Impact Evaluation of Investments in the Appalachian Region

Sayago-Gomez, Juan Tomas; Piras, Gianfranco; Jackson, Randall; Lacombe, Donald J.

doi:10.1177/0160017617713822

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…One notable example is the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a regional economic development agency that coordinates federal and local economic resources to support distressed communities at the Appalachian region. 3 Evidence has shown that the ARC model is quite successful in improving rural economic outcomes (Isserman & Rephann, 1995; Sayago-Gomez et al, 2018). However, decreasing federal funding for rural development has imposed great challenges to those regional agencies (SSIT, 2017).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Urban–Rural Divide: The Effects of the Small Business Innovation Research Program in Small and Nonmetro Counties

Liu

2021

Economic Development Quarterly

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This study assesses the efficacy of the Small Business Innovation Research Program on innovation, employment, and business formation in small and nonmetropolitan counties. The primary goal is to further understand rural innovation and growth process through government intervention on small business development. Using panel data and employing fixed-effect models, the results suggest that, compared with large metropolitan counties, the Small Business Innovation Research Program may not be an effective program to generate employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in small and nonmetropolitan regions, but it could be a viable source to improve rural innovation outcome. The geographical effects of the program are heterogeneous across implementation years and award agencies. This study contributes to the innovation policy agenda in small and nonmetropolitan regions, which is an important and emerging topic in the field.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Urban–Rural Divide: The Effects of the Small Business Innovation Research Program in Small and Nonmetro Counties

Liu

2021

Economic Development Quarterly

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“…This result is consistent with the conclusions of Glaeser and Gottlieb (2008) on these types of economies. However, Rephann and Isserman (1994) came to the opposite conclusion in their assessment of Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) transportation investment, and Sayago-Gomez, Piras, Jackson, and Lacombe (2017) more recently found small, but positive impacts from 50 years of ARC place-based nonhighway investments. Kline and Moretti (2014) studied the place-based Tennessee Valley Authority project and found positive direct impact on the region with long-lasting benefits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Woody Biomass Processing and Rural Regional Development

Jackson

Neto

Erfanian

et al. 2019

Economic Development Quarterly

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The authors report on the economic impacts of introducing woody biomass processing in an economically distressed, but heavily forested Central Appalachian U.S. region. Woody biomass is a readily available unconventional energy source that has the potential to boost the rural region’s economy. They use a static regional computable general equilibrium model to assess long-run economic impacts of two woody biomass processing production pathways of biomass to ethanol through fermentation and biomass to biofuel through fast pyrolysis. While the 232 to 370 jobs and $13 million to $21 million income might seem small relative to the multicounty region, the localized impact on the county in which the facility would be sited, even for the direct jobs and income impacts, would be much more substantial. The authors conclude that woody biomass processing is a viable economic development option for the study area and similar rural regions.

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“…Appalachia is, and has been, a systematically lagging region associated with lower levels of labor force participation and higher levels of unemployment (Dorsey, 1991;Isserman and Rephann, 1993;Stephens and Deskins, 2018). For instance, this is the only region in the US with a dedicated policy-making commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission, which has been in place for over 50 years (Isserman and Rephann, 1993;Sayago-Gomez et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three Essays on the Economics of Public Libraries

Neto¹,

Borges²

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This dissertation explores empirical issues concerning public libraries in the United States. In particular, it analyzes the direct and indirect effects to and from public libraries, on different issues such as charitable donations, labor market outcomes, institutions and technical efficiency. Chapter 1 discusses the economics of public libraries and its relevance. In addition, it provides an outline of the dissertation and its main contribution to the literature. Chapter 2, analyzes the determinants of donations to public libraries testing the crowding effect from government funding of public libraries. I find suggestive results of a crowd in effect with an inverted U shape in all levels of government. In other words, additional government dollars increase private donations to public libraries at a decreasing rate. Chapter 3 investigates the effect of public library programs and participation on unemployment and labor force participation in Appalachia. Using an instrumental variable approach, I show that neither adult nor children's programs and participation affect local labor market outcomes. These results are robust across different specifications. Chapter 4 explores the institutional determinants of public library technical efficiency in West Virginia. The analysis is carried out in two steps. First, I document considerable cross-district variation in library efficiency. Then, I estimate the effect of institutional characteristics on the technical efficiency measures. I find consistent evidence that urban libraries are more inefficient than county and multi-jurisdictional libraries. In addition, I find revenue from local sources is associated with reduced efficiency, contrary to what would be predicted by local public goods producer theory. Chapter 5 concludes the dissertation by summarizing its main findings and discussing possible implications. I would like to thank the people who have been influential on my development over the last five years at West Virginia University. To my advisor, Dr. Joshua Hall, to whom I owe so much, thank you for all the opportunities, mentoring, guidance and advice at all times; most importantly, thanks for believing in me. You are a big part of my development as a scholar. To Dr. Randall Jackson, I would like to thank for all the opportunities and guidance. My time at the RRI under your supervision has been crucial to development as researcher and scholar. Also, I would like to thank the RRI, especially Doris and Caigan, who have been like family since my arrival at WVU. I could not have asked for a better environment to pursue my goals. I am also grateful to have had great faculty who shared their love for economics, and

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Impact Evaluation of Investments in the Appalachian Region

Cited by 7 publications

References 21 publications

The Urban–Rural Divide: The Effects of the Small Business Innovation Research Program in Small and Nonmetro Counties

The Urban–Rural Divide: The Effects of the Small Business Innovation Research Program in Small and Nonmetro Counties

Woody Biomass Processing and Rural Regional Development

Three Essays on the Economics of Public Libraries

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