The Impact of Fuel Price on Large Jet Operating Cost and Scale Economies
Source: University of California Transportation Center
The uncertainty surrounding future fuel prices creates fleet planning challenges. Fuel prices are uncertain due to two main sources: fuel price fluctuations and environmental concern, particularly relating to Greenhouse Gases. As the production decisions for aircraft and the adoption of certain aircraft by airlines are long-term decisions, understanding how jet aircraft operating costs change with fuel price will lead to aircraft adoption decisions which are economically viable. This study uses a well-established aviation operating cost modeling technique to capture the effect of aircraft size and fuel prices on large jet operating costs. It is found that economies of aircraft size exist yet attenuate for aircraft sizes larger than the average. It is further found that as fuel price increases, economies of aircraft operating cost due to size attenuate. To understand what these effects have on aircraft operating cost, operating cost for different aircraft sizes and stage lengths are generated for a range of fuel price scenarios.
+ Full Paper (PDF; 382 KB)
Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States: 2009 Edition
Source: Fraser Institute
Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States: 2009 Report is the fifth installment in our ongoing research to assess the performance of labour markets and explain why results differ among jurisdictions. This study provides a series of specific evaluations as well as a comprehensive measure of labour market performance. Indicators of labour performance such as job creation, unemployment, and productivity are used to assess Canadian provincial and US state labour market performance. This study also examines those characteristics and regulations of the labour market that have been shown to affect its performance.
+ Full Document (PDF; 2.9 MB)
The Economics of Agricultural and Wildlife Smuggling
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
The United States bans imports of certain agricultural and wildlife goods that can carry pathogens or diseases or whose harvest can threaten wildlife stocks or endanger species. Despite these bans, contraband is regularly uncovered in inspections of cargo containers and in domestic markets. This study characterizes the economic factors affecting agricultural and wildlife smuggling by drawing on inspection and interdiction data from USDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and existing economic literature. Findings reveal that agricultural and wildlife smuggling primarily include luxury goods, ethnic foods, and specialty goods, such as traditional medicines. Incidents of detected smuggling are disproportionately higher for agricultural goods originating in China and for wildlife goods originating in Mexico. Fragmentary data show that approximately 1 percent of all commercial wildlife shipments to the United States and 0.40 percent of all U.S. wildlife imports by value are refused entry and suspected of being smuggled.
+ Summary (PDF; 407 KB)
+ Full Report (PDF; 845 KB)
Pew Finds Increasing Bank Capital Requirements May Help Stabilize Financial Markets Without Substantially Impacting Lending
Source: Pew Financial Reform Project
Higher capital requirements on the U.S. banking industry likely have less of an impact on bank lending than has been asserted, according to the findings of a new study released by Pew’s Financial Reform Project.
Bank capital is the cushion of extra assets that a bank must hold to protect against loans that go bad or investments that fail. There is a strong consensus among financial experts and policymakers that the banking system needs considerably more capital than the four percent to eight percent of total assets they typically have now.
The new report, “Quantifying the Effects on Lending of Increased Capital Requirements,” shows that higher bank capital requirements would likely have much less effect on lending than many analysts have predicted. For example, if capital requirements rose on average from six percent to ten percent, loan rates on a typical bank loan might rise by only 0.2 percentage points, assuming modest tightening of loan terms or by 0.25 percentage points, assuming no changes in the terms.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction; Facts for Families and Friends
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (HHS)
This short booklet provides basic information about medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. It describes medication options, the proper use of the medications, and common side effects. It also explains how medication fits into the overall recovery process. The booklet is for families and friends of patients entering medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
+ Full Document (PDF; 1.4 MB)
The American Religious Identification Survey 2008
Source: American Religious Identification Survey (Trinity College)
The ARIS 2008 survey was carried out during February-November 2008 and collected answers from 54,461 respondents who were questioned in English or Spanish.
The American population self-identifies as predominantly Christian but Americans are slowly becoming less Christian.
+ 86% of American adults identified as Christians in 1990 and 76% in 2008.
+ The historic Mainline churches and denominations have experienced the steepest declines while the non- denominational Christian identity has been trending upward particularly since 2001.
+ The challenge to Christianity in the U.S. does not come from other religions but rather from a rejection of all forms of organized religion.
+ 34% of American adults considered themselves “Born Again or Evangelical Christians” in 2008.
+ The U. S. population continues to show signs of becoming less religious, with one out of every five Americans failing to indicate a religious identity in 2008.
