Pork production has evolved from relatively small, family-run operations toward large-scale operations with several employees. Important questions about the structure of compensation in this rapidly changing labor market are answered using probit and ordered probit models and data from a...

  We hypothesize that hog production can be characterized by complementarities between new technologies, worker skills and farms size.  Such production processes are consistent with Kremer’s (1993) O-ring production theory in which a single mistake in any one of several complementary...

This paper analyzes farmers' attitudes toward competing agricultural policies. The empirical work utilizes data on Iowa farmers' opinions of four policies: continuing the current program, targeting benefits to fiscally stressed farmers, mandatory controls, and decoupling. The results show that a...

This paper uses the pattern of firm entry and exit to develop a classification system for industries. The classifications include urban-rural bias; long-term growth; and firm survival patterns. The first captures the fact that sector-specific economic growth may be favored in urban areas for...

If economic growth elsewhere raises the individual's earning prospects relative to those in the present location, then the individual will move. However, if the individual can exploit the economic growth elsewhere by commuting, he will not need to move to profit from the expansion. County-level...

This survey reviews the existing literature, identifying the contribution of agriculture, schooling, and nutrition to economic growth and development over time and across countries. Particular attention is paid to the roles of improvements in agricultural technology and of the human capital of...

We measure how local growth in meatpacking and processing affects growth in local economies, government expenditures, and crime rates from 1990-2000 in nonmetropolitan counties of 12 Midwestern States. Propensity score matching is used as a check on possible non-random placement of meatpacking...

The Iowa Board of Nursing licensing database for Registered Nurses (RNs) contains information on Registered Nurses who have renewed their licenses including age, race, gender, education, and location of employment.  It also contains comparable information on nurses who opted not to renew at the...

Kliebenstein, J., T. Hurley, and P. Orazem. "Personnel Management Issues and Job Satisfaction in Pork Production," Proceedings of Swine Educators Seminar, National Pork Producers Council, September 1996.

Contrary to the conclusions of a recent paper by Chen and Hsu (2001), wage inequality and returns to college-educated workers have risen in Taiwan since 1980. Government policies which have caused rapid expansion of the supply of new college graduates have depressed returns for only the youngest...