Aims We conducted a systematic review of studies examining relationships between measures of beverage alcohol tax or price levels and alcohol sales or self-reported drinking. A total of 112 studies of alcohol tax or price effects were found, containing1003 estimates of the tax/price–consumption relationship. Design Studies included analyses of alternative outcome measures, varying subgroups of the population, several statistical models, and using different units of analysis. Multiple estimates were coded from each study, along with numerous study characteristics. Using reported estimates, standard errors, t-ratios, sample sizes and other statistics, we calculated the partial correlation for the relationship between alcohol price or tax and sales or drinking measures for each major model or subgroup reported within each study. Random-effects models were used to combine studies for inverse variance weighted overall estimates of the magnitude and significance of the relationship between alcohol tax/price and drinking. Findings Simple means of reported elasticities are -0.46 for beer, -0.69 for wine and -0.80 for spirits. Meta-analytical results document the highly significant relationships (P < 0.001) between alcohol tax or price measures and indices of sales or consumption of alcohol (aggregate-levelr =- 0.17 for beer, -0.30 for wine, -0.29 for spirits and -0.44 for total alcohol). Price/tax also affects heavy drinking significantly (mean reported elasticity =- 0.28, individual-level r =- 0.01, P < 0.01), but the magnitude of effect is smaller than effects on overall drinking. Conclusions A large literature establishes that beverage alcohol prices and taxes are related inversely to drinking. Effects are large compared to other prevention policies and programs. Public policies that raise prices of alcohol are an effective means to reduce

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Effects of beverage alcohol price and tax levels on drinking: a meta-analysis of 1003 estimates from 112 studies

Using accounts data for a sample of 38 small manufacturing firms located in Tayside Region, this paper investigates the relationship between company characteristics including size, age, location and industry group, and profitability and growth. The trade‐off between the possibly conflicting objectives of profit and growth is considered primarily from the entrepreneurial rather than the managerial standpoint which previous econometric studies of small firm performance have concentrated on. Motivations for undertaking entrepreneurial activity and their possible relationships with profitability and growth are discussed and a number of hypotheses developed. From this perspective it is argued that a firm size measure based on employment is more appropriate than one based on sales or assets which previous studies have used. Firm characteristics are found to be of limited value in explaining profitability. However, larger firms are found to grow faster than smaller, and younger firms are found to grow faster than older. This is also some evidence that growth is stronger in urban than in suburban or rural locations. It is possible that entrepreneurial motivations are an important factor in this regard and it is suggested that future econometric studies of small firm performance take these into account.

Determinants of growth and profitability in small entrepreneurial firms in the manufacturing sector in Tayside

This article investigates wage determination among professional soccer players appearing in the Italian league. Given the popularity of “top” soccer players, the relationship between individual productivity and pay can lead to “superstar” effects. In that context, the marginal revenue product of a soccer player is related to the extra price that a spectator is willing to pay to see him play (live or on television) times the number of spectators who are attracted. The authors use rare data on individual earnings and other personal characteristics of a set of soccer players in the 1995-1996 Italian league season to estimate human capital earnings equations and test for superstar effects in wage determination via convexity of earnings in performance. Earnings are found to be highly convex in two performance measures after controlling for a set of personal characteristics and team fixed effects.

Superstar Effects in Sport: Evidence From Italian Soccer

Objective: We provide an overview of environmental strategies that may reduce college drinking. The identified environmental strategies fall into three categories: (1) reducing alcohol use and related problems among underage college students, (2) reducing risky alcohol use and related problems among all college students, and (3) de-emphasizing the role of alcohol and creating positive expectations on campus. At the time of our 2002 review, few studies had assessed environmental policies and strategies in the context of college student alcohol use and related problems. The present article summarizes recent research on the effects of environmental policies and strategies affecting college students. Method: We updated our previous literature searches to identify peer-reviewed research studies evaluating the effects of environmental strategies on college and general populations. Results: We identified 110 new studies addressing environmental strategies published between 1999 and 2006. Thirty-six of these studies focused on the college population. The extant research indicates that many environmental strategies are promising for reducing alcohol-related problems among the general population. Several recent studies suggest that these strategies, particularly combined strategies, also may be effective in decreasing alcohol-related problems among college populations. Conclusions: Further research is needed to continue expanding our understanding of environmental strategies to identify the most effective individual and combined strategies. Language: en

Environmental Policies to Reduce College Drinking: An Update of Research Findings*

Alcohol in Europe: a public health persepctive. A report for the European Commission.