* The “Nones” (no stated religious preference, atheist, or agnostic) continue to grow, though at a much slower pace than in the 1990s, from 8.2% in 1990, to 14.1% in 2001, to 15.0% in 2008.
* Asian Americans are substantially more likely to indicate no religious identity than other racial or ethnic groups.
+ One sign of the lack of attachment of Americans to religion is that 27% do not expect a religious funeral at their death.
+ Based on their stated beliefs rather than their religious identification in 2008, 70% of Americans believe in a personal God, roughly 12% of Americans are atheist (no God) or agnostic (unknowable or unsure), and another 12% are deistic (a higher power but no personal God).
America’s religious geography has been transformed since 1990. Religious switching along with Hispanic immigration has significantly changed the religious profile of some states and regions. Between 1990 and 2008, the Catholic population proportion of the New England states fell from 50% to 36% and in New York it fell from 44% to 37%, while it rose in California from 29% to 37% and in Texas from 23% to 32%.
Overall the 1990-2008 ARIS time series shows that changes in religious self-identification in the first decade of the 21st century have been moderate in comparison to the 1990s, which was a period of significant shifts in the religious composition of the United States.
+ Full Report (PDF; 842 KB)
FEMA Disaster Housing: From Sheltering to Permanent Housing (PDF; 416 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service
For over three decades the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided temporary housing assistance to eligible victims of natural disasters. FEMA has responded to more than a thousand disaster and emergency events over this period, employing a number of options for meeting the needs of people who have lost their primary housing as a result of a disaster declared by the President. The cycle of help from sheltering provided by local organizations in the immediate aftermath, to the eventual repair and rebuilding or replacement of private homes and rental units, is the focus of this report.
Because of the historic nature of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, much of FEMA’s work has been defined and measured by its response to that event. Katrina was an outlier in scope and not representative of disasters declared, on almost a weekly basis, over the last 30 years. But Katrina highlighted the gaps in FEMA’s housing authorities, raised questions regarding the agency’s leadership in exercising existing authorities, and provoked an examination of the flexibility, or lack thereof, in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and its implementing regulations.
The congressional response to Katrina increased FEMA’s authority and ability to address many housing issues in the post-disaster environment. Further, subsequent analysis of the Katrina response has also directed attention to the authorities of other federal agencies charged with federal housing responsibilities.
In the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, P.L. 109-295, enacted in October of 2006, Congress directed FEMA to prepare a National Disaster Housing Strategy. While FEMA was directed to deliver the strategy within nine months, a final version was not delivered to Congress until January 16, 2009. The final product contains a comprehensive summary of previous disaster housing policy and highlights innovative approaches taken at the state and local level, by both governmental and non-governmental organizations responding to disaster housing needs.
The Obama Administration, and the 111th Congress, have the opportunity to review and, if inclined, adjust the strategy and consider other alternatives discussed in the report. Congress may also wish to exercise oversight over the implementation of the strategy and to suggest, through legislation, the future direction of the federal disaster housing mission. This report reviews standard disaster housing procedures as well as options that could be taken to improve disaster housing including increased FEMA/HUD cooperation, the use of the case management authority, the repair and renovation of private rental housing units, and the use of alternative manufactured housing. It will be updated as warranted by events and legislative action.
Report on Senior Executive Pay and Performance Appraisal System for Fiscal Year 2008
Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management
From Memorandum:
This report includes the ratings, pay, and awards data for the fifth year of the pay and performance appraisal system for Federal executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
We expect agencies to continue to improve and refine their executive pay and performance appraisal systems.
Audit of Veterans Benefits Administration’s Control of Veterans’ Claims Folders (PDF; 188 KB)
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this audit to evaluate the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) control of veterans’ claims folders. The objective for the audit was to determine if VBA had adequate procedures in place to locate veterans’ claims folders effectively. VBA’s control of veterans’ claims folders, which contain personally identifiable information, was not effective because VBA managers did not track the number of lost or rebuilt folders, consistently enforce Control of Veterans Records System (COVERS) policies, and establish effective search procedures for missing claims folders. As of February 20, 2009, VBA had assigned about 4.2 million claims folders to regional offices for benefit claims processing and safeguarding. We projected the claims folders for an estimated 437,000 (10 percent) veterans were not at the location shown in COVERS. Claims folders for approximately 296,000 (7 percent) veterans were at locations different from that shown in COVERS (misplaced). Misplaced claims folders can cause unnecessary claim processing delays and increases the likelihood that folders will be lost. Claims folders for approximately 141,000 (3 percent) veterans were lost. Lost claims folders place additional burdens on the veterans and reduce the time regional office personnel have to spend processing claims. The Under Secretary for Benefits agreed with our findings and recommendations and made acceptable plans to implement appropriate actions.
