Neil Meredith
- Courses7
- Reviews22
- School: West Texas A&M University
- Campus:
- Department: Economics
- Email address: Join to see
- Phone: Join to see
-
Location:
2501 4th Ave
Canyon, TX - 79016 - Dates at West Texas A&M University: March 2013 - May 2020
- Office Hours: Join to see
N/A
Would take again: Yes
For Credit: Yes
0
0
Not Mandatory
online
Awesome
Prof. Meredith's course was totally a good one! He gives 4 tests and drops the lowest one. He also gives one long term paper which is worth 25%. He's a great lecturer as well! Textbook is trash though. Just save your money and listen to lectures.
N/A
Would take again: Yes
For Credit: Yes
0
0
online
Awesome
Professor Meredith has superb course materials and video lectures. The weekly homework reinforced concepts which are not a burden. The lowest homework and exam scores were dropped as well. The group project was divided into sections and you were only graded on your section, which I appreciated.
Biography
West Texas A&M University - Economics
Experience
Bonbright Center, University of Georgia
Assistant to the Director
Neil worked at Bonbright Center, University of Georgia as a Assistant to the Director
West Texas A&M University
Dana Professor of Business and Assistant Professor of Economics
Teach principles of microeconomics, intermediate microeconomics, health care economics, international economics, and industrial organization and regulation in campus and online settings to undergraduate and master's level students.
West Texas A&M University
Dana Professor of Business and Associate Professor of Economics
Neil worked at West Texas A&M University as a Dana Professor of Business and Associate Professor of Economics
West Texas A&M University
Assistant Professor of Economics
Neil worked at West Texas A&M University as a Assistant Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant
Neil worked at University of Georgia as a PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant
Education
Terry College of Business, University of Georgia
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Economics
Robert E. Cook Honors College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Mathematics/Economics
University of Georgia
PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant
Publications
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
The Impact of Lecture Capture on Student Performance in Economics Courses
Journal of Academy of Business and Economics
This paper examines the impact of lecture capture technology on the performance of advanced undergraduate business students in economics courses. The sample consists of 244 students at a mid-sized regional institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States. The dependent variable is percentage score on a comprehensive final exam in advanced economics courses. The empirical model employed controls for effort, grade point average, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), gender, ethnic background, age, major, and transfer students. Effort measured via homework score as a proxy, grade point average, ability measured via standardized test scores, academic major, and access to lecture capture are the five model variables that are positive and statistically significant. Age and classification as a transfer student are the two statistically significant variables with a negative coefficient. The demographic variables associated with African-American, Hispanic, and gender are not statistically significant determinants of performance on the final exam. The results indicate that students completing economics courses with access to lecture capture score approximately three percent higher on the final exam, holding other factors constant.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
The Impact of Lecture Capture on Student Performance in Economics Courses
Journal of Academy of Business and Economics
This paper examines the impact of lecture capture technology on the performance of advanced undergraduate business students in economics courses. The sample consists of 244 students at a mid-sized regional institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States. The dependent variable is percentage score on a comprehensive final exam in advanced economics courses. The empirical model employed controls for effort, grade point average, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), gender, ethnic background, age, major, and transfer students. Effort measured via homework score as a proxy, grade point average, ability measured via standardized test scores, academic major, and access to lecture capture are the five model variables that are positive and statistically significant. Age and classification as a transfer student are the two statistically significant variables with a negative coefficient. The demographic variables associated with African-American, Hispanic, and gender are not statistically significant determinants of performance on the final exam. The results indicate that students completing economics courses with access to lecture capture score approximately three percent higher on the final exam, holding other factors constant.
Multistate Health Plans: Will Competition Arise?
Regulation
This short magazine article discusses why the Multi-State Plan Program is unlikely to be a platform for more robust health insurance competition.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
The Impact of Lecture Capture on Student Performance in Economics Courses
Journal of Academy of Business and Economics
This paper examines the impact of lecture capture technology on the performance of advanced undergraduate business students in economics courses. The sample consists of 244 students at a mid-sized regional institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States. The dependent variable is percentage score on a comprehensive final exam in advanced economics courses. The empirical model employed controls for effort, grade point average, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), gender, ethnic background, age, major, and transfer students. Effort measured via homework score as a proxy, grade point average, ability measured via standardized test scores, academic major, and access to lecture capture are the five model variables that are positive and statistically significant. Age and classification as a transfer student are the two statistically significant variables with a negative coefficient. The demographic variables associated with African-American, Hispanic, and gender are not statistically significant determinants of performance on the final exam. The results indicate that students completing economics courses with access to lecture capture score approximately three percent higher on the final exam, holding other factors constant.
Multistate Health Plans: Will Competition Arise?
