The appropriate use of disaggregated economic data not only improves the accuracy and robustness of economic analyses, but also extends the existing economic models to address new aspects of the issue. This dissertation consists of three essays: two essays use disaggregated economic-engineering data to address spatial heterogeneity in economic losses...
This dissertation addresses issues of strategic behavior of firms in oligopoly markets. In the first study we analyze how generic advertising affects brand advertising and firm profits in differentiated oligopoly markets. We develop two models, one with vertical differentiation and another with horizontal differentiation. In the case of vertical differentiation,...
Small manufacturing firms often serve a domestic market but would like to expand their sales overseas. It is difficult for a small firm to develop overseas contracts and relationships, however, in part because of their small size, and because the advantages of their products may not always be obvious. The...
The main purpose of this research is to provide the
commercial seafood industry of the Pacific Northwest
information on preferences of restaurateurs, retailers, and
wholesalers for whole albacore, low-value added albacore
products (chunks, medallions, and steaks), albacore loins,
and high-value added albacore products (hot smoked and lox).
All of these...
This thesis seeks to analyze the relationship between economic growth and environmental quality, in this case measured by forest cover, and analyzes whether this relationship is consistent with an Environmental Kuznets Curve. Additionally the relationship between population density and forest cover was analyzed. A simple theoretical model is derived that...
Optimization programming techniques were applied to
develop the least cost formulations for Pacific whiting
surimi-based seafood (PWSBS). To develop the quality
constraint functions, texture and color of whiting surimi
gels were determined by torsion test and colorimeter,
respectively. Whiting surimi gels were produced by heating
at 90°C for 15 min....
A regime-switching model for market integration study is extended to incorporate dynamic trade flow information and risk perceptions based on an expected utility framework. An application of the extended model to the US-China soybean markets analysis shows that: One, the positive arbitrage rent uncounted-for in the extended model has been...
This dissertation contains theoretical and empirical analyses on common property
fisheries resources. The theoretical analysis focuses on a highly migratory fish stocks
(HMFS) fishery, and examines the inefficiency caused by non-cooperative harvest. The
empirical analysis focuses on a high seas fishery and conducts an empirical test on the
effects of...
This thesis investigates the incentives for the conservation of biodiversity with
multiple decision-makers by comparing the market equilibrium solution to the social
optimum under different assumptions. Geographic land areas are modeled to permit two
conflicting uses: conservation of biodiversity or conversion of the land for some
economic activity. Two main...
Recent changes in public timber supplies in the Pacific Northwest have increased the
importance of the role private timber plays in the forest products industry and local
communities. Most economic models of timber supply, however, have emphasized
national or regional markets where data are adequate and statistical testing methodologies
relatively...
