{"title":"Regime-dependent health care employment dynamics in recessions","authors":"Luiggi Donayre, Lacey Loomer","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We relax the assumption that recessions are all alike in studying whether U.S. health care employment is recession-proof. Because health care services are inelastic and largely driven by costs, we argue that economic conditions influence health care employment only to the extent that they significantly affect health care wage growth. Using U.S. monthly data for 1990–2022, we estimate a threshold vector autoregression that allows for regime-dependent negative demand and negative supply shocks in examining the response of health care employment growth in recessionary periods. When wage growth is high as determined by an endogenously-estimated threshold, we find a large and significant reduction in health care employment growth during demand-induced recessions and a smaller decline during supply-induced recessions. Meanwhile, health care employment growth does not respond significantly to negative demand or supply shocks in the low-cost regime. Further, a disaggregated analysis evidences large heterogeneity across sub-sectors. In this way, our findings reveal that both the source of the shock and health care wage growth are important in explaining health care employment dynamics. Thus, health care organizations that are more labor cost efficient will be more insulated from economic disruptions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101036"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143378781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Opaque payments, open wallets: The relationship between payment transparency and overspending","authors":"Amelina Apricia Sjam","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As payment methods evolve from cash to digital alternatives, their psychological and behavioural effects on spending behaviours, especially among young consumers, become increasingly important. Previous research has mainly compared credit cards and cash, showing that credit cards lead to more spending. However, the psychological mechanisms behind this are unclear due to differences in coupling time and transparency between the methods. This study bridges the gap by examining not just credit cards and cash, but also prepaid cards and cash, which have a similar coupling between consumption and payment but differ in transparency or payment format. By comparing prepaid cards with cash, the study explores whether the format of payment itself impacts spending behaviour. Drawing from a novel survey of Indonesian college students, this study presents empirical findings that credit card and prepaid card use (extensive margin) and payment frequency (intensive margin) are associated with overspending, whereas cash payments show no such association. The evidence suggests that payment transparency influences consumer behaviour, clarifying the underlying psychological mechanism of how payment methods affect spending. Further analysis shows that higher financial literacy helps mitigate the impact of less transparent payment methods on overspending. These insights suggest opportunities for developing digital payment solutions that minimize negative consequences, particularly for younger users. Educational initiatives tailored to promoting responsible digital payment usage could further reduce these effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 3","pages":"Article 101045"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143465304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unpacking corruption: The role of economic freedom in developing countries","authors":"Brandon Parsons","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This comprehensive study examines the effects of economic freedom on corruption in a panel of 92 developing countries from 1995 to 2021. The study uses two composite measures of economic freedom: the Fraser Institute and the Heritage Foundation. The study also tests individual subcomponents of each composite economic freedom measure (e.g., regulation and government size). The study finds composite economic freedom measures moderate corruption. The results are robustly tested and consistent across three corruption measures (i.e., ICRG, Transparency International, World Bank), model specifications, and econometric frameworks (e.g., OLS, FE, RE, FGLS, GMM). The study uses the Method of Moment quantile econometric framework to test if there is an uneven effect based on the corruption environment (e.g., low corruption versus high corruption). The study finds economic freedom reduces corruption even in countries with the most rampant corruption, which counters findings from other studies. Economic freedom subcomponent analysis reveals property rights protection and deregulation are particularly effective at reducing corruption. One dimension of economic freedom that can exacerbate corruption is smaller governments, as they may lack the capacity to provide adequate oversight and enforcement of laws and regulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101044"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the implications of FOREX restriction policies: Theory and new evidence","authors":"Lawrence Ogbeifun , Olatunji Shobande","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper examines the economic effects of foreign exchange (FOREX) restriction policy in Nigeria, using a new dataset from 2009 to 2019. Using the synthetic control method (SCM), we find that, after the policy implementation, Nigeria’s per capita GDP reduced by an average of $175.72 while inflation increased by 6.3% from 2015 to 2019 compared to the synthetic control countries without such policy. Regarding the restricted items, our results indicate that the policy led to a decrease in the trade value of imported items, except for imported processed vegetables. Furthermore, our analysis emphasizes that while the FOREX restriction policy appears to align with the Central Bank’s objective of reducing the importation of domestically producible items, it also sheds light on the consequential impacts of such policies. The observed decline in GDP per capita and the complex pattern of inflation highlight the need for a sophisticated and adaptable policy strategy. Policymakers should pay close attention to the macroeconomic dynamics and promote stability and growth in the face of changing economic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 3","pages":"Article 101033"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Loss and gain framing to encourage repeated real-effort provision: An experiment","authors":"Penelope Buckley, Béatrice Roussillon, Sabrina Teyssier","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We examine the effects of gain framing and loss framing on small, repetitive efforts with piece-rate payoffs in laboratory experiments. Theoretical predictions, arising from the anticipation of higher reference points under loss framing, suggest an increased effort in that context. However, our results do not support this hypothesis; in fact, a reverse effect is observed among a subset of participants. Our findings also indicate that loss framing tends to increase participants’ stress levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 3","pages":"Article 101030"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143445271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relative age, college satisfaction, and student perceptions of skills gained","authors":"P. Wesley Routon , Jay K. Walker","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>School starting age policies typically result in academic cohorts where the oldest students are approximately a full year older than their youngest peers. A student’s relative age in their cohort has been shown to have significant effects on a growing list of outcomes, academic and non-academic. On average, relatively older students have been found to perform better in