Regulation
This short magazine article discusses why the Multi-State Plan Program is unlikely to be a platform for more robust health insurance competition.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Mercatus Public Interest Comments
This brief public comment provides feedback on proposed regulations to the Multi State Plan Program of the Affordable Care Act.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
The Impact of Lecture Capture on Student Performance in Economics Courses
Journal of Academy of Business and Economics
This paper examines the impact of lecture capture technology on the performance of advanced undergraduate business students in economics courses. The sample consists of 244 students at a mid-sized regional institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States. The dependent variable is percentage score on a comprehensive final exam in advanced economics courses. The empirical model employed controls for effort, grade point average, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), gender, ethnic background, age, major, and transfer students. Effort measured via homework score as a proxy, grade point average, ability measured via standardized test scores, academic major, and access to lecture capture are the five model variables that are positive and statistically significant. Age and classification as a transfer student are the two statistically significant variables with a negative coefficient. The demographic variables associated with African-American, Hispanic, and gender are not statistically significant determinants of performance on the final exam. The results indicate that students completing economics courses with access to lecture capture score approximately three percent higher on the final exam, holding other factors constant.
Multistate Health Plans: Will Competition Arise?
Regulation
This short magazine article discusses why the Multi-State Plan Program is unlikely to be a platform for more robust health insurance competition.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Mercatus Public Interest Comments
This brief public comment provides feedback on proposed regulations to the Multi State Plan Program of the Affordable Care Act.
Multistate Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
INQUIRY: the Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
The Impact of Lecture Capture on Student Performance in Economics Courses
Journal of Academy of Business and Economics
This paper examines the impact of lecture capture technology on the performance of advanced undergraduate business students in economics courses. The sample consists of 244 students at a mid-sized regional institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States. The dependent variable is percentage score on a comprehensive final exam in advanced economics courses. The empirical model employed controls for effort, grade point average, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), gender, ethnic background, age, major, and transfer students. Effort measured via homework score as a proxy, grade point average, ability measured via standardized test scores, academic major, and access to lecture capture are the five model variables that are positive and statistically significant. Age and classification as a transfer student are the two statistically significant variables with a negative coefficient. The demographic variables associated with African-American, Hispanic, and gender are not statistically significant determinants of performance on the final exam. The results indicate that students completing economics courses with access to lecture capture score approximately three percent higher on the final exam, holding other factors constant.
Multistate Health Plans: Will Competition Arise?
Regulation
This short magazine article discusses why the Multi-State Plan Program is unlikely to be a platform for more robust health insurance competition.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Mercatus Public Interest Comments
This brief public comment provides feedback on proposed regulations to the Multi State Plan Program of the Affordable Care Act.
Multistate Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
INQUIRY: the Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
Risk-Based Capital Regulation Revisited: Evidence from the early 2000s
Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance
The purpose of this study is to replicate Avery and Berger’s (1991) analysis using data from 2001 through 2011. Although risk-based capital (RBC) regulation is a key component of US banking regulation, empirical evidence of the effectiveness of these regulations has been mixed. Among the first studies of RBC regulation, Avery and Berger (1991) provide evidence from data on US banks that new RBC regulations outperformed old capital regulations from 1982 through 1989. Using data from the Federal Reserve’s Call Reports, the authors compare banks’ capital ratios and RBC ratios to five measures of bank performance: income, standard deviation of income, non-performing loans, loan charge-offs and probability of failure. Consistent with Avery and Berger (1991), the authors find banks’ risk-weighted assets to be significant predictors of their future performance and that RBC ratios outperform regular capital ratios as predictors of risk. The study improves on Avery and Berger (1991) by using an updated data set from 2001 through 2011. The authors also discuss some potential limitations of this method of analysis.
Religion and Labor: An Examination of Religious Service Attendance and Unemployment Using Count Data Methods
Eastern Economic Journal
I use count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) cohort and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate the relationship between unemployment and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. Empirical results for unemployed men and unemployed women in the NLSY79 show that religious service attendance is 22 percent lower and 72 percent higher, respectively, relative to employed men and employed women, respectively. Results for individuals in the HRS indicate that unemployed men and unemployed women attend religious services 18 percent less and 16 percent more frequently, respectively, relative to employed counterparts. There are no additional significant correlations for time spent unemployed.
Religious Service Attendance and Labour Force Status: Evidence from Survey Data Using Count Data Methods
Applied Economics
I undertake count data estimation with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort and the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between time spent out of the labour force and the frequency of religious service attendance for individuals of working age. I also examine whether being out of the labour force is correlated with the frequency of religious service attendance. Results using Poisson fixed-effect and negative binomial estimation suggest that men under age 50 appear to attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force. I ascribe this finding to younger men’s religious service attendance being related to having work or the pursuit of work. Men between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services less frequently when out of the labour force, which I attribute to serious health problems in later age forcing labour market exiting and reduced frequency of religious service attendance. Women between ages 50 and 65 attend religious services more frequently when out of the labour force, which I ascribe to having more time to pursue religious activity in addition to women’s established proclivity to religious commitment.