New GAO Reports and Correspondences (PDFs)
Source: Government Accountability Office
28 September 2009
+ Reports
1. Emergency Communications: National Communications System Provides Programs for Priority Calling, but Planning for New Initiatives and Performance Measurement Could Be Strengthened
2. Homeland Security: Actions Needed to Improve Security Practices at National Icons and Parks
3. Medicare Physician Services: Utilization Trends Indicate Sustained Beneficiary Access with High and Growing Levels of Service in Some Areas of the Nation
4. Nursing Homes: CMS’s Special Focus Facility Methodology Should Better Target the Most Poorly Performing Homes, Which Tended to Be Chain Affiliated and For-Profit
5. Democracy Assistance: U.S. Agencies Take Steps to Coordinate International Programs but Lack Information on Some U.S.-funded Activities
6. International Food Assistance: USAID Is Taking Actions to Improve Monitoring and Evaluation of Nonemergency Food Aid, but Weaknesses in Planning Could Impede Efforts
–
+ Correspondences
1. Defense Acquisitions: Department of Defense Needs a Unified Strategy for Balancing Investments in Tactical Wheeled Vehicles
2. Defense Acquisitions: Army Aviation Modernization Has Benefited from Increased Funding but Several Challenges Need to Be Addressed
Nonprofit Pay In 2008
Source: NPR (from the Chronicle of Philanthropy)
The Chronicle of Philanthropy surveyed 325 of the nation’s biggest charities and foundations on the compensation of their top executives for 2008, the first year of the recession.
The issue is of special interest to many donors, who are increasingly concerned about how their money is being spent and why some nonprofit executives seem to be making so much money.
Note: Other nonprofit organizations may pay their executive more than the executives listed here. The figures included here are based on 2008 or the latest tax returns and may include payments made in 2007.
Complete story and data available at Chronicle of Philanthropy to subscribers.
Kitchen Table Economics: The Power of the Female Consumer
Source: Fleishman-Hillard
In an effort to shed some light on the American woman and how to reach her, Fleishman-Hillard, in conjunction with The Harrison Group, conducted a pre- and post-economic meltdown survey, “Women, Power & Money — The Shift to the Female Driven Economy.” The objective? To define the female consumer’s role in purchasing decisions, her influence on the economy and what it means to marketers. Central to the eye-opening results was a clear revelation that this “new world of women calls for a new world of communication.”
+ Full Report (PDF; 493 KB)
Unemployment Insurance for the Great Recession
Source: The Brookings Institution
Since December 2007 the U.S. unemployment rate has nearly doubled and the number of payroll jobs has fallen by 6.9 million, or 5%. The severity of the current recession makes it very hard for laid off workers to find new jobs. This has clear implications for the design of unemployment programs. For typical American workers the most important protection they receive when laid off is provided by unemployment insurance (UI). The regular UI program provides up to 26 weeks of benefits.
When unemployment is high and job finding is hard, many UI claimants exhaust their regular benefits. In the worst month following the 1981-82 recession, 41% of UI claimants exhausted their regular state UI benefits. In July of this year, nearly 51% of UI claimants exhausted their regular benefits. This is the highest rate of benefit exhaustion on record. It is a painful indicator of the difficulty of finding a job in the current economy. In view of the fact that the unemployment rate is still climbing and the number of payroll jobs is shrinking, the exhaustion rate is likely to continue rising in the coming months.
On both humanitarian and economic grounds it makes sense to provide longer duration benefits to laid-off workers when the unemployment rate is high. Because unemployed workers need more time to find work in weak labor markets, there is a compelling equity argument for offering insurance over longer spells of job search. In addition, the counter-cyclical effectiveness of unemployment compensation is reduced when a large percentage of laid-off workers is dropped from the rolls as a result of benefit exhaustion.
+ Full testimony (PDF; 88 KB) by Gary Burtless, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
Parliamentary allowances, salaries of office and entitlements
Source: Parliamentary Library of Australia
This background note provides relevant data, hyperlinks and documents on the remuneration of Australian federal parliamentarians.
