Stuart Sweeney - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Stuart Sweeney
This paper reports the results of two years of research on the estimation of regional occupationa... more This paper reports the results of two years of research on the estimation of regional occupational employment migration rates and their influence on estimates of future job openings by occupational group. The first section provides a general description of state and metropolitan area migration by occupation and other demographic variables. The descriptive statistics demonstrate that the overall level of out-migration
Though the mathematics of multiregional population projections were defined over twenty years ago... more Though the mathematics of multiregional population projections were defined over twenty years ago, and the methodology has seen some adoption internationally, most practitioners in the United States still use rudimentary cohort component projections techniques. Both the stationarity assumption and the implicit five-year retrospective time scale imposed by the census migration data have probably contributed to the limited use of multiregional
World Development, 2015
We use classification tree analysis to identify the primary predictors of a suite of maize land u... more We use classification tree analysis to identify the primary predictors of a suite of maize land use and livelihood outcomes for smallholder farmers in three regions of Mexico (Sinaloa, Mexico state, and Chiapas). Our analysis identifies regionally specific correlates with change in maize area, yield, and income, spanning demographic, environmental, and social development factors. Our results indicate that there may be opportunities for surplus production and market participation in some rain fed areas. We confirm the significance of regional and inter-regional heterogeneity in farmers' responses and strategies, underscoring the value of regionally specific policy interventions.
Regression analysis of anthropometry data has a long history in public health research. Early wor... more Regression analysis of anthropometry data has a long history in public health research. Early work relied on conditional mean regression models, but given that most policy interest is in either the lower or upper tail of a distribution, recent studies have utilized either binary outcome regression (logistic or ordinal logistic) or quantile regression. If the errors of the index function underlying binary models have non-constant variance, it is well-known that parameter estimates are inconsistent. We present simulation results of a proposed two-stage estimator to adjust for heteroskedasticity of unknown form. The two-stage estimator appears to substantially reduce bias in both parameter estimates and predictive changes in prevalence.
While the detrimental impact of neoliberal policy on Mexico's maize smallholders is well research... more While the detrimental impact of neoliberal policy on Mexico's maize smallholders is well researched, little attention has been paid to the rise of maize in the northern state of Sinaloa. Sinaloa's entry into maize has restructured the geography of national supply, and generated a new national confidence in white maize self-sufficiency. Using semi-structured interviews and secondary data, we document the primary social and political drivers of Sinaloa's maize boom. Local actors trumpet Sinaloa's response as a success story of entrepreneurship and technological innovation, while simultaneously appropriating the language of food sovereignty to justify preferential entitlements in public investment. Our analysis confirms interpretations of neoliberalism as a political project, illustrating how existing natural, social and political capital held by specific interest groups can be leveraged and reinforced through private-public partnerships to mould national policy and investment, and the potential vulnerabilities that may emerge from this process.
Annals of Regional Science, 2005
Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor marke... more Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor market information agencies to assist with state and regional job training and worker assistance programs. In theory, the information from occupational employment forecasts should improve both interregional and intertemporal labor market efficiency through better matching between training efforts and job openings. Until recently, the projections methodology was
Urban Studies, 2013
Urban growth continues to rise globally, especially in and around small cities and peri-urban are... more Urban growth continues to rise globally, especially in and around small cities and peri-urban areas of the developing world. In Mexico, a culture of maize production still exists alongside rapid urban and industrial growth, which exemplifies a hybridized urban-rural landscape. This paper discusses a study of household land-use and livelihood strategies in the Toluca Metropolitan Area, west of Mexico City, a traditional maize-growing region that has experienced rapid urban growth. Logistic regression combined with ethnographic data illustrate that maize is being abandoned to some extent as producers age and non-farm income sources surge. At the same time, some maize still persists for tradition and security as non-farm income is often volatile. Our results reflect a persistence of maize in peri-urban areas of central Mexico, which should not be ignored by policy and planning.
