

@mastersthesis {7246,
	title = {Government involvement on limiting choice in schools and on firm performance through subsidies},
	year = {2012},
	note = {3569635},
	school = {University of Florida},
	type = {phdPh.{D}.},
	address = {Ann Arbor},
	abstract = {I examine government intervention on limiting textbook choice and on efficiency of water utilities through the use of subsidies. Who gets to decide what textbooks are used in America{\textquoteright}s classrooms varies by state. States can let each school district decide, provide standards that must be followed and make available an incomplete listing of books meeting those standards, or allow schools to only choose books from a list provided by the state. In Chapter 1, I present a model that provides an explanation for state limits on textbook selection by school districts. My findings corroborate the extant literature in regards to interference by state governments in local affairs and extend the morality politics literature by finding a strong link between fundamentalism and state level policies. I also find that state book lists are less likely in more educated states, in states with smaller school districts, and in states with stronger teacher unions. In Chapter 2, I analyze factors that are expected to influence petitions for the use of other textbooks at the school district level for the state of Indiana. The findings provide evidence supporting the costs of decision making as measured by gini coefficients, suggesting that counties that are more unequal in income distribution have a harder time reaching agreements. The results also suggest that citizens who are more fundamentalist than average are more likely to request a waiver to opt out from Indiana{\textquoteright}s state list. In Chapter 3, I examine inefficiencies in Japanese water utility companies. Efficiency in this context is defined as a firm{\textquoteright}s capacity to maximize output given a fixed level of inputs. The findings suggest that the average operation rate, customer density and size variables are associated with lower levels of inefficiency (or higher levels of efficiency), while the raw water proxy, subsidy and outsourcing ratio variables are associated with higher levels of inefficiency. Since inefficiency exists, there is an opportunity to improve Japanese water utilities by working on emulating "best practice" firms whenever possible. Further examination of the variables found to be influencing technical inefficiency, particularly those that are under managerial control, is recommended.},
	keywords = {0501:Economics, economics, Firm performance, Government intervention, Social sciences, Textbooks, Water utility companies},
	url = {http://search.proquest.com/docview/1369522082?accountid=14270},
	author = {Phillips, Michelle Andrea}
}
