Date of Award
8-1-2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Sylwester, Kevin
Abstract
Although several studies have sought to identify the determinants of export diversity and sophistication, few have examined the role of historical events in shaping or reshaping them. In my first chapter I use data on CIA interventions during the Cold War period. I show that such interventions had a negative impact on the range of goods exported by affected countries. I provide evidence that this effect persisted in the long run. In my second chapter, I study the local impact of trade union strength on employment during resource booms. I use unionization and coverage rates along with the presence of state level right to work laws as proxies for weak unions. The empirical strategy limits the sample to resource abundant US counties that share a border across states and utilizes county pair-year fixed effects to compare average responses to oil booms in resource rich counties located in states with weak unions to responses in adjacent resource rich counties in states with relatively strong unions. Results suggest that within a relatively small geographic radius, union strength does not seem to have an impact on the response of employment to booms. There is some evidence to suggest that the results point to the existence of spillover effects where employment in weak union locations is influenced by proximity to strong unions. In my final chapter I exploit variation in resource wealth between English speaking Caribbean nations who take identical exams at the secondary school level. I test the hypothesis that booms alter the incentive for academic excellence in secondary school students. To isolate the impact changing incentives have on academic performance, I control for education expenditure and other demand and supply side factors. Results suggest that booms improve performance mainly for female students.
Access
This dissertation is Open Access and may be downloaded by anyone.