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A Best Reviewer award was granted to a BE&C faculty member at the Academy of Management (AOM)'s annual conference in Philadelphia. This distinction is offered to a select proportion of reviewers who help identify the best paper and symposium submissions that are chosen for presentation (traditionally 10%). The award was granted by the Entrepreneurship division of the AOM.

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On August 4, the "Global Forum Best Symposium Award" titled "Teaching and Learning HR around the World: Challenges and Practices" took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia. Here are some pictures of the symposium presenters and the awards ceremony organized by the Management Education and Development (MED) division of the Academy of Management.

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Learning, Networking, and Leading at ACBSP

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Learning, Networking, and Leading at ACBSP

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Our BE&C Assistant Chairs, Sonia and Candice, represented the department at the ACBSP Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, June 11-13, 2026.

They participated in sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions focused on business education, accreditation, and student success.

Thank you, Sonia and Candice, for representing BE&C so well! We are grateful for your leadership and excited about the ideas and insights you are bringing back to our department. 🎉

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The symposium "Teaching and Learning HR around the World: Challenges and Practices," by Academy of Management members from seven countries (Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Poland, and the USA), was selected as the winner of the Academy of Management's (AOM) Management Education and Development (MED) division's Global Forum Best Symposium award. Our country is represented by faculty members from Penn State and PennWest.

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From the Fed to PennWest Celebration of Scholarship 

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From the Fed to PennWest Celebration of Scholarship 

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Super proud of our two students (Matt and Kara) for bringing their awesome work back to campus from the Federal Reserve this Wednesday! 🎓 They did an amazing job transforming their PowerPoint research into a professional poster for our Celebration of Scholarship.

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Putting students in mildly dangerous places since 2012… that’s a saw. We’re at a lumber mill. 

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A group of Eagle Media Productions students and I worked with the SBDC to create workforce related videos for 12 small companies in north central PA. Covering over 700 miles, we learned about powdered metals, lumber mills, Zippo lighters and more… and got to live our “How it’s Made” dreams.

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The P.E.A.C.E Econ Club in the Clarion campus hosted an interdisciplinary discussion on Immigration-Part II on April 21 with professors Yenerall (political science), Woodburne (Economics), Sweet (political science), Sanko (history), Walsh (sociology and prerecorded) and Trejos (economics) in the panel.

Davaka (President), Riley (vice president) and Aiden (Treasurer) lead this student organization.

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ECON Connect: A Year of Growth, Grit, and Impact 🎉

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ECON Connect: A Year of Growth, Grit, and Impact 🎉

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What an incredible first year for ECON Connect! This brand-new student-led club has truly built something special from the ground up.

From navigating the process of establishing the club with SGA, launching social media, to organizing a wide range of engaging events—this team has done it all.

Their journey reflects not only creativity and initiative, but also resilience. Despite leadership transitions and challenges along the way, they adapted, stayed committed, and continued to move forward stronger.

✨ Highlights from the year include:

Fun community-building events like roller skating, board game night

Professional development opportunities, including attending an economics conference at the Federal Reserve, discussion on macroeconomics issues

Successful fundraising efforts (Bakery sale and Bean&Bear Cafe), raising $331

Creating a vibrant, student-driven presence on campus (including today’s Economics Kahoot—where I ranked #4… clearly, my students outpaced me in both speed and accuracy!)

This board showcases their hard work, collaboration, and the culture they’ve built in just one year. It’s inspiring to see what they’ve accomplished—and even more exciting to imagine what’s next.

📅 Upcoming events:

Fundraiser at Subway (Edinboro Campus): Next Tuesday, 5–8 PM

End-of-Year Cookout: May 2, 5–7 PM, next to Edinboro Lake

If you’re on Edinboro campus, please stop by and support these amazing students! If you have trouble to find these places, feel free to email the President of the club Rhonda GAR07376@pennwest.edu.

Let’s celebrate ECON Connect’s first year—and the strong foundation they’ve created for the future 👏

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Ron Raymond and Melissa Gibson hosted a portion of the Edinboro campus "Bring a Kid to Work Day" activities. In total, 25 children (ages 2 1/2-18) and their employee parent toured the TV studio, radio station and podcasting studio. Kids then participated in various activities including creating a podcast, writing and delivering a 30-second radio advertisement and reporting on the weather in the TV studio. Five Edinboro Communication/Media students assisted and supervised.

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Chad and I had the chance to attend the FBLA annual meeting in Hershey this week, meeting with hudnreds of students competing to move onto nationals! We both enjoyed meeting bright, enthusiastic, energetic students from all of the state, hopeful that a few of them will find their way to our campuses as students in the coming years.

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Some snapshots from yesterday's Marshmallow Challenge in Professor Gary Williams’ Principles of Management class!

Students worked in teams to design creative structures using limited materials - putting their collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills to the test.

