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Microfinance in Latin America: Sustainability, Growth, and Efficiency
Full text linkThe subsequent research addresses the question: Within populous Latin American countries (Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Chile, and Peru), are microfinance institutions associated with differences in GDP and household consumption equally between 2010 and 2018? Which do they have a stronger correlation with? The essence of this question seeks to answer whether the correlation between MFIs and wealth indicators carries over to a national level or merely persists at an individual level. This research has been informed and influenced by literature and studies conducted across South Asia, Africa, and Latin America focusing on the research of Abdelkader, Naveeda, Annim, Campbell, Armendáriz, and Collins. Using OLS and FE models measuring logged GDP and logged household consumption, results establish the efficiency of MFIs at an individual and national level. Findings suggest that the distribution of loans to females has the strongest correlation of non-control variables with logged household consumption and logged GDP, aligning with some past literature. The results of this study serve as policy recommendations, informing Latin American governments as well as non-profit donors concerning how they can effectively, ethically, and sustainably stimulate economic growth
The State of the Carbon Capture and Sequestration Industry in California in 2024: Challenges and Policy Solutions
Full text linkCarbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) is the process of capturing CO2 from an above-ground carbon source, transporting it to a sequestration well, and permanently sinking it deep underground. Despite California’s dependency on CCS to reach carbon neutrality, not one CCS project is operational yet in the state. This paper looks at the history and development of the CCS industry. It explores the following research questions: How do permitting, financing, CO2 transportation, and property rights affect the pace and scale of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) development as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solution? Then, what policy changes are necessary as the industry develops? The paper uses interviews with six industry experts through a qualitative data method to gain perspective on how permitting, financing, CO2 transportation, and property rights are affecting the industry and whether any policy changes need to be made to improve the industry. After an analysis of twelve policy options, policy recommendations are identified, and include: updating the Class VI application process in three specific ways, expanding certified options for CO2 transportation to include carbon reinforced polymer containers, expanding grant funds available to CCS developers, and educating property owners on the value of their pour space to encourage informed decisions on participating in CCS projects
Flowing Cleanly: The Proper Roles of the Courts and the FTC in the Information Marketplace of Advertising
Full text linkAfter an introduction in Section I, Section II of this article will present the history of the commercial speech doctrine, illustrating the rules courts use to evaluate whether the FTC’s actions were constitutional. Section III will explain how the FTC combats deception and will describe the choice of remedies the FTC has available. Section IV will present and evaluate three potential solutions to the conflict between the courts and the FTC on First Amendment issues that courts have implemented. Finally, Section V argues that conflict between the two entities is inevitable, and therefore the middle approach is the best solution because it strikes an appropriate balance between consumer protection and First Amendment rights