Quality and Competition: An Empirical Analysis across Industries, March 2006

This paper empirically explores the link between quality and concentration in a cross-section of manufactured goods. Using concentration data and product quality indicators, an ordered probit estimation explores the impact of concentration on quality that is defined as an index of quality characteristics. The results demonstrate that market concentration and quality are positively correlated across different industries. When industry concentration increases, the likelihood of the product being higher quality increases and the likelihood of observing a lower quality decreases.

Site Development and Facility Expansion Regularly Assistance Program, November 1, 2006

The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) helps businesses expand or locate all or part of their business in Iowa. It just makes sense for companies engaged in advanced manufacturing, biosciences and information solutions/financial services to look at Iowa and IDED helps to ensure theireconomic development timelines are met. Iowa is nationally recognized as an innovator in helping businesses by meeting their development needs in a timely and effective manner. IDED networks with Regulatory Assistance Coordinators in agencies across state government to reduce response time to businesses. This agency coordination helps to ensure that regulatory and compliance questions, or other needs associated with project site development and facility expansion are serviced quickly. We have listed information below about some of the more common regulatory requirements related to site development and expansion.

Site Development and Facility Expansion Regulatory Assistance Program, 2001

The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) helps businesses expand or locate all or part of their business in Iowa. It just makes sense for companies engaged in advanced manufacturing, biosciences and information solutions/financial services to look at Iowa and IDED helps to ensure their economic development timelines are met. Iowa is nationally recognized as an innovator in helping businesses by meeting their development needs in a timely and effective manner. IDED networks with Regulatory Assistance Coordinators in agencies across state government to reduce response time to businesses. This agency coordination helps to ensure that regulatory and compliance questions, or other needs associated with project site development and facility expansion are serviced quickly. We have listed information below about some of the more common regulatory requirements related to site development and expansion.

Impact of Ownership Structure on the Performance of China’s Feed Mill Sector, April 2005

In the decade of the 1990s, China’s feed sector became increasingly privatized, more feed mills opened, and the scale of operation expanded. Capacity utilization remained low and multi-ministerial supervision was still prevalent, but the feed mill sector showed a positive performance overall, posting a growth rate of 11 percent per year. Profit margin over sales was within allowable rates set by the government of China at 3 to 5 percent. Financial efficiency improved, with a 20 percent quicker turnover of working capital. Average technical efficiency was 0.805, as more efficient feed mills increasingly gained production shares. This study finds evidence that the increasing privatization explains the improved performance of the commercial feed mill sector. The drivers that shaped the feed mill sector in the 1990s have changed with China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. With the new policy regime in place, the study foresees that, assuming an adequate supply of soy meal and an excess capacity in the feed mill sector, it is likely that China will allow corn imports up to the tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 7.2 mmt since the in-quota rate is very low at 1 percent. However, when the TRQ is exceeded, the import duty jumps to a prohibitive out-quota rate of 65 percent. With an import duty for meat of only 10 to 12 percent, China would have a strong incentive to import meat products directly rather than bringing in expensive corn to produce meat domestically. This would be further reinforced if structural transformation in the swine sector would narrow the cost differential between domestic and imported pork.

Iowa Developments, October 2006, Vol. 15, no. 4

News from the Iowa Department of Economic Development

Substitutable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice, August 2011

Developed as a more detailed follow up at a 2009 briefing document,Building Sustainable Pavement with Concrete, this guide provides a clear, concise and cohesive discussion of pavement sustainability concepts and of recommended practices for maximizing the sustainability of concrete pavements. The intended audience includes decisions makers and practitioners in both owner-agencies and supply, manufacturing consulting and contractor businesses. Readers will find individual chapters with the most recent technical information and best practices related to concrete pavement deign, materials, construction, use/operations, renewal and recycling. In addition, they will find chapters addressing issues specific to pavement sustainability in the urban environment and to the evaluation of pavement sustainability.

Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice, January 2012

Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice is a product of the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration (DTFH61-06-H-00011, Work Plan 23). Developed as a more detailed follow-up to a 2009 briefing document, Building Sustainable Pavement with Concrete, this guide provides a clear, concise, and cohesive discussion of pavement sustainability concepts and of recommended practices for maximizing the sustainability of concrete pavements. The intended audience includes decision makers and practitioners in both owner-agencies and supply, manufacturing, consulting, and contractor businesses. Readers will find individual chapters with the most recent technical information and best practices related to concrete pavement design, materials, construction, use/operations, renewal, and recycling. In addition, they will find chapters addressing issues specific to pavement sustainability in the urban environment and to the evaluation of pavement sustainability. Development of this guide satisfies a critical need identified in the Sustainability Track (Track 12) of the Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology (CP Road Map). The CP Road Map is a national research plan jointly developed by the concrete pavement stakeholder community, including Federal Highway Administration, academic institutions, state departments of transportation, and concrete pavement–related industries. It outlines 12 tracks of priority research needs related to concrete pavements. CP Road Map publications and other operations support services are provided by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University. For details about the CP Road Map, see www.cproadmap. org/index.cfm.

The Iowa scene, 1970

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Workshop for Iowa School Superintendents, June 8, 1970. Contains information and graphs on population changes of towns, employment estimates, farm and manufacturing impacts and 1980 projected populations.