From innovative designs to lots of laughter, it was a fun and engaging way to experience real-world teamwork in action.

Activities like this highlight the importance of communication, adaptability, and creativity, core skills for future managers. Thanks, Gary, for sharing this great day of learning and team building!

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Chaz Berkshire, May 2025 PennWest California graduate discusses his academic journey and current role as Operations Manager for State Theatre Center of the Arts to RECR 1650: Introduction to Recreation and Leisure

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Dr. Ben Wilson discussed issues related to prejudice and discrimination in the workplace.

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Dr. Ben Wilson, CEO of Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC), completed a Q&A ZOOM Interview that was viewed by the COMJ 7210 Managing Diversity class. Wilson, a two-time PennWest Edinboro alum, is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

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Two-time alumna Melissa Johnson recently completed a Q&A ZOOM interview that was viewed by graduate students in the COMJ 7210 Managing Diversity class. Johnson is the V.P. of Strategic Development at Tryon Distributing in Charlotte, NC. Tryon is a large craft beer and fine wine distributor. Johnson discussed best practices for managing diverse teams in the workplace.

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Hannah Stancliff, two-time alumna of PennWest Edinboro, attended COMJ 3060 Communication Research to discuss survey use in the tourism industry.

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The Communication Research class had a ZOOM visit from alumna Hannah Stancliff, Director of Convention Sales and Services at Visit Erie. Stancliff discussed examples of how Visit Erie uses survey data, from a large rebrand survey to a small survey of meeting planners from the region.

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It is always rewarding to see such high levels of engagement from my students during class activities. Today’s highlight was a gallery walk presentation. (Post by Sonia Hur)

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From left to right: Wayeera K. Robertson (Currently pursue Master's program in Quantitative Economics and Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh, Presenter last year), Dr. Jingze Jiang (Research Adviser), Matt J. Posego (Senior at the PennWest University, Presenter this year), Diletta M. Mungo (Senior at the PennWest University, Presenter last year), Kara L. Hooppell (Senior at the PennWest University, Presenter this year)

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From Class Project to the Federal Reserve Research Conference!

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From Class Project to the Federal Reserve Research Conference!

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There is exciting news to share regarding the impact of student research within the Applied Econometrics course.

Both of this year's student participants have been officially accepted to present their research at the Undergraduate Economics Research Conference "Economic Scholars Program" hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

Following a successful tradition, these students transformed their Applied Econometrics class projects into professional-grade research. To give a sense of the caliber of this event, last year’s conference featured projects from R1 and Ivy League institutions. These students are truly representing the high-quality, rigorous education provided by the PennWest BEC Department.

The selection process is famously competitive; the conference organizers at the Fed shared:

"It was so highly competitive, so your students should be very proud of their accomplishment."

The department is also grateful to two standout students from last year’s course. Having turned their own class projects into Fed-presented research last year, they recently joined this year’s cohort via Zoom to share their first-hand experiences and "lessons learned."

Mentoring students as they navigate the research process for the first time is one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession. Seeing PennWest students rise to this level of national competition and support one another is a true highlight of the academic year.

🚗 Cleveland Bound

On April 17th, the group along with their research adviser will travel to the Fed for the presentation. Look forward to another year of success as these students represent the excellence of their education on a national stage.

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Our ECON Connect students truly made this experience special! 

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Our ECON Connect students truly made this experience special! 

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It was wonderful to join ECON Connect for an roller skating outing tonight and see everyone enjoying time together outside the classroom. From laughter on the rink to supporting one another, our students created a fun, welcoming, and connected community.

I was also glad to have my daughters join us—they loved being part of such a positive and energetic group!

Moments like this highlight how amazing our students are and how important it is to build connections beyond academics. Proud of our ECON Connect community!

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Another Year, Another Success: Women in Business Panel and Networking Event Recap

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Another Year, Another Success: Women in Business Panel and Networking Event Recap

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Here are a few highlights from last Friday’s Women in Business Panel and Networking Event across our three PennWest campuses!

We were thrilled to see such strong student engagement, both in attendance and in the thoughtful feedback shared after the event. Many students expressed how impactful it was to hear real-world experiences and career advice from our inspiring panelists.

A special highlight was the presence of Erie Mayor Devlin, whose support and engagement with our students made the event even more meaningful. Mayor Devlin is our PennWest Alumna.

This event would not have been possible without the incredible efforts of our planning committee (Sandra R. Trejos; Susan Ryan; Nan Li; Rhonda Gifford; Kristine Doppelheuer; Songyee Hur; Alena Clark; Savannah Dorsey; Melissa Gibson; Stephanie Adam; Bethany Leight; Christina Moreschi, Jingze Jiang) and the strong support from our department faculty, who helped promote the event and encouraged students to attend. Their collective effort truly made a difference.

