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This study examines how seventeen writing intensive instructors at a Midwestern, public university used writing as a mode of learning about complex, sensitive, and challenging issues across the disciplines. For their students, the pen effectively became a bridge to the development of critical thinking skills, greater self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of people perceived to be different from oneself. Instructors used inclusive teaching strategies such as learner-centered assignments relevant to student lives, experiential learning, and revision to grapple with nuanced arguments to prepare students to be critical thinkers and skilled writers in an increasingly diverse and polarized society.

In an effort to avert the high old-age dependency ratio in Malaysia, the study reconceptualized and developed retirement readiness scales based on the Capacity Willingness Opportunity Model (CWOM). The developed scales emphasized the importance of capacity and opportunity as catalytic traits in a retirement preparatory process. The study adopted three phases of designing a scale meticulously- item development, scale development, and scale evaluation. This process involved qualitative and quantitative research approaches. In the pilot study, out of the 61 items loaded into the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), 27 items were retained based on items with reasonable inter-item correlation, and they yielded four components. This study applied a multistage sampling technique to collect data from an adult family member of students from a local university in Klang-Valley, Malaysia. Based on the four factors yielded by the EFA in the pilot study, the researchers conducted another EFA using Varimax rotation with the remaining items and discovered a similar result to the pilot outcome. Subsequently, a pooled confirmatory factor analysis on 27 items confirmed the psychometric properties of 17 newly developed indicators. Notably, the study contributes to the literature on the robustness of CWOM as a catalyst for retirement readiness and establishes the statistical compatibility of the constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of survey data collected from 6,520 students at a large Midwestern University affirmed that financial knowledge is a significant factor in the credit card decisions of college students but not entirely in expected ways. Results of a double hurdle analysis indicated that students with relatively higher levels of financial knowledge were not significantly different from students with relatively lower levels in terms of the probability of having a credit card balance. Contrary to expectations, those with higher levels of financial knowledge had significantly higher credit card balances. Overall, the present findings highlight the complex nature of the relationship between personal financial knowledge and credit card behavior. (Contains 3 tables.)

Current Population Survey data on flextime use of married full-time workers (7,837 women, 10,846 men)and a survey of 146 married employees using various alternative arrangements indicate that personal, family, and work characteristics significantly influence flextime use. Women were more likely to use it to reduce work-family conflicts, men to enhance personal productivity. (Contains 47 references.) (SK)

Presents a decomposition technique for a Tobit regression model that shows the effect of the independent variables on (1) the amount of financial-aid awards to those receiving aid; and (2) the probability of receiving aid for those who did not receive aid. Contributes to a clearer understanding of the effects of selected factors on awards. (20 references) (MLF)

Data from the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and the Diet and Health Knowledge Survey were used to assess the relative importance of factors associated with the quality of the diet of single women age 65 and older. Findings indicated that higher levels of nutritional adequacy were associated with Midwest residence, daily intake of a multivitamin/multimineral, higher levels of income, and the presence of circulatory disease. Lower levels of nutritional adequacy were associated with employment, receipt of food stamps, and rural residence. Results confirm the importance of providing healthful meal options to single elderly females who may be faced with fewer financial resources, reduced mobility, or higher costs associated with obtaining food., Nutritional adequacy among the elderly interests an aging U.S. population. In 1996, 12 percent of Americans were over age 65. By 2050, this elderly population is projected to more than [...]

The factors that lead to South Koreans leaving self-employment are examined. They include reluctance to work long hours, financial instability and having children under age 6. Those who were more likely to stay self-employed were male, satisfied with their line of business and enjoyed hard work.

Household production is typically measured by estimating the time that the homemaker spends in the various household activities. The focus in this paper was on valuating the household production time of Canadian full-time homemakers. Four variants of the opportunity cost approach, namely, imputed wage, potential wage, Heckman's two-stage reservation wage, and Kidd's reservation wage were used to estimate and compare homemaker's time. The results indicate that the four different variants yielded different estimates of the value of household production time. One of the main conclusions is that Heckman's two-stage reservation wage approach, albeit having the advantage of correcting selection bias, it produced a wide range for the estimated reservation wage, which led us to doubt its reliability as a practical measure of the value of household production time. Keywords: Household production time, opportunity cost approach, reservation wage

A wage decomposition method is used to examine components of average wage differentials in the youth labor market, letting both race and gender vary. Issues of selection bias and computation of the nondiscriminatory wage are addressed. Findings indicate that bias in the youth labor market focuses more on gender than race. However, until researchers devise consistent methods of estimating the source, amount, and direction of discrimination, policy makers face difficulty devising procedures to correct discriminatory wage differences.

