http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/ Digital Archives of Colorado College en Fez http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2166 This study examines the relationship between pharmaceutical R&D and health care expenditures, distinguishing between the short- and long-run impacts. To measure these relationships quantitatively, we focus on patents as a key factor driving the costs of pharmaceuticals, and develop a structured vector autoregressive (SVAR) model to measure the social rate of return to pharmaceutical research as protected by patents. We conclude with unambiguous results that pharmaceutical patents are not correlated with higher short-run prices in any measure of medical costs. They are associated with higher long-run prices in pharmaceuticals themselves, but with lower long-run prices in the aggregate medical sector which includes pharmaceuticals as a component part. Further, the TRIPS Agreement and Hatch-Waxman Act to enable generic competition have both been demonstrably effective at lowering prices across the spectrum of medical sector prices. We conclude that pharmaceutical patents may be economically medicinal themselves, acting as the 'ounce of prevention' that saves a 'pound of cure', the cure which would come in the form of even higher costs elsewhere in the medical sector. 2010-01-12 16:22:55 Johnson, Hilary S. og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2627 There are two counter-intuitive trends in technological collaboration currently at work, making collaborative patent applications less common but where they exist, the collaborations involve more partners. Patent data are used to examine these trends along with the impact of two recent policy changes, including the relevance for particular nations and technologies. 2010-01-15 09:23:52 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Sneed, Katherine A. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2154 This paper considers the challenges to the dissemination of environmental innovation. Following a brief exploration of the legal and regulatory regimes surrounding environmental technologies, the paper examines diffusion mechanisms, market factors, social characteristics and political elements that facilitate and complicate dissemination. Given the importance of innovation to economic development and growth, the diffusion of innovation is of great interest to economists and policymakers alike. 2010-01-08 17:28:34 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2607 During the tabulation of votes in the 2000 presidential election, the world was shocked at the technological inadequacy of electoral equipment in many parts of the US. In reaction to public dismay over "hanging chads", Congress quickly enacted the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), legislation to fund the acquisition of advanced vote-counting technology. However, the intention was to enable, rather than mandate, choices of new electoral equipment. This paper takes advantage of a unique historical opportunity to test whether electoral equipment follows the pattern predicted by well-established models of innovation diffusion, merging electoral data with census data on socioeconomic characteristics. We infer that fiscal constraints to acquisition are strong but are not the only limitations to technology adoption, particularly within certain types of easily identifiable populations. 2010-01-13 11:12:07 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:3143 Compensation of K-12 school principals, and the effect that it has on the performance of the schools they lead, has become a relevant policy debate in recent years. This study examines the relationship between principal salaries and student performance on Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) tests by using multivariate quintile regressions on data from the 2002-2005 school years. Controlling for differences in cost of living across districts, a positive correlation between principal salaries and student CSAP scores was found, particularly in the mathematics section of the test. However, the percentage of a school’s students on free and reduced lunch and teacher salaries were found to have a larger impact on student performance. 2010-12-21 12:13:32 Carlson, David K. og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2612 This paper considers the challenges associated with conducting research with undergraduates – limited time and resources, limited skills, the tedious nature of data gathering, etc.. We discuss four models of effective research approaches. One is Aju Fenn’s which is to identify a topic and a workable approach, such as competitive balance in sports, and apply it in different contexts – football, basketball, soccer, etc. with different students working on different sports. This model is also successful because much data on both inputs and performance is collected in sports and is readily available from non-propriety sources. The Dan Johnson Model is to develop a huge data set, in this case patents, and then set students to work on problems involving some aspect of the data set while asking them develop one part of the data set through their research. The Smith Model which is to divide a related problem into distinct parts and have students work on each part. Smith discusses this approach on research on recreation values for the Arkansas River a quantitative problem while Stimpert shows its application to a qualitative problem, the role of corporate boards. 2010-01-13 12:51:53 Fenn, Aju J. og Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Smith, Mark Griffin og Stimpert, J. L. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2153 In an effort to explore the potential for financing environmental innovation, this paper examines different forms of financing and attempts to evaluate their effectiveness. The study considers both public and private forms of funding as well as providing policy suggestions for the support of appropriate financing for eco-innovation. 2010-01-08 17:20:42 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:3304 Closely following the notion of innovative geographic clusters, this paper examines knowledge flows in the US agriculture industry for evidence of innovative agglomeration. The data indicate that a closer distance between any two agricultural patent origins increases the probability that one cites the other as prior art. Further, subtle interregional variations characterize the degree to which proximity advances agricultural innovation. Finally, the results show that older innovations in agriculture proliferate more readily than recently created knowledge. 2011-02-11 09:22:20 Stiller-Shulman, Alex Julian og Lybecker, Kristina M. og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2617 This paper tests the induced innovation hypothesis that higher oil prices will lead to increased innovation in energy-efficient automotive technology. We find robust empirical support for the hypothesis, while using various measures of oil and gas prices and controlling for other factors including constructed knowledge stocks and macroeconomic variables. 