Moments like this remind us of the power of collaboration and our shared commitment to student success.

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Our AMA (American Marketing Association) student organization hosted its second guest speaker series of Spring 2026. Co-advisors, Dr. Songyee Hur and Professor William Gary, joined the meeting alongside the AMA leadership team and marketing students.

It is exciting to see the club continue to grow, supported by the strong leadership and dedication of the student leadership team. This initiative is truly student-driven—our students took the lead in securing and inviting the guest speaker.

I sincerely thank Professor William Gary for his continued support of the organization and his dedication to serving our students.

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Orange and Green Professional Webinar Marketing Strategy Flyer

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The Economics Club aims at building community at the Clarion campus.

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Many names of our colleagues and staff at the Clarion campus were mentioned and recognized yesterday at the Clarion campus. Certificates were handed to all who completed milestone years of service.

There was an atmosphere of gratitude and joy!

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The March 21 Admitted Day @ California Campus 

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The March 21 Admitted Day @ California Campus 

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First time for me to speaking to so many families on behalf of the BEC department on admitted days. The room was full. At least 10 families more than 35 people came, ranging from toddler (she was too talkative so her mother had to take her out of the room), to grandparents, including a Class of 2011 MBA alumna! I was overjoyed and had to take a picture and share with you all! Our programs are in high demand!!!

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Thank you, Dr. Sandra Trejos, for inviting me (Dr. Songyee Hur, Marketing) to serve as a panelist for the International Women’s Day panel. It was a pleasure to share perspectives with colleagues across PennWest, including Dr. Natasha Dias (Biology), Dr. Young Kim (Education), and Jane Walsh (Sociology).

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Another successful event celebrating Women’s History Month, hosted by the BEC Department in collaboration with the Career Center and IT team, led by Dr. Jingze Jiang.

Planning Committee:
Sandra R. Trejos; Susan Ryan; Nan Li; Rhonda Gifford; Kristine Doppelheuer; Songyee Hur; Alena Clark; Savannah Dorsey; Melissa Gibson; Stephanie Adam; Bethany Leight; Christina Moreschi.

Thanks to our MKTG3000 marketing students for creating the flyer, and to our president, Jon Anderson, and BEC Vice Dean Jaunice Vega for their attendance and continued support.

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Another Best Paper Award for PennWest's BE&C

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Another Best Paper Award for PennWest's BE&C

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The paper "E-HRM Evolution and Impact: Preparing People for Workplace Technology" won the Best Paper Award in Human Resources at the Southwest Academy of Management this March, 2026. Authors Madero-Gomez and Aguilar Villa are affiliated with Monterrey Tech (Mexico), Baldó with U. of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX), and Olivas Luján with PennWest (Clarion, PA).

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Welcoming Laurel Highlands HS to Campus!

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Welcoming Laurel Highlands HS to Campus!

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What a fantastic day! 🎉

BE&C had the pleasure of hosting 20 students from the Laurel Highlands High School Business Education Program, who brought great energy to campus. It was a full day of exploring, learning, and connecting. So much fun!

I loved having the chance to spend time with them and share what makes our department such a great place to learn.

Big thanks to everyone who helped make the day run so smoothly. I appreciate the faculty who welcomed our guests into their classes. Big thanks to Gary Williams for hosting the whole crew in MGMT 3000 first thing at 9 am! They also got a chance to participate in today's biggest event, the Women in Business Panel Discussion.

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Excited to have all three campuses represented today in my FINA 3000 class, as alum from Prudential talked about career opportunities and internships!

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Excited to have all three campuses represented today in my FINA 3000 class, as alum from Prudential talked about career opportunities and internships!

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Our Student Marketing Organization students successfully hosted their first guest speaker session of 2026. We are proud of their accomplishment and initiative.

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MKTG3000 Guest Speaker Spring26 Session 

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MKTG3000 Guest Speaker Spring26 Session 

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Alycia Baker from Enterprise Mobility visited Dr. Sonia Hur’s class on February 24, 2026, to discuss networking strategies, elevator pitch development, and interview preparation. She covered traditional, behavioral, and case-based interview questions and introduced the STAR method for structuring strong behavioral responses. Alycia also highlighted key competencies valued at Enterprise—such as customer service, communication, leadership, persuasiveness, and work ethic—and shared information about career paths and summer internship opportunities.

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I had a great morning today teaching high school teachers financial literacy methods! Associate Dean Dr. Tim Stevenson was kind enough to include me as part of the breakout session leaders.

The large audience speaker is President Anderson, who was incredibly gracious and engaging to over 400 teachers!

I was able to talk to about 35 high school math, economics, and civics teachers.

Pennsylvania recently added a graduation requirement for all students graduating in 2027 to prove proficient in personal finance, so we discussed the importance financial literacy plays in our communities, families, and society at large.

