Journal of Economic Insight

Geography of Unemployment in the Midwest During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Spatial Analysis

2024-02-14T15:00:14-05:00

Unemployment surged across the U.S. following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze the spatial pattern of county-level unemployment in the Midwest during the second quarter (Q2) of 2020 when it peaked, followed by the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2020 when local economies began to recover. We find clustering, with most counties in the Eastern section of the Midwest showing unemployment in the 75^th quantile of the distribution (hardest-hit counties). In contrast, counties in the Western section mostly showed unemployment in the 25^th quantile (least-hit counties). Our spatial lag regression analysis of the unemployment change between Q2 and pre-COVID (Q1) finds a higher increase in unemployment in counties with a high COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI). In addition, counties that relied on Leisure & Hospitality, and Manufacturing, and had a mask mandate, showed a larger increase in unemployment in Q2 and persisted through Q4 albeit to a lesser degree.

Understanding the Gender Wage Gap Among City Managers

2024-03-25T16:56:17-04:00

We examine the gender wage gap among city managers, a high-skilled, male dominated occupation, using original data from employment contracts in Florida. The Oaxaca-Blinder wage decomposition results indicate a gen-der wage differential among city managers of approximately 0.06-0.11 log points, or 6.3-11.7%. Approximately 80% of the wage differential is explained by differences in observed characteristics, leaving 20% of the gap unexplained. This translates to an unexplained wage premium of 1.5 to 3.8% for men. The wage differential is highest among first time managers and is virtually eliminated for those with prior experience as a city manager. The results are encouraging but also highlight the potential role of pay transparency pol-icies and the importance of increasing women’s representa-tion in the field. (JEL J16, J31, J71, H83)

Supply and Demand in a Nonprofit World

2024-02-14T15:00:14-05:00

This paper examines both the supply of and demand for a good produced by firms in a nonprofit setting. The objective is to see if the standard positive slope for supply and negative slope for demand need hold. In a set-ting where quality becomes a choice variable, it is possible to have a negatively sloped supply. Similarly for demand, when quality is part of the choice, it is possible that demand is positively sloped. I do not expect both conditions to hold in the same market. JEL I29, L21, L30

Foundations of Real-World Economics: What Every Economics Student Needs to Know. 3rd Edition

2024-02-14T15:00:14-05:00

Foundations of Real-World Economics: What Every Economics Student Needs to Know. 3^rd Edition. JOHN KOMLOS. New York, NY: Rutledge Publishing, 2023. Pp. 420.

More: A History of the World Economy from the Iron Age to the Information Age

2024-02-14T15:00:14-05:00

More: A History of the World Economy from the Iron Age to the Information Age. PHILIP COGGAN. New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2021. Pp. 496

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.

2024-02-14T15:00:15-05:00

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away. ANNIE DUKE, India: Thomson Press India Ltd., 2022. Pp. XV, 309.

Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explores the World

2024-02-14T15:00:15-05:00

Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explores the World. HA-JOON CHANG. New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2023. Pp. 224.