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The dissertation consists of two essays in misallocation and development. In particular, the essays explore how government policies distort resource allocation across production units, and therefore affect aggregate economic and environmental outcomes.

The first chapter studies the aggregate consequences of misallocation in a firm dynamics model with multi-establishment firms.

The dissertation consists of two essays in misallocation and development. In particular, the essays explore how government policies distort resource allocation across production units, and therefore affect aggregate economic and environmental outcomes.

The first chapter studies the aggregate consequences of misallocation in a firm dynamics model with multi-establishment firms. I calibrate my model to the US firm size distribution with respect to both the number of employees and the number of establishments, and use it to study distortions that are correlated with establishment size, or so-called size-dependent distortions to establishments, which are modeled as implicit output taxes. In contrast to previous studies, I find that size-dependent distortions are not more damaging to aggregate productivity and output than size-independent distortions, while the implicit tax revenue approximately summarizes the effects on aggregate output. I also use the model to compare the effects of size-dependent distortions to establishments and to firms, and find that they have different effects on firm size distribution, but have similar effects on aggregate output.

The second chapter studies the effects of product market frictions on firm size distribution and their implications for industrial pollution in China. Using a unique micro-level manufacturing census, I find that larger firms generate and emit less pollutants per unit of production. I also provide evidence suggesting the existence of size-dependent product market frictions that disproportionately affect larger firms. Using a model with firms heterogeneous in productivity and an endogenous choice of pollution treatment technology, I show that these frictions result in lower adoption rate of clean technology, higher pollution and lower aggregate output. I use the model to evaluate policies that eliminate size-dependent frictions, and those that increase environmental regulation. Quantitative results show that eliminating size-dependent frictions increases output by 30%. Meanwhile, the fraction of firms using clean technology increases by 27% and aggregate pollution decreases by 20%. In contrast, a regulatory policy which increases the clean technology adoption rate by the same 27%, has no effect on aggregate output and leads to only 10% reduction in aggregate pollution.
ContributorsXi, Xican (Author) / Herrendorf, Berthold (Thesis advisor) / Ventura, Gustavo (Thesis advisor) / Schoellman, Todd (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
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Description
This dissertation consists of three essays that broadly deal with the growth and development of economies across time and space. Chapter one is motivated by the fact that agricultural labor productivity is key for understanding aggregate cross-country income differences. One important proximate cause of low agricultural productivity is the low

This dissertation consists of three essays that broadly deal with the growth and development of economies across time and space. Chapter one is motivated by the fact that agricultural labor productivity is key for understanding aggregate cross-country income differences. One important proximate cause of low agricultural productivity is the low use of intermediate inputs, such as fertilizers, in developing countries. This paper argues that farmers in poor countries rationally choose to use fewer intermediate inputs because it limits their exposure to large uninsurable risks. I formalize the idea in a dynamic general equilibrium model with incomplete markets, subsistence requirements, and idiosyncratic productivity shocks. Quantitatively, the model accounts for two-thirds of the difference in intermediate input shares between the richest and poorest countries. This has important implications for cross-country productivity. Relative to an identical model with no productivity shocks, the addition of agricultural shocks amplifies per capita GDP differences between the richest and poorest countries by nearly eighty percent. Chapter two deals with the changes in college completion in the United States over time. In particular, this paper develop a dynamic lifecycle model to study the increases in college completion and average IQ of college students in cohorts born from 1900 to 1972. I discipline the model by constructing historical data on real college costs from printed government reports covering this time period. The main finding is that that increases in college completion of 1900 to 1950 birth cohorts are due primarily to changes in college costs, which generate a large endogenous increase in college enrollment. Additionally, evidence is found that supports cohorts born after 1950 underpredicted sharp increases in the college earnings premium they eventually received. Combined with increasing college costs during this time period, this generates a slowdown in college completion, consistent with empirical evidence for cohorts born after 1950. Lastly, the rise in average college student IQ cannot be accounted for without a decrease in the variance of ability signals. This is attributed the increased precision of ability signals primarily to the rise of standardized testing. Chapter three again deals with cross-country income differences. In particular, it is concerned with the fact that cross-country income differences are primarily accounted for by total factor productivity (TFP) differences. Motivated by cross-country empirical evidence, this paper investigates the importance individuals who operate their own firms because of a lack of other job opportunities (need-based entrepreneurs). I develop a dynamic general equilibrium labor search model with with entrepreneurship to rationalize this misallocation across occupations and assess its role for understanding cross-country income differences. Developing countries are assumed to have tighter collateral constraints on entrepreneurs and lower unemployment benefits. Because these need-based entrepreneurs actually have a comparative advantage as workers, they operate smaller and less productive firms, lowering aggregate TFP in developing countries.
ContributorsDonovan, Kevin (Author) / Prescott, Edward C. (Thesis advisor) / Herrendorf, Berthold (Committee member) / Lagakos, David (Committee member) / Schoellman, Todd (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2013
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Description
This paper explores policies for the management of oil wealth in Norway, Mexico, and Russia, and applies them to the situation in Kazakhstan to create policy guidelines to improve the management of oil wealth in Kazakhstan. Ultimately the paper recommends that Kazakhstan transfer oil wealth to the oil stabilization fund