The Annals of Regional Science, 2005
Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor marke... more Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor market information agencies to assist with state and regional job training and worker assistance programs. In theory, the information from occupational employment forecasts should improve both interregional and intertemporal labor market efficiency through better matching between training efforts and job openings. Until recently, the projections methodology was predominantly a demand-requirements approach that failed to incorporate important labor supply effects and interstate/interregional dependencies. Recent research has focused on improving the labor supply specification. This paper reports on one such effort to evaluate the importance of interstate occupational migration and to develop methods to incorporate migration into the existing projections methodology. Initial results indicate that the total number of estimated job openings by occupation have to be revised significantly upwards when migration is taken into account.
Population, Space and Place, 2005
The quality of school enrolment forecasts is critically important in most communities. Near-term ... more The quality of school enrolment forecasts is critically important in most communities. Near-term forecasts are used as an input for determining staffing levels, while both near-and long-term forecasts are used for capital improvement and facilities planning. Accurate forecasts are ...
Journal of Rural Studies, 2013
ABSTRACT The rates of urban growth globally continue to rise, especially in small and intermediar... more ABSTRACT The rates of urban growth globally continue to rise, especially in small and intermediary cities and peri-urban areas of the developing world. Communities in these settings share characteristics with rural areas, in terms of continued connections with agriculture, yet with an increasing reliance of non-agricultural employment which poses challenges for policy and planning shaped by dichotomous configurations of space. This study focuses on maize producers in the Toluca Metropolitan Area, west of Mexico City, which is a traditional maize production region that also has exhibited high rates of industrial and residential growth over the last thirty years. We utilize household surveys from three pen-urban communities to create livelihood cluster groups that tease out the value and role of maize production amongst urban growth. The results show that maize plays various roles for households, including an insurance strategy against volatile job markets and for preference in making homemade tortillas. Rural and urban livelihoods in this region are mutually dependent on each other and not necessarily reflecting a linear rural-urban transition, which could lead to the persistence of maize production in the future. The continuing importance of maize in the Toluca Metropolitan Area provides policy opportunities to recognize and support the crop for household and regional food security despite continued urban growth.
Journal of Regional Science, 2005
Abstract. We use the Getis/Ord local G statistic and detailed county-level industry employment da... more Abstract. We use the Getis/Ord local G statistic and detailed county-level industry employment data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to isolate discrete industrial complexesor groups of nominally linked industries clustered in particular locationsfor ...
Journal of Population Research, 2013
ABSTRACT The debate surrounding the use of period, cohort, and tempo-adjusted measures has framed... more ABSTRACT The debate surrounding the use of period, cohort, and tempo-adjusted measures has framed most of the recent studies evaluating the utility of macro-level fertility indicators. Period measures are susceptible to distortions, due to birth timing changes, but there is currently no universally accepted adjustment technique. Recent comparative analyses have offered some insights but only as applied to the low-fertility developed world setting. The utility of different types of measures in the high fertility context is unclear. Furthermore, regional variation in the pace of fertility transition is characteristic of many less developed countries and is rarely incorporated into macro-level analyses. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate macro-fertility indicators at the regional and national levels in a high-fertility country, Guatemala, using the four most recent survey data sets. The results support the use of macro-level period indicators and adjusted period indicators of fertility in developing country contexts.
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2006
Dynamic changes in live fuel moisture (LFM) and fuel condition modify fire danger in shrublands. ... more Dynamic changes in live fuel moisture (LFM) and fuel condition modify fire danger in shrublands. We investigated the empirical relationship between field-measured LFM and remotely sensed greenness and moisture measures from the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). Key goals were to assess the nature of these relationships as they varied between sensors, across
Journal of Geographical Systems, 2000
Page 1. J Geograph Syst (2000) 2:349±373 ( Springer-Verlag 2000 A test for the coincident economi... more Page 1. J Geograph Syst (2000) 2:349±373 ( Springer-Verlag 2000 A test for the coincident economic and spatial clustering of business enterprises Edward J. Feser1 and Stuart H. Sweeney2 1 Department of City and Regional ...
International Regional Science Review, 2003
This paper uses data for various years over the 1969-99 period to examine the spatial extent and ... more This paper uses data for various years over the 1969-99 period to examine the spatial extent and temporal persistence of U.S. economic distress as viewed by three different indicators: unemployment, low income, and out-migration induced population decline. The basic unit of analysis is the commuter zone. The shifting geography of distress is summarized for the four Census regions and three regions of traditional economic development concern: Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, and the Great Plains. The research grew out of an effort to assist the U.S.
