College of Business and Economics Poster Presentations

Impact of Air Quality Regulations on Entrepreneurial Activity

Kyler James — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

The objective of this research is to examine the impact of Federal National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) non-attainment status on the entrepreneurial activity in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Most of the existing research on the relationship between non-attainment and the financial robustness of areas focuses on the big polluters (e.g., plastics, organic chemicals, steel smelting and refining, etc.), and examines how many of the big polluters failed or relocated, measured by the change in the number of plants/firms when an area moved from attainment to non-attainment. Our paper will use a 317 MSA panel data set over the 1989-2003 timeframe, to address the question more comprehensively by looking at all industries, not just a targeted few polluters. Controlling for other time-variant confounding effects, such as population growth, per-capita income, tax rate changes, minimum wage rates, energy costs, regional inflation measures, and spatial phenomena (such as, natural disasters) we isolate the effect of non-attainment status on large polluters as well as the linkage industries. We show that if an area is designated non-attainment status in a particular year, it leads to a decline in the total number of business starts in the MSA in the following year. We also determine whether the impact of non-attainment varies across businesses of different sizes.

Climate Variability and Water Infrastructure: Historical Experience in the Western United States

Craig Marley — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

Greater historical perspective will enlighten current debate about future human responses to higher temperatures and increased precipitation variation. Agriculture is particularly vulnerable. In the literature on climate change and agriculture the empirical results are often mixed, with estimates of nonlinearities in key commodity yields beyond threshold temperatures; findings of higher profitability for US agriculture; and reports of high adjustment costs. These studies generally rely upon contemporary data. Yet, the expansion of agriculture across North America in the 19th and 20th centuries encountered greater climatic variation than is predicted from current climate change models. Accordingly, analysis of how those conditions were addressed and the impact on crop mixes and production can provide valuable information for addressing current climate variability. This study adds to the literature on adaption to climate shocks.

An Examination of Boise’s Relative Cost of Living

Brian Wood et al. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

It is a commonly held belief of many Idahoans that the cost of living in Boise is much lower than in other metropolitan areas in the country. Our purpose is to test this hypothesis and evaluate its accuracy. In addition to the analysis of the cost of living in Boise compared to other metropolitan areas, we will reconcile the differences in the costs of living with quality of life measures to ascertain the effect of local area amenities. We will compare Boise to several cities across the United States based on the ACCRA cost of living index which measures differences in expenditures on grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. We will also use additional data obtained from the most recent U.S. census, U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics and American Statistical Association, among other sources. With a simple econometric model, we will show that cost of living is correlated with quality of life indicators. We also expect to find that the cost of living in Boise is lower than larger cities, but may not be lower than cities of a similar size.

Faculty Salaries at Boise State University

Adam Vergne et al. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

The purpose of the study is to identify the differentials that exist among salaries of tenure/ tenure track faculty. We will show that there is little evidence of gender or racial bias and that the differentials are “explained” by comparison of rank and department. We will use the statistical tool of regression analysis to derive our results. This will involve extensive and imaginative use of dummy variables. No information will be shown that would reveal individual salaries.

Turn Up the Heat: Integrating Boise State University into Boise’s Geothermal System

Matthew Wiggs et al. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

The recent growth in the Treasure Valley has lead to a substantial increase in both residential and commercial construction. As a consequence, related heating and energy costs in the valley have also been rising. Concerns over global warming, along with the increases in fuel and energy costs, have sparked an interest in alternative energy sources. The Treasure Valley is unique in being naturally endowed with geothermal energy potential. Up until 2007, the city’s system was host to 58 customers heating almost 4 million square feet of space throughout downtown Boise. In 2007 the city of Boise completed its geothermal re-injection loop, which meant that an additional 50 million gallons of spent geothermal water will be recharging the aquifer system leading to the potential for more extensive use of geothermal technology. Our research will focus on the expansion of geothermal heating to Boise State University, a program for which federal funding was approved in 2007. Our analysis will include the initial construction, implementation and operation costs of geothermal pipes and furnaces necessary to expand the use of the resource. This analysis will draw on state energy programs, Idaho national laboratory studies, federal agency reports and studies to gather historical data and forecasts, as well as direct interviews with experienced professionals and users in the field. We believe that the study will provide further evidence of the potential for long term use of geothermal energy as an affordable heating alternative for our area.