We used three increasingly restrictive measures to differentiate the poor from the nonpoor. Findings show that little difference exists among those classified as poor by any of the three poverty measures used. However, compared with the nonpoor, the poor---by all three measures--were younger, had more children under age 18, and had fewer vehicles and wage earners. The poor were more likely than the nonpoor to be Black, be single, have a high school education; and to rent or reside in government housing. By using the most restrictive measure of poverty, we found significant spending differences between the poor and nonpoor for food at home, housing, health, transportation, and other expenses., The current poverty measure in the United States consists of a set of thresholds that are compared with household before-tax annual income and adjusted for household composition. Originally developed in [...]

How do renters approaching retirement respond to their absence of housing equity? Traditional life cycle accumulation theory suggests compensation by increased investment in other asset classes. Behavioral "mental accounting" suggests that there may be no affect on investment in other asset classes. Finally, a model of self-selection based on underlying savings preference predicts lower investment in other asset classes. Double(hurdle and Tobit analyses of data from the 1995(2005 Consumer Expenditure Surveys indicated that, compared with otherwise similar homeowners, renters nearing retirement were (a) less likely to contribute to retirement savings, (b) invested less when they did contribute, and (c) favored investment in short(term convenience accounts over retirement savings. Results imply that housing tenure may result from underlying time preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used survey data from 554 planners and 128 clients of those planners to examine the relationship between specific communication tasks, communication skills, communication topics, and client trust in and commitment to their financial planner and to the financial planning process. Communication skills significantly correlated with client trust and commitment were identified, providing an empirical basis for best practices in the financial planning process. Results provide empirical support for CFP® Practice Standards relative to planner-client communication tasks and for planners taking a life planning approach to the content of planner-client discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses longitudinal data from the 1994 and 1998 Health and Retirement Survey to examine factors associated with transition to poverty among respondents aged 55 and older. This time frame is of interest because the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform) became law in 1996. While Welfare Reform targeted working age adults, several provisions directly and indirectly affected public benefit receipt of older individuals. Change in respondents' participation in Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid were examined using a Chi- square test. Results of logistic regression indicate that older individuals who are less educated, female, black and other race, foreign -born, less healthy, unemployed, widowed are more likely to enter poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis compares the balance sheet of the first baby boomer cohort with the balance sheet of those born during the twelve years prior to 1945 in order to contrast changes between 1989 and 2001 for both groups and to compare the financial status of the two groups at the same age using inflation-adjusted dollars. The comparison illustrates differences in investing and borrowing behavior between the cohorts and provides insight into the relative financial strength of boomers as they approach retirement. Mean wealth of older boomers is higher than mean wealth of pre-boomers at the same age, however median wealth did not change and net worth among lower-middle wealth groups declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from the Census 2000 1% Public Use Microdata File are used to examine the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of grandparents with co-resident grandchildren. These data provide a unique opportunity to identify grandparents who do or do not have financial responsibility for co-resident grandchildren and to know duration of such responsibility. Significant differences between these two groups of grandparents warrants skepticism of the assumption used in previous research that grandchild co-residence is an adequate proxy of financial responsibility for the grandchild. All else equal, grandparents who assume financial responsibility for co-resident grandchildren have a lower income to poverty ratio and a greater likelihood of receiving public assistance than do grandparents who do not assume financial responsibility. The most economically vulnerable appear to be those who are relatively young, single, have fewer earners in the home, relatively lower levels of education, one or more disabilities and incomes at or below poverty. Diversity among grandparents providing financial support for co-resident grandchildren suggests that different public policies may be needed to provide support for this caregiving role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer Expenditure data from 1980 to 1997 are used to examine trends in senior consumers' out-of- pocket spending for health care and prescription drugs. In terms of real dollars and budget shares, spending on health care and prescription drugs by seniors has increased over time. Over time, those who purchased health insurance to supplement Medicare were more likely to purchase health maintenance plans and Medicare supplement policies than commercial health insurance or Blue Cross/Blue Shield policies. Among the four supplemental insurance types investigated in this paper, health maintenance plans had the lowest increase in senior policy holders' out-of-pocket expenditures for both prescription drugs and total health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has two purposes: First, to examine the effect of household characteristics on lottery expenditures in six regions of Canada using a double hurdle model to distinguish between the decision to play and the decision of how much to spend. In consumption studies, double hurdle models can be used to separate the decision to consume (participate) from the level of consumption (expenditures) and, therefore, provide more meaningful insights into consumers' behavior than does the Tobit model (Cragg, 1971). The second column, "Lottery Expenditures as a % of Household Income", reports total lottery expenditures as a percentage of after-tax household income for all households engaging in lottery expenditures. This means that the income elasticity of lottery expenditures at the mean is only 0.299, and an income elasticity of less than 1 denotes a regressive pattern of expenditures, which leads to a regressive tax. In general, lottery expenditures increase as household after-tax incomes increase, and lottery expenditures decline as the education level of the reference person increases. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract This descriptive study examines household out-of-pocket expenditure trends for health insurance, medical services, prescription drugs and medical supplies using the 1980–95 Consumer Expenditure Surveys. Constant dollar out-of-pocket expenditures for health insurance have risen sharply over time while constant dollar out-of-pocket expenditures for medical services have declined, perhaps reflecting health care market changes. Older consumers spent more in constant dollars and had higher budget shares for all aspects of health care than younger consumers. Although Medicare and Medicaid provide access to basic health care, results indicate that, for older consumers who are poor, health care expenditures may still crowd out spending for other necessities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which analyzed longitudinally the household health out-of-pocket (OOP) health care expenditures patterns using data from the 1980-1995 Consumer Expenditure Surveys. Investigation of the factors associated with household OOP expenditure for health insurance and medical services; Policy Results; Discussion.