This paper explores policies for the management of oil wealth in Norway, Mexico, and Russia, and applies them to the situation in Kazakhstan to create policy guidelines to improve the management of oil wealth in Kazakhstan. Ultimately the paper recommends that Kazakhstan transfer oil wealth to the oil stabilization fund directly, that it increase the cap on annual transfers from the fund to the budget to 11 billion dollars, and that it create strict policies for the promotion of growth.
ContributorsHoyt, Christian Thomas (Co-author) / McCarty, Mark (Co-author) / Mendez, Jose (Thesis director) / Schoellman, Todd (Committee member) / Moldabekova, Saule (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Economics Program in CLAS (Contributor)
Created2013-05
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Description

Through research, interviews, and analysis, our paper provides the local community with a resource that offers a comprehensive collection of insight into the Mirabella at ASU Life Plan Community and the projected impact it will have on the City of Tempe and Arizona State University.

ContributorsStephens, Corey Christopher (Co-author) / Dicke, George (Co-author) / Anand, Rohan (Co-author) / Sadusky, Brian (Thesis director) / Schiller, Christoph (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description

Through research, interviews, and analysis, our paper provides the local community with a resource that offers a comprehensive collection of insight into the Mirabella at ASU Life Plan Community and the projected impact it will have on the City of Tempe and Arizona State University.

ContributorsAnand, Rohan (Co-author) / Dicke, George (Co-author) / Stephens, Corey (Co-author) / Sadusky, Brian (Thesis director) / Schiller, Christoph (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description
The Solis Lofts Development Proposal thesis consisted of a full prospective development within the City of Tempe. Our team conducted a vast amount of market research to determine what sector of the market would provide the best return on investment. We organized meetings with local brokers from Cushman & Wakefield,

The Solis Lofts Development Proposal thesis consisted of a full prospective development within the City of Tempe. Our team conducted a vast amount of market research to determine what sector of the market would provide the best return on investment. We organized meetings with local brokers from Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, JLL, and Colliers International to learn more about the current market environment. Also, we organized meetings with local developers, architects, and lenders. These included Merit Partners, Sunbelt Holdings, MODUS Development, Catclar Investments, 5Visual, Butler Design Group, and Colonial Capital. Through the research we conducted we were able to successfully determine that a multifamily development within the City of Tempe would be a great way to enter the Commercial Real Estate Development field. Our project consisted of the full land acquisition process, architectural site plan review, financial analysis, and completion of the product.
ContributorsFarnsworth, Yzaac (Co-author) / Liu, Braden (Co-author) / Zwillinger, Mason (Co-author) / Butura, Alex (Co-author) / Sadusky, Brian (Thesis director) / Avrhami, Mathew (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
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Description
The Solis Lofts Development Proposal thesis consisted of a full prospective development within the City of Tempe. Our team conducted a vast amount of market research to determine what sector of the market would provide the best return on investment. We organized meetings with local brokers from Cushman & Wakefield,

The Solis Lofts Development Proposal thesis consisted of a full prospective development within the City of Tempe. Our team conducted a vast amount of market research to determine what sector of the market would provide the best return on investment. We organized meetings with local brokers from Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, JLL, and Colliers International to learn more about the current market environment. Also, we organized meetings with local developers, architects, and lenders. These included Merit Partners, Sunbelt Holdings, MODUS Development, Catclar Investments, 5Visual, Butler Design Group, and Colonial Capital. Through the research we conducted we were able to successfully determine that a multifamily development within the City of Tempe would be a great way to enter the Commercial Real Estate Development field. Our project consisted of the full land acquisition process, architectural site plan review, financial analysis, and completion of the product.
ContributorsLiu, Braden John (Co-author) / Butura, Alexander (Co-author) / Zwillinger, Mason (Co-author) / Farnsworth, Yzaac (Co-author) / Sadusky, Brian (Thesis director) / Avrhami, Matthew (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
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Description
The Solis Lofts Development Proposal thesis consisted of a full prospective development within the City of Tempe. Our team conducted a vast amount of market research to determine what sector of the market would provide the best return on investment. We organized meetings with local brokers from Cushman & Wakefield,

The Solis Lofts Development Proposal thesis consisted of a full prospective development within the City of Tempe. Our team conducted a vast amount of market research to determine what sector of the market would provide the best return on investment. We organized meetings with local brokers from Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, JLL, and Colliers International to learn more about the current market environment. Also, we organized meetings with local developers, architects, and lenders. These included Merit Partners, Sunbelt Holdings, MODUS Development, Catclar Investments, 5Visual, Butler Design Group, and Colonial Capital. Through the research, we conducted we were able to successfully determine that a multifamily development within the City of Tempe would be a great way to enter the Commercial Real Estate Development field. Our project consisted of the full land acquisition process, architectural site plan review, financial analysis, and completion of the product.
ContributorsButura, Alex Brennan (Co-author) / Liu, Braden (Co-author) / Zwillinger, Mason (Co-author) / Farnsworth, Yzaac (Co-author) / Sadusky, Brian (Thesis director) / Avrhami, Mathew (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05