Showing papers by "Joshua C. Hall published in 2018"
TL;DR: The social determinants of health include the communities in which people reside as mentioned in this paper, which are public policies that influence a variety of economic and social outcomes, including economic, social, and environmental factors.
Abstract: The social determinants of health include the communities in which people reside. Associated with geographic areas are public policies that influence a variety of economic and social outcomes. The ...
12 citations
TL;DR: The authors empirically investigated the relationship between economic freedom and exercise across U.S. states and found that states with higher levels of economic freedom have lower rates of participation in exercise, contrary to the cross-country results.
Abstract: Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and influences a variety of health outcomes. Regions vary in their levels of exercise due to geography, climate, culture, and policy. The extent to which a country's policies are consistent with economic freedom has been found to be positively associated with greater participation in physical activity. We empirically investigate the relationship between economic freedom and exercise across U.S. states. Contrary to the cross‐country results, we find that states with higher levels of economic freedom have lower rates of participation in exercise.
10 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors apply a multistep semiparametric stochastic production frontier estimator to investigate the effects of economic freedom on the production frontier and technical efficiency.
Abstract: This paper applies a multistep semiparametric stochastic production frontier estimator to investigate the effects of economic freedom (EF) on the production frontier and technical efficiency. We allow output elasticities and technical efficiency to depend on EF, estimate a smooth coefficient stochastic production frontier, and compare with parametric alternatives. Our results highlight the flexibility of semiparametric approaches as we find parametric approaches are too restrictive in estimating marginal productivity. Output elasticities of labor, human capital, and physical capital vary with the level of EF and our average efficiency estimates are at least 20% higher than those obtained from parametric counterparts. (JEL C14, O43)
9 citations
TL;DR: A review of the literature on regionalization of municipal taxes and services can be found in this article, which summarizes the relevant empirical literature to see which side's theories hold forth in the data.
Abstract: The United States has a rich history of local government taxation and good provision. The last fifty years, however, have seen increasing calls for the regionalization of municipal taxes and services from policymakers. Arguments for greater regionalization emphasize improved efficiency, enhanced equity, mitigation of spillovers, and improved economic development. A number of localist scholars have responded to regionalists’ concerns. This review articulates regionalists’ arguments, the localists’ response, and summarizes the relevant empirical literature to see which side’s theories hold forth in the data.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine factors related to townships' choice to adopt fracking bans and document the importance of spatial dependence when analyzing fracking bans, finding education levels, the poverty rate, and veterans groups are associated with an increased probability of a township banning or putting a moratorium on fracking.
Abstract: Concerns about harmful effects arising from the increased use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract underground fuel resources has led to efforts to ban the practice. Many townships in western New York, which lies above the gas-rich Marcellus shale formation, have enacted bans or moratoria using local zoning laws. Using spatial econometric techniques, we examine factors related to townships’ choice to adopt fracking bans and document the importance of spatial dependence when analyzing fracking bans. We find education levels, the poverty rate, and veterans groups are associated with an increased probability of a township banning or putting a moratorium on fracking. Our results inform the literature on NIMBYism as well as helping explain why local fracking bans were so pervasive despite the positive economic effect of fracking on local labor markets.
6 citations
TL;DR: The authors examine parish-level voting on Amendment 2 using an empirical political economy model and find that parishes with a greater percentage of African-Americans and university employees were more likely to vote yes.
Abstract: In many states, public institutions of higher education have the autonomy to raise tuition. This has not been the case in Louisiana since a 1995 constitutional amendment required a two-thirds majority of the state legislature for any tuition increase. In November of 2016, voters in Louisiana rejected Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment that would have given state institutions of higher education autonomy in setting tuition. We examine parish-level voting on Amendment 2 using an empirical political economy model and find that parishes with a greater percentage of African-Americans and university employees were more likely to vote yes. Student enrolment at public institutions seemingly did not play a role in Amendment 2 losing.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the impact of taxes on the salaries received by National Basketball Association free agents from 2010 to 2014 and found that high state income tax rates affect the after-tax income of free agents.
Abstract: This article investigates the impact of taxes on the salaries received by National Basketball Association free agents from 2010 to 2014. High state income tax rates affect the after-tax income rece...
4 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a panel of Ohio school districts that adopted a local income tax from 1990 to 2008, and found that revenues are procyclical and fluctuate only mildly.
Abstract: School districts in Ohio have the option of diversifying their revenue base by adopting income taxes. Using a panel of Ohio school districts that adopted a local income tax from 1990 to 2008, we find that revenues are procyclical and fluctuate only mildly. The estimated short‐ and long‐run income elasticity of school district income tax revenues is 1.05 and 1.04, respectively. We also find that the school district tax base fully adjusts to its long‐run equilibrium within 2 years. Finally, we show that school district income tax adoption does not provide more stability to total school district tax revenues in the short or the long run. (JEL H71, H75)
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the relationship between the level of corruption in HIPC countries and the length of time between the decision and the completion point, and use survival-time models to estimate the effect of various characteristics of the countries on the probability that each country will exit the interim period.
Abstract: The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) were created by the IMF and World Bank to help low-income countries reduce their debt burden and to facilitate reaching the Millennium Development Goals. After entering he decision point of the HIPC Initiative stage, countries receive interim aid while following a strategic path to improve their macroeconomic stability via structural reforms. Many countries reached the completion point of the HIPC Initiative stage within a few years, receiving a substantial amount of debt relief. Other countries remained in the interim period for almost a decade. We explore the relationship between the level of corruption in HIPC countries and the length of time between the decision and the completion point. We use survival-time models to estimate the effect of various characteristics of the countries on the probability that each country will exit the interim period. The results show that countries with lower corruption and better rule of law complete the HIPC process faster.
2 citations
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TL;DR: This article ranked the states according to how much their tax codes distort individual choices in private markets, and showed which states try to control your choices by taxation, and which ones leave the choices up to you.
Abstract: Which states are the most paternalistic, in terms of telling you what you can and can’t do? Which states tax individual choices like gambling, smoking, or using plastic bags most heavily? This chapter ranks the states according to how much their tax codes distort individual choices in private markets. The ranking shows which states try to control your choices by taxation, and which ones leave the choices up to you. Key takeaways: (1) Paternalistic policies may have positive effects that are easy to see, but they also have hidden unintended consequences. (2) Wyoming has the most freedom from paternalism, while New York is the most paternalistic state. (3) The indexes in this chapter can help policymakers understand the level and potential harm of paternalism in their state.
TL;DR: This article studied the role played by immigrant ethnic composition in the process of women's suffrage in the United States and found that states with a higher proportion of immigrants from Italy, Eastern/Southern Europe, and Mexico gave women the right to vote faster.
Abstract: This paper seeks to understand the role played by immigrant ethnic composition in the process of women’s suffrage in the United States. Any theory of the extension of voting rights to women must explain why native men voted to extend the franchise to women. In this paper, we consider what we call the “ethnic group threat.” To the extent that native males believed that the political preferences of native women were better aligned with theirs than new (primarily male) immigrants, male voters would be willing to grant women voting rights to secure their social and political status. We use a hazard model and immigration data from 1870 to 1920 to investigate the impact of immigrant ethnic composition on women suffrage, we find that states with a higher proportion of immigrants from Italy, Eastern/Southern Europe, and Mexico gave women the the right to vote faster.