In contrast to providing standard reminders about remembering household budgets, does asking survey respondents about their discretionary income and its use affect their voting responses in a national advisory referendum survey? We explore this question using U.S. household data from a unique...

Using a set of random telephone and Internet (web-based) survey samples for a national advisory referendum, we implement Beta models to handle proportional budget information, and allow for consistency in modeling assumptions and the calculation of estimated willingness to pay (WTP). Results...

When market transactions generate negative externalities, the injured party may initiate court action to prevent harm or to obtain compensation. The political response, in some cases, has been to broaden the set of agents who can intervene through the court, often by admitting entirely new...

Mitigation ameliorates the impact of natural hazards on communities by reducing loss of life and injury, property and environmental damage, and social and economic disruption. The potential to reduce these losses brings many benefits, but every mitigation activity has a cost that must be...

This paper investigates the enrollment, retention and academic performance effects of NM Success, a merit-based lottery-funded scholarship established in 1997, using student-level data from the University of New Mexico. While we find a staggering 56 per cent increase in University enrollments,...

Gaming operations of Native American tribes have become a major engine of economic development by generating significant revenues to tribes and outsiders. This paper investigates the impact of Native American enterprises on local economies by evaluating the impact of opening a Casino Resort near...

We study a simple flat tax proposal that combines the federal income tax and the payroll tax. This tax reform may have a higher probability of political acceptance by treating the large middle income classes more favorably than other flat tax reform proposals. Our analysis compares the...

Lotteries are commonly used to allocate big game hunting privileges. In this study, lottery demand and consumer surplus are modeled before and after policy changes designed to increase participation. The application is to New Mexico elk hunt lotteries. Given the volume and variety of hunts, we...

Severe declines in Pacific Northwest salmon stocks, coupled with increasing recreational demands, and judicial decisions supporting Native American fishing rights create challenges for fishery agencies. This article explores the welfare effects on recreational anglers of alternative salmon...