Presents a study which examined the expenditure patterns among Korean elderly women using the Korean 1996 Survey of Family Income and Expenditures. Methodology; Results; Conclusion.

Presents a study which examined characteristics of flextime users among employed, married women and factors influencing the odds that an employed, married woman would use flextime. Information on data from the 1997 Current Population Survey used in the study; Findings.

Presents a study which examined the factors associated with the level of relative deprivation in human capital investment using a sample of households in Inchon, South Korea. Concept of relative deprivation; Determinants of relative deprivation in consumption; Selection of participants; Statistical model used; Results.

Presents a study which compared the expenditure levels and characteristics of single mothers receiving welfare to those who do not in the United States. Description of the Consumer Expenditure Survey data from 1995-1996; Findings of the study; Expenditure estimates; Limitations and implications of the study.

Examines spending pattern differences between Asian-Canadian and the Canadian-born residents. Similarity of total annual expenditures of two ethnic groups; Differences in the categories of transportation, personal care, recreation and vices; Goods considered necessities and luxury by both groups; Significance of ethnicity for theory development.

Examines the valuation of household production time of American full-time homemakers using four variants of the opportunity cost approach. Limitations and advantages of each method.

Canadian ethnic differences in consumption patterns were examined using the Canadian 1990 Survey of Family Expenditures. Tobit analysis was used to estimate the income elasticities of 14 expenditure categories. The results indicate that spending patterns differ significantly among the different groups in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on 214 lone-parent families and 1,133 two-parent families were drawn from the Canadian 1990 Survey of Family Expenditures to examine their expenditure patterns. Tobit analysis was used to estimate marginal propensities to consume and income elasticities of 14 expenditure categories. Statistically significant differences between lone-parent families and two-parent families were found for the marginal propensities to consume and the income elasticities for expenditures on food at home, household operations and personal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculates descriptive statistics of debt levels and credit usage of under-65 and over-65 age groups in the United States. Smaller percentage of older group who hold any type of debt; Younger group's possession of larger mean debt and credit levels; Higher level of qualified debt for the older group.

Presents a study which examined the health insurance expenditures of Americans aged 65 and older. Information on data from the 1996 Consumer Expenditure Survey; Increase in the medical care price index between 1989 and 1994; Areas studied in the data; Findings.

Presents an overview of a study on spending patterns of the poor and nonpoor in the United States using a poverty measure. Practical problem presented in the study; Data used in the study; Implication of the findings.