This study tests the assertion that membership growth in credit unions is constrained by their unique structural features, such as their non-profit mission and member-based ownership. Although these features enhance inclusiveness, existing theory suggest that they work against efficiency when...

The first chapter of this dissertation introduces the generalized minimum contrast estimator (GMC) with nonsmooth moment functions, which includes Empirical Likelihood, Exponential Tilting and Continuous Updating GMM as special cases. Based on empirical process theory, this chapter studies the...

Two oil price shocks changed the pattern of cheap oil. The first was the Arab embargo on oil exports in 1973. Oil prices rose five fold. In 1978, the second was the fall of Shah Iran. Prices soared to $80-$100 a barrel in today's prices. In 1960, OPEC was established and since then it has been a...

Low-wage labor markets are traditionally viewed as competitive and the possibility of non-competitive behavior by employers is dismissed. This dissertation consists of three chapters linked by the common purpose of studying the possibility of collusive behavior by employers at the minimum wage....