Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item The effect of paid parental leave in the United States on young women's employment and earnings, and the family wage gap(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2017) Inglis, Myron Robert Jeremy; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Wendy A. StockUsing March Current Population Survey data from 1994-2015, this paper examines the effect of paid parental leave in the United States on young women's employment and earnings, and the family wage gap. The family wage gap is the difference in earnings between parents and non-parents. Paid parental leave laws in California and New Jersey are exploited for a quasi-natural experiment using difference-in-difference-in-difference empirical models. Results show robust evidence that paid parental leave has negative impacts on young women's employment and earnings. Estimated impacts vary by education level, with employment effects concentrated among young women without a bachelor's degree, and earnings effects concentrated among young women with only some college experience. Additionally, results also show weakly suggestive evidence that paid parental leave decreases the family wage gap for both mothers and fathers.Item Employment effects of prevailing wage laws(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2016) Conant, Portia Anne; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christiana StoddardState prevailing wage laws require that construction workers hired by private contractors on public works projects be paid minimum wages equal to corresponding market wages within a given locality. This analysis uses individual-level data from the Current Population Survey and state-level data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate effects of prevailing wage laws on construction worker employment. The empirical strategy exploits the repeal of ten states' prevailing wage laws from 1979 - 1995, incorporating both contemporaneous and lagged effects. Findings include a five to nine percentage point probability increase in construction worker employment associated with repeal of prevailing wage laws. Extended analysis includes estimates of differential effects for groups of construction workers by skill-level and race. Findings suggest a strong positive employment effect for construction workers in general, with little evidence to suggest that sub-groups of construction workers are differentially affected by race or skill-level. Exceptions include a five percentage point decrease in probability of construction employment associated with Hispanic workers after three or more years, and an eleven percentage point increase in probably of employment associated with laborers within the first two years of repeal.Item The effects of state-level anti-discrimination laws on sex segregation in the workforce(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2015) Haines, Jacqueline Elizabeth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Wendy A. StockWomen's equal pay and sex segregation in the workforce has been a national discussion since the 1900s and is still relevant today. In 1963, the Federal Equal Pay Act was passed addressing this issue. This research examines state-level equal pay legislation that was passed prior to the federal law and how these laws affect sex segregation in the workforce. Using U.S. Census data from 1910 to 1960, sex segregation is analyzed using difference-in-difference regression analysis to determine the effects of state-level legislation on the D-index, concentration ratios, and the probability of being employed in a female-dominated or male-dominated job. Results from state-level analysis do not illustrate these laws having any effect on the D-index or concentration ratios, suggesting there are multiple counteracting effects. On an individual-level, state-level equal pay legislation reduces the likelihood of women being employed in female-dominated jobs. However, this legislation seems to have no effect on the likelihood of males being in a female-dominated job, or a male-dominated job.Item Opportunities and outcomes in the U.S. labor market, 1967-1981(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1984) Romeo, Charles JohnItem Employment opportunities in technical co-operation(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1961) Lassey, William R.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Edward H. WardIn recent years there has been much criticism of Americans abroad, some of it well founded and documented, some of it largely fictitious. There is a serious need to improve our representation abroad if we are to meet our responsibilities around the world effectively, and maintain the prestige of the United States. Outstanding people must be attracted to overseas positions, and particularly, for the purposes of this study, to the field of technical cooperation. Although much still needs to be discovered about characteristics and skills which contribute to overseas effectiveness, Montana State College has defined some important elements sought in students for a graduate international technical training program. An effort is then made to strengthen understandings, attitudes, and skills in a technical field and in cross-cultural problems. Generally speaking there appears to be a large deviation from these criteria of effectiveness in selection and training programs of agencies employing technicians for work abroad. Each has its own particular method of selecting people and training them - these methods depend on the needs and experience of the organization. There is a very wide range of technical fields in which agencies operate and for which they employ people. Most of them prefer experienced, mature people rather than untested but possibly skilled younger people. The Peace Corps may provide a means of using younger people and has been generally well received by technical cooperation agencies. Aside from the Peace Corps, other voluntary positions at little or no pay, or educational exchange programs, there seems to be little opportunity for young people interested in professional technical cooperation to work for extended periods abroad. They would need to get solid experience in their fields in the U.S. to be considered for jobs with most agencies. Agencies in technical cooperation need to define more clearly the characteristics wanted in employees, may need to find apprenticeship roles for young technicians to get experience abroad, and should offer experience and advice to training institutions if they expect well-prepared personnel. Government, universities, and other interested institutions need to help create awareness of the need for better people, in overseas positions, should support research to more carefully examine what constitutes effectiveness, and may need to make a heavier financial contribution to produce desirable people. Establishment of a high-level committee or agency-may be necessary to coordinate ideas and resources to this end. The Peace Corps is probably a step in the right direction but should certainly not be considered a cure-all. Challenge, adventure, and opportunity must be available to our young people if we expect them to make their most effective contribution to a better world.Item Scholastic aptitude test scores and the economic returns to college education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1990) Steele, Charles Noah; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Douglas J. YoungStudent scores on standardized achievement tests fell during the 1960's, raising questions about the quality of education in America. The decline was especially pronounced on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the most widely used college entrance examination. Much of this decline remains unexplained. This study examines the hypothesis that declining returns to college education played a role in the score decline. Specifically, it is hypothesized that declining returns to education reduce the incentive for students to invest in the college skills which the SAT attempts to measure. This study proposes a general model in which SAT participation rates and SAT scores are determined in part by the relative wage differential between an average college graduate and a high school graduate. several empirical specifications of this model are then estimated, using aggregate time series data for the years 1967 to 1987. The methods of three stage least squares and seemingly unrelated regressions are used. The results of the regressions suggest that fluctuations in the relative economic return to a college education may have accounted for between 11 percent,and 24 percent of the decline in average SAT scores. When these effects are considered in conjunction with those of a demographic variable, approximately 40 percent of the decline is explained, perhaps suggesting that fears of declining educational quality are somewhat exaggerated.