Supporters claim that entrepreneurship is critical to building and sustaining the regional economies of urban and rural areas across the nation. Proponents argue that economic development practices that enhance and support entrepreneurship are essential because they cultivate innovation which,...

This dissertation comprises three essays analyzing the economic behavior of customers visiting farms with recreational purposes in the United States. The first essay uses the Travel Cost method with data from the 2000 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment to determine and quantify...

Replaced with revised version of paper 08/16/05.

The selection of appropriate parameters for computable general equilibrium (CGE) models critically affects the results of applied economic modeling exercises. Valid and reliable parameter selection models are needed, and typically comprise direct estimation, expert opinion, or copycatting of...