International Regional Science Review, 2006
Abstract This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the confidential establishment-le... more Abstract This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the confidential establishment-level Covered Wages and Employment (ES-202) data series for small area economic analyses and other kinds of quantitative geographical research. The article ...
Global Change Biology, 2004
Regional and global environmental modeling depend on soil data for input layers or parameterizati... more Regional and global environmental modeling depend on soil data for input layers or parameterization. However, randomly located observations, such as provided by agricultural databases, are not always representative of trends identified in field studies conducted under carefully controlled conditions. Many researchers lament the paucity of soil profile data in Amazô nia, and suggest that given more data, regional studies would more closely approximate field research results. We assess the ability of a well-populated regional database collected in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon to reproduce expected biogeochemical trends associated with forest clearing and pasture establishment, and explore the ramifications of relying on independently collected soil data for regional modeling. The Soteron database includes analyses of approximately 3000 soil cores collected for zoning purposes in the state of Rondô nia. Pasture ages were determined from a time series of Landsat TM images classified using spectral mixture analysis.
Geographical Analysis, 2011
We present a new linear regression model for use with aggregated, small area data that are spatia... more We present a new linear regression model for use with aggregated, small area data that are spatially autocorrelated. Because these data are aggregates of individual-level data, we choose to model the spatial autocorrelation using a geostatistical model specified at the scale of ...
Geographical Analysis, 2010
Although a growing number of studies emphasize the advantages small firms gain by co-locating in ... more Although a growing number of studies emphasize the advantages small firms gain by co-locating in space, there is little empirical work that directly examines clustering trends by firm size. This paper presents an empirical analysis of the isolated efects of size on clustering patterns of producers in a major manufacturing state in the southeast United States. Recent developments in point process modeling allow us to control f o r the critical fact that economic activity is, in general, concentrated in space. Our findings suggest that the relationship between establishment size and clustering in North Carolina is roughly characterized by an inverted u-shape, that is, clustering increases u p to some size threshold and then decreases again.
This paper reports the results of two years of research on the estimation of regional occupationa... more This paper reports the results of two years of research on the estimation of regional occupational employment migration rates and their influence on estimates of future job openings by occupational group. The first section provides a general description of state and metropolitan area migration by occupation and other demographic variables. The descriptive statistics demonstrate that the overall level of out-migration
Though the mathematics of multiregional population projections were defined over twenty years ago... more Though the mathematics of multiregional population projections were defined over twenty years ago, and the methodology has seen some adoption internationally, most practitioners in the United States still use rudimentary cohort component projections techniques. Both the stationarity assumption and the implicit five-year retrospective time scale imposed by the census migration data have probably contributed to the limited use of multiregional
World Development, 2015
We use classification tree analysis to identify the primary predictors of a suite of maize land u... more We use classification tree analysis to identify the primary predictors of a suite of maize land use and livelihood outcomes for smallholder farmers in three regions of Mexico (Sinaloa, Mexico state, and Chiapas). Our analysis identifies regionally specific correlates with change in maize area, yield, and income, spanning demographic, environmental, and social development factors. Our results indicate that there may be opportunities for surplus production and market participation in some rain fed areas. We confirm the significance of regional and inter-regional heterogeneity in farmers' responses and strategies, underscoring the value of regionally specific policy interventions.
Regression analysis of anthropometry data has a long history in public health research. Early wor... more Regression analysis of anthropometry data has a long history in public health research. Early work relied on conditional mean regression models, but given that most policy interest is in either the lower or upper tail of a distribution, recent studies have utilized either binary outcome regression (logistic or ordinal logistic) or quantile regression. If the errors of the index function underlying binary models have non-constant variance, it is well-known that parameter estimates are inconsistent. We present simulation results of a proposed two-stage estimator to adjust for heteroskedasticity of unknown form. The two-stage estimator appears to substantially reduce bias in both parameter estimates and predictive changes in prevalence.