Rush-Hour Congestion: Are HOV Lanes the Answer?

Chris Day et al. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

Rapid population growth in the Boise area tends to stretch the existing capacity of our roadways – especially, certain corridors - during rush hour. The section of highway on I-84 between Broadway and Caldwell sees increased amounts of traffic during peak driving hours. Our research will identify the causes of congestion and the subsequent impact of using HOV lanes during peak hours. Included in the analysis will be considerations such as the number of passengers required to access the HOV lane, times of operation of the HOV lane, and whether it would be beneficial to also use it as a toll lane. Data will be collected from previously published ACHD and Idaho Transportation Department reports and studies as well as other federal transportation agencies. We will also present data from comparable cities that have implemented HOV lanes. The expected outcome of this research is to show that HOV lanes could decrease travel time between the aforementioned Broadway and Caldwell exits during peak hours. A predicted decrease in negative externalities such as pollution, automobile accidents, and noise is also expected.

Bown Crossing: A Case for Mixed-Use, High Density Development in Boise

Justin French et al. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

The city of Boise is rapidly growing and we believe that Boise can better accommodate this growth by utilizing mixed-use zoning. Our research will focus on the mixed-use community of Bown Crossing. Using this development as a template, we will conduct an analysis of the economic costs and benefits for the local residents and businesses. Due to the rising popularity of smart growth developments, we will examine the successes and failures of mixeduse developments in Boise. We will compare and contrast low density developments with high density mixed-use developments by focusing on factors such as traffic congestion, commute times, transportation and parking costs, tax revenue through increased or decreased consumer spending, as well as agglomeration effects. We expect to show that the benefits of mixed-use zoning out-weigh the associated implementation costs.

Population Growth and Crime Rates: The Case of Boise

Chris Robison et al. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

As the global population continues to grow, more and more people are moving into urban areas. This rise in urban density is leading to rising crime rates in many of the world’s metropolitan areas, although research shows that there is a high degree of cross-city variance of crime rates across U.S. urban areas. The Boise City-Nampa area has been one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States given the high quality of life and business opportunities that the Treasure Valley has to offer. Even with substantial population growth, the Boise area has seen a decline in crime rates over the past ten years. Our group will be examining the infrastructure and resources that Boise has utilized over the past ten years, compared to cities of similar size that have not had as positive an experience to determine the factors that have led to the decline in Boise’s crime rate. We will also be analyzing future needs and demands of the Boise area that could be crucial in maintaining Boise’s low crime profile.

Learning Outcomes and Electronic Textbooks

Amanda Morrison — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 PDT

The increased availability of distance learning and of electronic media in the classroom has increased the presence of electronic textbooks (e-texts) on the market. These textbooks are often offered at a reduced rate to the student and offer additional functionality, including advanced search features, practice problems and on-line tutorials. The additional functionality provided by many e-texts may allow e-text users to spend less time in achieving similar learning outcomes than their hard-bound textbook-using cohort. In answering this hypothesis, we hope to address the following questions: Do students make use of the additional e-text options, above and beyond what students with a hard-copy text would? Does the availability of an e-text increase the time that students spend studying course material and preparing for exams? If not, are students able to achieve the outcomes while spending less time preparing? Does the use of an e-text improve student recognition and comprehension of the key theories and tools in microeconomics? Does the use of an e-text improve the students’ ability to apply and synthesize microeconomic theory and to apply it to problems not directly addressed in the class? Does prior experience with e-texts aid the potential improvement in learning outcomes?