian university for the semester during which the work was completed; both Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 graduates may enter.
2. All entries must be original work; original works written for a class, senior papers or theses qualify. Input from advisors or instructors should not exceed general guidance during developmental stages of the essay and general editorial suggestions during the final stages. Plagiarism, if identified, will be reported to any and all institutions with which the entrant is or will be affiliated.
3. All essays shall be type written in English. Essays shall be no more than 15 double-spaced pages using 12-point font with one-inch margins. The page limit includes tables, figures, footnotes, endnotes and appendices. Title page, abstract (<300 words), and references pages are excluded from this page limitation. Entries that exceed page limitations will be eliminated upon receipt.
4. Thesis submissions should follow the format and style guidelines of the entrant’s home institution and must include an abstract if not already part of the thesis.
5. Essays and theses submissions should include a title page that includes the follow: the title; author name, affiliation and contact information (summer phone, e-mail, address). For essays, the next page should contain the title and abstract; theses can be submitted as is if an abstract is already included.
6. Entries are to be submitted electronically to roe.30@osu.edu in Acrobat/PDF or MS Word format.
7. The student’s advisor or supervising teacher must independently e-mail a letter to roe.30@osu.edu by the entry deadline that (1) includes the student’s name and essay title, (2) states the student’s essay constitutes original work and (3) includes the advisor’s contact information (phone, address, e-mail).
Entries and advisor’s letters must be received by 5 pm EST, June 4, 2004 to be eligible. The screening committee may reassign papers among the fields and not award prizes in a division or field if entries do not meet a minimum quality standard determined by the committee. If an electronic submission is not possible, please contact the contest organizers for hard copy submission rules.
To enter the essay contest: e-mail essays and advisor’s letter to roe.30@osu.edu
For further information or questions: e-mail roe.30@osu.edu
To see last year’s winning essays:
click here
The Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at Ohio State University is pleased to announce the winners of its 2002 National Undergraduate Essay Contest in Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics:
Grand Prize Winner
Advisor: Jonathon Isham
"Drawing the Line: Informal Property Rights in a Nova Scotian Lobster Fishery"
Honorable Mention Essays (in alphabetical order)
• Priyanka Anand (priyanka629@yahoo.com)
University of California, Berkeley, CA
Advisor: Alain de Janvry
"The Geography of Poverty in Ecuador"
• Maura Bolger (mbolger@princeton.edu)
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Advisor: Wei Ding
"Sand Dollars"
Rob Chisholm
Middlebury College
"Drawing the Line: Informal Property Rights in a Nova Scotian Lobster Fishery"
This paper examines a local resource management system in the Cribbon’s Point, Nova Scotia lobster fishery. The common-pool resource (CPR) strategy at work in the fishery is effective because it assigns informal property rights to fishermen who then have exclusive access to "private” fishing grounds. Data for annual landed value of lobster indicate that Cribbon’s Point fishermen are earning more money than their colleagues who fish in areas without such strong property rights regimes. The CPR strategy at Cribbon’s Point is likely playing a role in the success of these fishermen. Under the limited-entry licensing program, unusually high lobster revenues and the entry of the federal government into the license market have placed the price of a lobster license beyond the means of locals who wish to join the fishery. Formal recognition of the Cribbon’s Point property rights by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans is offered as a solution to the potential stress on the CPR institution and its economic and cultural connection to the surrounding community.
This essay represents a portion of a study done by the author. The author’s knowledge of the resource management system stems from having been a resident and part-time fisherman in the community as well as from informal conversations and formal interviews with fishermen and industry experts. The strength of Ostrom’s (1990) design principles of long-enduring CPR institutions will be reaffirmed by comparing her design principles of long-enduring CPR institutions with this successful management system. The essay stresses the importance of “nested enterprises” to fisheries management systems that work within the context of national policy and regulation.
University of California, Berkeley
"The Geography of Poverty in Ecuador"
Conventional wisdom regarding the geographic distribution of poverty is that the rural poor are concentrated in marginal agricultural lands. This study uses census data from Ecuador and the computer mapping capabilities of geographic information systems to challenge this common assumption. The empirical results show that areas with regional characteristics that are more favorable to agricultural production have a higher incidence of poverty than those areas that are characterized as marginal.
Princeton University
"Sand Dollars"
The beach is a main catalyst in attracting individuals to cities and towns along the United States’ shoreline. It is a very valuable natural resource that is diminishing gradually. I provide background information regarding the process of both beach erosion and beach replenishment. Then I analyze two cities that underwent beach nourishment, Miami Beach and Bradley Beach, by comparing the financial aspects of the projects for these Florida and New Jersey beaches. This includes amount of sand needed, area covered, cost of project, and methods of finance. Since Miami Beach completed the nourishment project in the 1980s, there is data regarding the benefits already realized from the project. Payback from Miami Beach is compared to the minimal Bradley Beach data after only one season of replenishment. After the numerical data is laid out, the intangible costs and benefits for Bradley Beach and Miami Beach are described. The paper then moves to a data analysis section, including the cost-benefit analysis. My study takes into account the two types of costs and benefits, and also discusses the errors in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ methods of cost-benefit analysis. Due to its recent completion and lack of data, I am forced to make predictions in the final section about the future of Bradley Beach’s economic development from beach replenishment. Using similarities and differences between Bradley Beach and the Miami Beach area, I ultimately suggest that Bradley Beach should not have elected to use beach replenishment to control its sand erosion.
The Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at Ohio State University is pleased to announce the winners of its 2001 National Undergraduate Essay Contest in Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics:
James Sallee
Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
Advisors:
Karine Moe and
Sarah West
"The Effect of Improved Female Status on Child Health: Empirical Evidence from India"
Gernot Wagner
Harvard University
Advisor:
Dale W. Jorgenson
"Towards an Economic Criterion for Sustainability"
Alison Connolly
Middlebury College
Advisor :Jonathan
Isham
"The North Atlantic Swordfish
Industry: Improving Current Policy to
Abstract Essay
Kelli J. Myers
Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Advisor:
Raymond J. Folwell
"The Economic Effect of the Fast Grass Price
Rebate Program on the
Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
"Empirical Estimation of the Relationship Between Women’s Status and Child Health in India"
Abstract: Economic development scholars
believe that improvements in female education indirectly benefit child health.
This paper investigates the effects of improved female status by studying the
relationship between female power proxies and child anthropometric outcomes.
Using household data from India, I estimate the effect of female power on child
height-for-age indicators. Empirical results reveal that women with more
household power, ceteris paribus, have healthier children. Additionally, results
suggest that part of the effect of female education on child health is caused by
an increase in female power. For policy-makers, this finding indicates that
policies that improve female status, other than education, may also have
indirect benefits on health.
Harvard University
"Towards an Economic Criterion for Sustainability"
Abstract: The interdisciplinary debate on sustainability can be divided into two categories: one involves broad and overarching policy goals that are generally accepted but inherently clumsy to apply to the real world, and one strives for a more specific set of tools on a smaller scale. The latter category rarely withstands basic economic reasoning involving such issues as substitutability. Surprisingly though, it is possible to formalize the broad definition of sustainability proposed by the Brundtland Commission in the existing economics framework of discounted utilitarianism. Operationalizing this definition requires an improvement in our estimates of national income in order to more closely approximate an idealized total welfare function for which the definition calls. When this is done in an effort to integrate natural capital, both the changes in stock as well as services provided by that stock should be taken into account to accurately represent the contributions of the natural world to our society.
Middlebury College
"The North Atlantic Swordfish
Industry: Improving Current Policy to
Abstract: This paper takes an in-depth look at the North Atlantic Swordfish Industry. At present, the swordfish fishery, an open-access resource, is overfished and heavily regulated. Overfishing occurs because the good is non-excludable, allowing fishermen to enter until average revenue is just equal to average cost. An investigation of current policies reveals that commonly used season closure and capital constraint restrictions have not been beneficial in promoting the sustainability of the North Atlantic swordfish stock. The depleted swordfish population is regulated internationally by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and domestically by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Few would dispute the ineffectiveness of current policy. This is due to a lack of enforcement internationally and poor policy choices domestically. A close examination of the domestic industry reveals a heterogeneous fishing fleet characterized by differences in each fisherman’s ability to land fish. Using economic theory, vessel heterogeneity explains why season closure and capital constraints fail to reduce total fishing effort leading to a further depletion of the swordfish stock. In practice, these policies have reallocated catch towards the less efficient fishermen without decreasing overall fishing effort. An Individual Tradable Quota (ITQ) system would be an effective policy solution. The ITQs would be allocated to each nation depending on their current quota levels and then distributed to current fishermen within each nation. The ITQ system, by a defining property rights through assigning each fisherman a portion of the total allowable catch, provides a viable solution to overfishing.
Washington State University, Pullman, WA
"The Economic Effect of the Fast Grass Price
Rebate Program on the
Abstract: Over the past
decade the Washington asparagus industry has become more reliant upon the fresh
rather than processed asparagus market outlets. From 1989 to 1998 the
percentage of the crop sold in the fresh market grew from 34% to 44%. The
harvesting of asparagus in Washington takes place after Mexico and California
are already supplying the market. As Washington enters the market and overlaps
with the California asparagus season, there is often too much asparagus on the
market and prices fall. The Washington asparagus industry experiences these low
prices and has difficulty increasing their market share. To combat this
problem, the Washington Asparagus Commission has instigated a price rebate
program for wholesale and retail buyers during time periods of oversupply. The
rebate program was named "Fast Grass" and began in 1997. The implementation of
the program resulted in growth in Washington’s market share. Whether the
benefits of the program exceed the costs was the focus of this research. The
isolated effects of the Fast Grass program on market shares and increased
revenues of fresh Washington asparagus were analyzed.