2010-01-13 16:14:48 Crabb, Joseph M. og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2155 This paper aims to summarize the state of academic knowledge surrounding the economics of environmental innovation. Following a definition of environmental technology, the paper enumerates and describes the obstacles or constraints to the development of eco-innovation. 2010-01-11 12:49:45 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:3331 While there is anecdotal evidence that home values decline when a big-box store (such as Wal-Mart) decides to locate in the area, there is a paucity of evidence on that effect. This paper uses a repeat sales model to compare residential property values, and the speed of sale of the property, to compare the impact that an arrival has. Results conclude that there is a "news effect" surrounding the arrival, and that the total effect is small at most. For most specifications tested, the number of stores nearby, the arrival of new stores, and the distance to the nearest store all have insignificant impacts on both property resale value and the number of days that a property spends on the market prior to sale. In the worst-case scenario, the arrival of a Wal-Mart is associated with a decline equivalent to roughly one percent of the home's square footage and is not absorbed by those closest to the new retailer but by rather more distant neighbors. 2011-02-15 15:58:12 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2625 Using patent citation data for the U.S., we test whether knowledge spillovers in biotechnology are sensitive to distance, and whether that sensitivity has changed over time. Controlling for self-citation by inventor, assignee and examiner, cohort-based regression analysis shows that physical distance is becoming less important for spillovers with time. 2010-01-14 15:00:53 Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:3311 This paper analyzes a database of over 18,000 women micro-finance clients of the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), a database using the Progress Out of Poverty (PPI) Scorecard as a measure of poverty. Analysis using both OLS and quantile regression models shows how observable characteristics of borrowers affect the ability of clients to reduce their measured poverty. Loan size, duration, and the economic activity supported all have strongly identifiable effects. Moreover, estimates suggest which among the poor are receiving the greatest effective help by the program. Results offer advice to the NWTF and offer insight useful to policymakers and other micro-lenders. 2011-02-11 10:42:09 Polk, Stephen William og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2616 Although previous empirical studies have found relationships between patent characteristics and value, none have determined how specific attributes relate to auction value or even the probability of a successful auction sale. Using a Heckman two-step model, we regress thirteen independent variables against unique patent auction data, finding that publicly-owned and frequently referenced patents are more valuable, and that other things equal, there is an optimal time to offer a patent up for auction. 2010-01-13 13:41:59 Sneed, Katherine A. og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2608 This paper investigates whether the curricular structure of an Economics course (semester, trimester, or compressed block schedule) has an effect on an undergraduate's subsequent retention of course material. We test separately for theoretical/process comprehension and for graphical construction/interpretation, while separating micro from macro content as well. We use an instrument to address the no stakes testing problem, and our Heckman two-stage estimations present some interesting results for educators and institutional policymakers alike. 2010-01-13 11:20:21 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. og Taylor, Corrine H. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2626 Network analysis shows a stable network between states, but a changing environment between individual actors, with a growing importance of connectedness. The popular maxim that everyone is connected by six degrees of separation is tested with surprising results. 2010-01-15 09:14:17 Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2610 In 2006, philanthropic giving to higher education institutions totaled $28 billion, with the top school receiving just under a billion dollars. Roughly fifteen percent of those funds came from alumni donations. This paper builds upon existing economic models to create an econometric model predicting the ever-more important pattern of alumni giving. We test the model using data from over 22,000 alumni at a private liberal arts college, and report on the probable profiles for annual fund donors and alumni willing and able to give major gifts. 2010-01-13 11:37:09 Lara, Christen og Johnson, Daniel K. N. http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2152 Recent Wal-Mart openings have been accompanied by public demonstrations against the company’s presence in the community, asserting (among other things) that their presence is deleterious to residential property values. This study empirically evaluates that claim, analyzing the spatial correlation between Wal-Mart locations and residential property values, while comparing Wal-Mart with other big-box retailers for a frame of reference and controlling for other important aspects of a home’s market value. We recognize that market value may represent a trade-off between price and patience, so perform a similar analysis using a property’s days on the market to evaluate any big-box effect. Finally, we interpret the resulting effects in two ways, from both the resident’s and retailer’s point of view, casting new light on the NWIMBY effect. 2010-01-08 17:06:52 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Lybecker, Kristina M. og Gurley, Nicole og Stiller-Shulman, Alex og Fischer, Stephen http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2164 Agriculture, like many primary and service sectors, is a frequent recipient of innovation intended for its use, even if those innovations originate in industrial sectors. The challenge has been identifying them from patent data, which are recorded for administrative purposes using the International Patent Classification (IPC) system. We reprogram a well-tested tool, the OECD Technology Concordance (OTC), to identify 16 million patents granted between 1975 and 2006 worldwide which have potential application in agriculture. This paper presents the methodology of that dataset’s construction, introduces the data via summaries by nation and industrial sector over time, and suggests some potential avenues for future exploration of empirical issues using these data. 2010-01-12 08:42:43 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Hughes, Christopher Ryan http://adr.coalliance.org/coccc/fez/view/coccc:2628 On the popular game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, men appear to average higher winnings than women. This paper investigates potential reasons, including different uses of information sources (lifelines) and different perceptions of risk. We include gender-based tests of Kahneman and Tversky’s prospect theory, but offer instead the counterintuitive conclusion that men are rewarded for acting slightly more cautiously than women do. 2010-01-15 09:30:38 Johnson, Daniel K. N. og Gleason, Tracy R.