Data Shows Link Between Labor Shortage, Long COVID
It has been a little over two years since the Covid-19 pandemic afflicted the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of October 2022, daily cases reached over 97 million and deaths surpassed one million. Hochheimer, Vange, “Data Shows Link Between Labor Shortage, Long COVID”, Journal of Business, November 2022.
Drivers of Core Inflation: Wage Growth and Spending by Younger Consumers
The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank closely tracks overall inflation, especially core inflation. Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) is the inflation measure economists prefer to track as it excludes the volatility of energy and food prices. Excluding spikes in energy and food prices allows economists to disaggregate inflation and measure changes in the price of “core” […]
The Microfinancing Village Household and Loan Return: Do Credit Source, Education, Land Assets, and Gender Matter?
Disbursements of small-scale credit to poor entrepreneurial households in developing countries have become a popular tool for promoting self-sufficiency and alleviating poverty. The success of such programs, however, has been inconsistent across self-sufficiency and poverty measures. This study explores the effects of small-scale loans, household assets, and other household characteristics on household income. The study […]
A Portfolio Diversification Argument for Social Inclusion
As a financial economist, I teach my students about the business case for closing the education opportunity gap and striving for a diverse labor force. In a nutshell, given a globalized world, comprised of a melting pot of ethnicities with different tastes and preferences, it would be risky to create and invest in products designed […]
Housing as a Social Determinant of Health: Implications for Rent Control Policy and Housing Shortage in Spokane
Demand for housing has increased throughout the nation as a result of a strong economy andrapid increases in population in some regions. The Pacific Northwest, particularly SpokaneCounty, has experienced significant increases in population growth as the region gains notorietyfor low building costs, housing affordability and medium-size city amenities. According to arecent report by real estate […]
Human Development Approach to Sustainable Financial Inclusion: The Case of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh
Human development typically refers to the set of opportunities that allow individuals to flourish in their lives. This study explores whether the provision of human development opportunities such as education and primary healthcare contributes to economic well-being among poor households who obtain microfinance loans. Using panel data from over 1,700 households in rural Bangladesh, this […]
Education Achievement Linked to Economic Growth
State data are clear that educational outcomes impact earnings, health, crime, and homelessness. Many of us find the topic of economic development in our region exciting. After all, what is there not to like about new businesses, more jobs, higher incomes, less poverty, low crime and sprouting infrastructure? Excitement about the prospect of increased economic […]
Financing Village Enterprises in Rural Bangladesh: What Determines Non-Farm Revenue Growth?
The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that determine non-farm enterprise revenue and to empirically test the association between access to credit, credit source and firm performance among poor entrepreneurs in rural Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach Using a Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and World Bank survey from over 1,700 households in rural Bangladesh, […]
Near Nature, Near Perfect, Economically Stable,
As we reflect upon the last 30 years of the Journal of Business and the greater Spokane business climate, an old Tim McGraw song, “My Next Thirty Years,” comes to mind. The song begins: “I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age. The ending of an era and the turning of a page. Now […]
Rural Finance Schemes Miss the Target: An Empirical Analysis of Gender and Social Inequality Effects
Using survey data from over 1,700 households in rural Bangladesh, this study explores whether access to credit has gender-specific impacts and whether this credit is associated with income distribution effects. To estimate these effects, a panel data model is used to explore the empirical association between access to credit, borrower gender and village income. Contrary […]