Previous research has shown that wage discrimination may exist in National Basketball Association (NBA) player salaries. These studies have shown that African-Americans earned from nine to twenty per cent less than whites when on-court performance is held constant. The authors could find no substantial research that has been done in this area since 1991. The present study re-examines this issue. Using salary data from the 1996–97 season and performance statistics from the 1995–96 season, a log-linear wage equation was estimated, and a Chow Test was performed. Holding all other factors constant, African-American players do not earn less than white players. The most important factors affecting an NBA player's salary are on-court performance, free agency, experience, and the draft status of the player. These results are important since they indicate that wage discrimination based on race appears to have been eliminated from the NBA.

An empirical investigation of wage discrimination in professional basketball

The purpose of the present study is to determine the effects of state-level assault weapons bans and concealed weapons laws on state-level murder rates. Using data for the period 1980 to 2009 and controlling for state and year fixed effects, the results of the present study suggest that states with restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons had higher gun-related murder rates than other states. It was also found that assault weapons bans did not significantly affect murder rates at the state level. These results suggest that restrictive concealed weapons laws may cause an increase in gun-related murders at the state level. The results of this study are consistent with some prior research in this area, most notably Lott and Mustard (1997).

http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/wnpr/files/201401/Gius_research_%282%29.pdf

An examination of the effects of concealed weapons laws and assault weapons bans on state-level murder rates

Although there have been numerous studies on the effect of race on the compensation of National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball players, there have been only three prior studies that investigated the effect of race on the compensation of National Football League (NFL) players. Two found no evidence of racial discrimination in NFL player compensation, while one found that, at most, whites earn on average 4% more than African-Americans. Using salary data for 938 NFL players from the 1996 season and player and market characteristic data from the 1995 season, a log-linear wage equation was estimated, and a Chow Test was performed. The results indicate that white players earned 10% less than African-American players. Other important factors affecting an NFL player's salary were experience, position, percentage of games started, and the draft status of the player. These results indicate that reverse wage discrimination based on race may exist in the NFL.

Race and compensation in professional football

The purpose of this study is to determine if the existence of a district-level merit pay system has any effects on teacher job satisfaction. Using a large sample of public school teachers from the year 2007, the results of this study suggest that teachers who work in districts that use a merit pay system are no less satisfied with their jobs than are other teachers; these results are consistent for both an ordered probit model and a two-stage analysis. Although the effect of merit pay on overall job satisfaction was insignificant, teachers in merit pay districts were less enthusiastic, did not think teaching was important, and were more likely to leave for better pay. However, in examining a sample of teachers who worked only in merit pay districts, it was found that teachers who received merit pay were more satisfied overall with their jobs than were teachers who did not receive merit pay.

The effects of merit pay on teacher job satisfaction

The aim of the present study is to quantify the association between child access prevention (CAP) and minimum age laws and state-level youth firearm-related suicide and unintentional death rates. This paper differs from prior research in several ways. First, this is one of the few studies to focus exclusively on youth death rates. Second, this study looks at those laws with the most impact on youth suicides and unintentional deaths. Finally, this study uses one of the largest and most recent data sets of any study on this topic. In order to estimate the determinants of youth firearm deaths, a fixed effects regression model, controlling for both state-level and year-specific effects, is used. Results indicate that state-level minimum age laws have no significant effects on either youth suicides or unintentional deaths and that state-level CAP laws have no significant effects on unintentional deaths. States with CAP laws, however, have lower rates of youth suicide, and, after the enactment of the Federal minimum age requirement, both youth suicide and unintentional death rates fell. Given the mixed results regarding state-level juvenile firearm laws, national restrictions on juvenile handgun possession may be more effective in reducing both youth suicides and unintentional deaths than state-level regulations.

Mark Gius

Papers

An empirical investigation of wage discrimination in professional basketball

An examination of the effects of concealed weapons laws and assault weapons bans on state-level murder rates

Race and compensation in professional football

The effects of merit pay on teacher job satisfaction

The impact of minimum age and child access prevention laws on firearm-related youth suicides and unintentional deaths