While the detrimental impact of neoliberal policy on Mexico's maize smallholders is well research... more While the detrimental impact of neoliberal policy on Mexico's maize smallholders is well researched, little attention has been paid to the rise of maize in the northern state of Sinaloa. Sinaloa's entry into maize has restructured the geography of national supply, and generated a new national confidence in white maize self-sufficiency. Using semi-structured interviews and secondary data, we document the primary social and political drivers of Sinaloa's maize boom. Local actors trumpet Sinaloa's response as a success story of entrepreneurship and technological innovation, while simultaneously appropriating the language of food sovereignty to justify preferential entitlements in public investment. Our analysis confirms interpretations of neoliberalism as a political project, illustrating how existing natural, social and political capital held by specific interest groups can be leveraged and reinforced through private-public partnerships to mould national policy and investment, and the potential vulnerabilities that may emerge from this process.
Annals of Regional Science, 2005
Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor marke... more Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor market information agencies to assist with state and regional job training and worker assistance programs. In theory, the information from occupational employment forecasts should improve both interregional and intertemporal labor market efficiency through better matching between training efforts and job openings. Until recently, the projections methodology was
Urban Studies, 2013
Urban growth continues to rise globally, especially in and around small cities and peri-urban are... more Urban growth continues to rise globally, especially in and around small cities and peri-urban areas of the developing world. In Mexico, a culture of maize production still exists alongside rapid urban and industrial growth, which exemplifies a hybridized urban-rural landscape. This paper discusses a study of household land-use and livelihood strategies in the Toluca Metropolitan Area, west of Mexico City, a traditional maize-growing region that has experienced rapid urban growth. Logistic regression combined with ethnographic data illustrate that maize is being abandoned to some extent as producers age and non-farm income sources surge. At the same time, some maize still persists for tradition and security as non-farm income is often volatile. Our results reflect a persistence of maize in peri-urban areas of central Mexico, which should not be ignored by policy and planning.
The Annals of Regional Science, 2005
Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor marke... more Occupational employment projections are one of the primary products produced by state labor market information agencies to assist with state and regional job training and worker assistance programs. In theory, the information from occupational employment forecasts should improve both interregional and intertemporal labor market efficiency through better matching between training efforts and job openings. Until recently, the projections methodology was predominantly a demand-requirements approach that failed to incorporate important labor supply effects and interstate/interregional dependencies. Recent research has focused on improving the labor supply specification. This paper reports on one such effort to evaluate the importance of interstate occupational migration and to develop methods to incorporate migration into the existing projections methodology. Initial results indicate that the total number of estimated job openings by occupation have to be revised significantly upwards when migration is taken into account.
Population, Space and Place, 2005
The quality of school enrolment forecasts is critically important in most communities. Near-term ... more The quality of school enrolment forecasts is critically important in most communities. Near-term forecasts are used as an input for determining staffing levels, while both near-and long-term forecasts are used for capital improvement and facilities planning. Accurate forecasts are ...
Journal of Rural Studies, 2013
ABSTRACT The rates of urban growth globally continue to rise, especially in small and intermediar... more ABSTRACT The rates of urban growth globally continue to rise, especially in small and intermediary cities and peri-urban areas of the developing world. Communities in these settings share characteristics with rural areas, in terms of continued connections with agriculture, yet with an increasing reliance of non-agricultural employment which poses challenges for policy and planning shaped by dichotomous configurations of space. This study focuses on maize producers in the Toluca Metropolitan Area, west of Mexico City, which is a traditional maize production region that also has exhibited high rates of industrial and residential growth over the last thirty years. We utilize household surveys from three pen-urban communities to create livelihood cluster groups that tease out the value and role of maize production amongst urban growth. The results show that maize plays various roles for households, including an insurance strategy against volatile job markets and for preference in making homemade tortillas. Rural and urban livelihoods in this region are mutually dependent on each other and not necessarily reflecting a linear rural-urban transition, which could lead to the persistence of maize production in the future. The continuing importance of maize in the Toluca Metropolitan Area provides policy opportunities to recognize and support the crop for household and regional food security despite continued urban growth.
Journal of Regional Science, 2005
Abstract. We use the Getis/Ord local G statistic and detailed county-level industry employment da... more Abstract. We use the Getis/Ord local G statistic and detailed county-level industry employment data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to isolate discrete industrial complexesor groups of nominally linked industries clustered in particular locationsfor ...