Multi-State Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
Mercatus Working Paper
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act which has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
A Postsecondary Revival: The Importance of Religiosity for Postsecondary Enrollment Growth
Journal of International Business & Economics
Using institutional and state-level data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we explore the degree to which enrollment grows from 1991 to 2005 in religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions relative to their private secular counterparts. After controlling for institutional characteristics, we find that enrollment in religiously affiliated colleges and universities grows 13, 28, 22,14, and 11 percentage points more for total, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and males, respectively, than private secular institutions. Because simply having a religious affiliation can have little or no bearing on an institution's policies and mission, we evaluate whether the intensity of an institution's attachment also affects enrollment gains. Enrollment gains in institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), for whom Protestant faith is a direct determinant of institutional mission, are significant. For example, after controlling for other factors total enrollment grows 12 percentage points, black enrollment grows 32 percentage points, Hispanic enrollment grows 20 percentage points, and female enrollment grows by 15 percentage points relative to other Protestant institutions, which in turn are growing faster than their private secular counterparts.
The Impact of Lecture Capture on Student Performance in Economics Courses
Journal of Academy of Business and Economics
This paper examines the impact of lecture capture technology on the performance of advanced undergraduate business students in economics courses. The sample consists of 244 students at a mid-sized regional institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States. The dependent variable is percentage score on a comprehensive final exam in advanced economics courses. The empirical model employed controls for effort, grade point average, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), gender, ethnic background, age, major, and transfer students. Effort measured via homework score as a proxy, grade point average, ability measured via standardized test scores, academic major, and access to lecture capture are the five model variables that are positive and statistically significant. Age and classification as a transfer student are the two statistically significant variables with a negative coefficient. The demographic variables associated with African-American, Hispanic, and gender are not statistically significant determinants of performance on the final exam. The results indicate that students completing economics courses with access to lecture capture score approximately three percent higher on the final exam, holding other factors constant.
Multistate Health Plans: Will Competition Arise?
Regulation
This short magazine article discusses why the Multi-State Plan Program is unlikely to be a platform for more robust health insurance competition.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Mercatus Public Interest Comments
This brief public comment provides feedback on proposed regulations to the Multi State Plan Program of the Affordable Care Act.
Multistate Health Plans: Agents for Competition or Consolidation?
INQUIRY: the Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
We discuss and evaluate the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that has not been the subject of much debate as yet. The MSP Program provides the Office of Personnel Management with new authority to negotiate and implement multistate insurance plans on all health insurance exchanges within the United States. We raise the concern that the MSP Program may lead to further consolidation of the health insurance industry despite the program’s stated goal of increasing competition by means of health insurance exchanges. The MSP Program arguably gives a competitive advantage to large insurers, which already dominate health insurance markets. We also contend that the MSP Program’s failure to produce increased competition may motivate a new effort for a public health insurance option.
Risk-Based Capital Regulation Revisited: Evidence from the early 2000s
Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance
The purpose of this study is to replicate Avery and Berger’s (1991) analysis using data from 2001 through 2011. Although risk-based capital (RBC) regulation is a key component of US banking regulation, empirical evidence of the effectiveness of these regulations has been mixed. Among the first studies of RBC regulation, Avery and Berger (1991) provide evidence from data on US banks that new RBC regulations outperformed old capital regulations from 1982 through 1989. Using data from the Federal Reserve’s Call Reports, the authors compare banks’ capital ratios and RBC ratios to five measures of bank performance: income, standard deviation of income, non-performing loans, loan charge-offs and probability of failure. Consistent with Avery and Berger (1991), the authors find banks’ risk-weighted assets to be significant predictors of their future performance and that RBC ratios outperform regular capital ratios as predictors of risk. The study improves on Avery and Berger (1991) by using an updated data set from 2001 through 2011. The authors also discuss some potential limitations of this method of analysis.
Risk and Risk-Based Capital of U.S. Bank Holding Companies
Journal of Regulatory Economics
This paper analyzes banks’ capital and risk-based capital (RBC) ratios as predictors of risk. Using quarterly data on U.S. bank holding companies (BHCs) from 1997 through 2010, we regress the capital and RBC ratios against six balance-sheet and market-based indicators of risk. Although the capital and RBC ratios are statistically significant predictors of BHCs’ levels of risk, we find the capital ratio is a statistically significantly better predictor of risk than the RBC ratio. This difference is strongest since the recent financial crisis beginning in 2007.