school, particularly during early education. Some evidence exists they continue to fare better in post-college labor markets. Soft skills, satisfaction with education, and collegiate differentials, generally, have received less attention. Using a sample of students from hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities, we estimate the effects of relative age on student satisfaction with higher education and their perceived gains in 13 knowledge and skill categories during undergraduate tenure. College GPAs are also examined. Controlling for other factors, relatively older students report smaller gains in a large number of skill and knowledge categories. In none of the categories available for analysis do they report higher average gains. This does not appear due to academic achievement or involvement, as they also earn similar grades, on average, and report feeling similarly satisfied with their overall collegiate experience and instruction specifically. Thus, while relatively older students earn similar grades and leave college no less satisfied, they perceive to have benefited less from higher education in terms of skill and knowledge gains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101037"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Persistent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on student outcomes in Italy","authors":"Léonard Moulin , Mara Soncin","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ outcomes is likely to have lasting effects on which evidence is lacking. Using a difference-in-differences design through a triple difference estimator, we identify the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Italian students’ test scores in the two years following the COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings indicate a persistently negative effect on mathematics and reading scores for grade 5 and grade 8 students in 2021–22, two years after the pandemic began. The magnitude compared the cohort that attended the same grades the year before (2020-21) varies by subject and grade. Our analysis highlights the pandemic’s heterogeneous impact, especially in terms of geographical differences that have been exacerbated by the emergency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101031"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joan E. Madia , Francesco Moscone , Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi , Jong-Chol An , Changkeun Lee
{"title":"Fertility decline and tax revenues in South Korea","authors":"Joan E. Madia , Francesco Moscone , Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi , Jong-Chol An , Changkeun Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the link between taxation and fertility in South Korea, focusing on the historical period surrounding the mid-70s tax reforms. The longstanding decline in fertility rates has been widely discussed in relation to factors such as increasing human capital, women’s employment, and rising housing costs, leading couples to postpone or forego childbearing decisions. However, less attention has been paid to how tax policies that influence disposable income and economic planning horizons could indirectly affect fertility choices. While taxation is crucial for funding social security systems, policies that reduce household resources without considering demographic impacts may have unintended consequences on population dynamics. Using a time-series of country-year from the World Bank, we exploit South Korea’s major mid-1970s tax reforms as a natural experiment to test the hypothesis that higher tax burdens also contributed to reducing fertility over the subsequent decades. The results suggest considerable negative effect of the mid-1970s tax reforms on fertility in South Korea. This macro-analysis shows tax policies can influence population dynamics, but lacks insight into how tax changes affected childbearing decisions at the household level. Future micro-level studies could reveal mechanisms linking tax policies and fertility behavior. Still, this study highlights potential demographic impacts of taxation policies. Policymakers should consider such consequences when modifying tax systems, especially policies related to family resources and child affordability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101025"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Remittance and economic growth nexus in BRICS countries: Evidence from PSTR with endogeneity","authors":"Kalandi Charan Pradhan , Lingaraj Mallick , Kalu Naik","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates threshold impact of remittances on economic growth based on data for a sample of BRICS countries for the period 1994–2018. In doing so, we employ Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR), which captures both heterogeneity and nonlinearity of smooth transition in estimated coefficients from one extreme to another regime. Based on the PSTR model results, the threshold of remittance ranges between 4.82 and 30.65 % for remittance percentage of GDP (RPG) in BRICS countries. Similarly, threshold estimated value of remittance varies from 27.45 to 30.76 % for the remittances received to paid ratio (RRP). We obtained extreme lower and extreme higher regimes characterized by smooth and sharp transitions in growth-remittances nexus conditional upon control variables for RPG under CG and L-BFGS-B algorithms, respectively. The findings suggest that remittance has a positive impact on economic growth under lower regime and negative impact under higher regime. As per the regression results, remittance has positive impact on economic growth below the estimated threshold whereas above the threshold remittance has negative consequences on economic growth. In addition, investment from abroad becomes growth neutral beyond the threshold. However, below the threshold foreign direct investment improves economic growth. In contrast, gross fixed capital formation substantially accelerates economic growth irrespective of extreme regimes underestimated threshold. Nevertheless, findings of trade balance impact on economic growth is estimated to be negative when it crosses the threshold of remittance. This study offers conspicuous policy suggestions based on the non-linear nexus of remittance and economic growth for BRICS countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101032"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143360802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effect of mandated savings on private consumption: Evidence from Israel's pension reform","authors":"Roni Frish","doi":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rie.2025.101038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the impact of the Government Mandatory Pension Order (GMPO) on household consumption. The GMPO, which came into force in Israel in 2008, required contributing to a pension fund at a gradually increasing rate, up to 17.5 percent of wages in 2014 and afterwards. The study uses a diff-in-diff method to compare the development of household consumption expenditure where the household heads did not contribute to a pension fund before 2008 (“Treated”), with that of a group doing so willingly before 2008 (\"Control\"). The data sources are Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics’ annual Household Expenditure Surveys for the period 2004 through 2016 and Israel Tax Authority data on personal pension contributions. The study rejects the null hypothesis that the treatment has null effect on the consumption of the treated group in the treatment period. However, since the p-value is between 0.05–0.10 the study could not reject the null hypothesis for the conventional p-value threshold of 0.05.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46094,"journal":{"name":"Research in Economics","volume":"79 2","pages":"Article 101038"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143205102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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