Journal of Population Research, 2013
ABSTRACT The debate surrounding the use of period, cohort, and tempo-adjusted measures has framed... more ABSTRACT The debate surrounding the use of period, cohort, and tempo-adjusted measures has framed most of the recent studies evaluating the utility of macro-level fertility indicators. Period measures are susceptible to distortions, due to birth timing changes, but there is currently no universally accepted adjustment technique. Recent comparative analyses have offered some insights but only as applied to the low-fertility developed world setting. The utility of different types of measures in the high fertility context is unclear. Furthermore, regional variation in the pace of fertility transition is characteristic of many less developed countries and is rarely incorporated into macro-level analyses. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate macro-fertility indicators at the regional and national levels in a high-fertility country, Guatemala, using the four most recent survey data sets. The results support the use of macro-level period indicators and adjusted period indicators of fertility in developing country contexts.
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2006
Dynamic changes in live fuel moisture (LFM) and fuel condition modify fire danger in shrublands. ... more Dynamic changes in live fuel moisture (LFM) and fuel condition modify fire danger in shrublands. We investigated the empirical relationship between field-measured LFM and remotely sensed greenness and moisture measures from the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). Key goals were to assess the nature of these relationships as they varied between sensors, across
Journal of Geographical Systems, 2000
Page 1. J Geograph Syst (2000) 2:349±373 ( Springer-Verlag 2000 A test for the coincident economi... more Page 1. J Geograph Syst (2000) 2:349±373 ( Springer-Verlag 2000 A test for the coincident economic and spatial clustering of business enterprises Edward J. Feser1 and Stuart H. Sweeney2 1 Department of City and Regional ...
International Regional Science Review, 2003
This paper uses data for various years over the 1969-99 period to examine the spatial extent and ... more This paper uses data for various years over the 1969-99 period to examine the spatial extent and temporal persistence of U.S. economic distress as viewed by three different indicators: unemployment, low income, and out-migration induced population decline. The basic unit of analysis is the commuter zone. The shifting geography of distress is summarized for the four Census regions and three regions of traditional economic development concern: Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, and the Great Plains. The research grew out of an effort to assist the U.S.
International Regional Science Review, 2006
Abstract This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the confidential establishment-le... more Abstract This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the confidential establishment-level Covered Wages and Employment (ES-202) data series for small area economic analyses and other kinds of quantitative geographical research. The article ...
Global Change Biology, 2004
Regional and global environmental modeling depend on soil data for input layers or parameterizati... more Regional and global environmental modeling depend on soil data for input layers or parameterization. However, randomly located observations, such as provided by agricultural databases, are not always representative of trends identified in field studies conducted under carefully controlled conditions. Many researchers lament the paucity of soil profile data in Amazô nia, and suggest that given more data, regional studies would more closely approximate field research results. We assess the ability of a well-populated regional database collected in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon to reproduce expected biogeochemical trends associated with forest clearing and pasture establishment, and explore the ramifications of relying on independently collected soil data for regional modeling. The Soteron database includes analyses of approximately 3000 soil cores collected for zoning purposes in the state of Rondô nia. Pasture ages were determined from a time series of Landsat TM images classified using spectral mixture analysis.
Geographical Analysis, 2011
We present a new linear regression model for use with aggregated, small area data that are spatia... more We present a new linear regression model for use with aggregated, small area data that are spatially autocorrelated. Because these data are aggregates of individual-level data, we choose to model the spatial autocorrelation using a geostatistical model specified at the scale of ...
Geographical Analysis, 2010
Although a growing number of studies emphasize the advantages small firms gain by co-locating in ... more Although a growing number of studies emphasize the advantages small firms gain by co-locating in space, there is little empirical work that directly examines clustering trends by firm size. This paper presents an empirical analysis of the isolated efects of size on clustering patterns of producers in a major manufacturing state in the southeast United States. Recent developments in point process modeling allow us to control f o r the critical fact that economic activity is, in general, concentrated in space. Our findings suggest that the relationship between establishment size and clustering in North Carolina is roughly characterized by an inverted u-shape, that is, clustering increases u p to some size threshold and then decreases again.