The Impact of the New Markets Tax Credit on Local Business Activity
by Joyce Lillian Simmons Abstract This paper studies the causal impact of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program on local economic activity. I exploit quasi-experimental variation in eligibility at the census tract level using a regression discontinuity design based on the program’s median family income threshold and use this variation as an instrument for […]
Network Topology and Business Entry: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis of Urban Cycling Infrastructure
by Nia Spells Abstract This study examines how urban bicycle infrastructure impacts New York City’s sit-down restaurant sector. Analyzing longitudinal data (2007 – 2019) through a recentered treatment design, the research shifts focus from individual corridors to systemic network effects. It distinguishes between connectivity (local density) and betweenness centrality (strategic through-traffic). Findings reveal that network […]
Examining County-Level Restrictions on Large-Scale Solar Development in the United States
by Tyler Hayden Ratcliffe Abstract As large-scale solar project development in the United States has taken off over the past two decades, so too has opposition at the state and local level. Counties, which predominantly hold zoning and siting authority over solar development, have increasingly adopted restrictive ordinances that hinder or outright prevent further activity. […]
Evaluating Effects of Rent Controls on Multifamily Property Values: A Tale of Three Cities
by Aaliya Mariam Qassim Abstract This study examines the impacts of strict rent control policies on large-scale multifamily apartment building values, as measured by their transaction prices. The analysis is conducted using sales data from 2010 to 2025 and a three-case framework to assess differential effects upon either implementation, tightening, or credible threat of controls. […]
Artificial Intelligence and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Commuting Zones in the LLM Era
by Akshat Jain Abstract This thesis studies how AI-related employment growth is associated with local labor-market outcomes across U.S. commuting zones from 2010 to 2023. Since local AI adoption is not directly observed, I proxy for it using growth in AI-builder employment. Using a Bartik-style instrument based on historical industry composition and national industry-level AI-builder […]
Business Tax Incentives and Local Economic Outcomes
by Erel Amit Abstract This paper examines how state conformity to federal bonus depreciation and interest deductibility rules affects local economic activity in U.S. border counties. Using annual firstdifference border-group regressions, with border-pair specifications as a complementary design, I study whether changes in state conformity to 168(k) and 163(j) are associated with changes in employment, […]
In the Shadow of War: Assessing Conflict-Driven Disruptions in the Kyrgyzstan-Russia Labor Pipeline via a Gradient Boosting Approach to Nowcasting
by Michelle K. Schultze Abstract Kyrgyzstan, where remittances made up 30% of GDP before the Russo-Ukraine war, is central to understanding Russia–Central Asia labor migration. Wartime trends, however, are obscured by informality and limited Russian data. This study introduces a novel “nowcasting” method using XGBoost and Yandex Wordstat, a Russian search query database largely overlooked […]
Who Gets Wind? Investigating Economic Attributes of Iowa Counties Prior to Wind Turbine Development
by Karianna Klassen Abstract Iowa is a national leader in wind energy, producing nearly two-thirds of its electricity from wind turbines. However, the development of wind energy infrastructure across the state has been uneven—some counties host hundreds of turbines while others have none. This paper investigates whether county-level economic conditions influence the likelihood of wind […]
Directing Development: Do One-Way Roads Inhibit Downtown Development? A Case Study of Hickory, North Carolina
by Adeleine Geitner Abstract In cities across the United States, residents and policymakers have passed measures to increase accessibility and walkability as a strategy for revitalizing disinvested downtowns. Alongside many of these measures, one-way roads have been reverted to two-way traffic due to their observed hindrance on walkability and pedestrian safety. In Hickory, North Carolina, […]
The Impact of Land Use Restriction on Housing Supply and Urban Form
by Brendan Patrick Elliott Abstract Rising home prices have led to public concern regarding housing affordability and availability. Interest in the role that land use regulations may play in reducing housing availability has been of increasing interest. While many of these regulations were initially implemented to preserve neighborhood character and promote sustainable growth, many contend […]