Great time!

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I enjoyed a wonderful full-circle moment this week, attending one of our 20 in 26 Alumni presentations in Rich LaRosa's Principles of Marketing class.

Rich's class hosted Cody Ambrose, a Senior Marketing Specialist at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

In this picture, Cody has his 2017 homecoming court photo on the slide as he begins his presentation, sharing an honest and engaging look at his career journey since graduating in 2018 with a major in Communication Studies (Public Relations concentration) and a minor in Event Planning & Management. He provided insight into the day-to-day realities of marketing, industry trends, and the excitement behind the metrics - including his now-famous enthusiasm for click-through rate increases!

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Members of 88.9 WFSE Fighting Scots Radio welcomed two outstanding guest speakers on Tuesday evening, February 10.

Sean Peebles, former WFSE General Manager and now in his ninth year as the Public Address Announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, returned to share insights from his professional journey. Kayla Crosby, owner of the Lake Erie Jackals of the Basketball Super League, also spoke with students about leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a professional franchise now playing its home games at McComb Fieldhouse.

Both guests shared powerful personal stories, practical career advice, and genuine encouragement that truly resonated with our campus media students. It was a memorable evening made possible by two remarkable professionals.

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Clarion Athletics Bob Carlson Scholar Athlete Luncheon 2026

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Clarion Athletics Bob Carlson Scholar Athlete Luncheon 2026

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A huge congratulations to our BE&C faculty who were recognized at the Clarion Scholar-Athlete Luncheon for supporting and mentoring student-athletes in the classroom. Each faculty member was personally selected and submitted by a Clarion scholar-athlete to recognize the help, support, and inspiration they’ve provided.

Recognized faculty included: Bell, Chad, Gary, John E., Kreag, Lacey, Miguel, Paul W., Sonia, and Tony J.

🌟 Special shout-out to John Eichlin, who had 10 student-athletes show appreciation for him. What an incredible testament to his support and impact! 🌟

Thank you all for representing our department so well and for making a difference in our students' lives every day.

https://clariongoldeneagles.com/news/2026/2/6/athletic-department-athletics-honors-233-scholar-athletes-at-annual-luncheon.aspx

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Big congratulations to Christian Ola and Chad Smith on the publication of their new book, Personal Finance (2026), Kendall Hunt!

It’s wonderful to see faculty scholarship that’s so accessible and practical, designed for our students and real people making real money decisions.

Way to go, Christian and Chad. Proud to celebrate this accomplishment with you 📘🎊!

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I was excited to see that Dr. Kim Yost has published a chapter titled “Commanding the Masculine Space: Leadership, Power, and Gender Performance in The Handmaid’s Tale.”

The chapter appears in the book Masculinities in Contemporary Science-Fiction Television.

Such great and intriguing work. Congratulations on this accomplishment!

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After visiting Dr. Ola's FINA 3000 Financial Management class this morning to address why Dr. Ola is on the naughty list AGAIN, Santa stopped by the department for cookies and conversation with Dr. Chicarelli and graduating senior Rachel Chobany. He shared some important business insights on the power of his brand exclusivity with Coke after I made the very embarrassing misstep of offering him a Diet Pepsi. 😉

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Interdisciplinary Faculty Panel on Immigration

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The Economics Club at the PennWest Clarion Campus, P.E.A.C.E., and the Model United Nations Club worked together to sponsor an interdisciplinary conversation on immigration. Professors John Eichlin (Law), Barry Sweet (Political Science) and Paul Woodburne (Economics) were part of an insightful discussion moderated by Dr. Sandra Trejos (Economics), advisor for both student organizations.

The hybrid session was well attended and students had the chance to ask questions while enjoying hot chocolate and dessert.

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Top left: Matthrew Posego, Bottom middle: Kara Hooppell.

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The 2026 Federal Reserve Bank Undergraduate Research Conference Cohort Kickoff Meeting (12/8/2025)

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The 2026 Federal Reserve Bank Undergraduate Research Conference Cohort Kickoff Meeting (12/8/2025)

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I'm excited to announce that Matthrew Posego and Kara Hooppell will be working with me to submit their research to the 2026 Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Undergraduate Research Conference!

These students from my Applied Econometrics class have shown exceptional creativity, economic thinking, data analysis skills, and a strong work ethic. They have committed to dedicating time outside of their regular coursework next semester to prepare for this conference, and I look forward to advising them on their papers.

We are hoping to replicate last year's incredible results, where Diletta and Wayeera made the top list—with Wayeera ranking #1 among all applicants before heading to the University of Pittsburgh for her Dual Master's in Quantitative Economics and Political Science.

Rooting for both Matt and Kara to be selected!

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At the 2025 Annual Conference of the SCSS, Prof. Miguel Olivas-Lujan presented "Retiring for Eternity: Planning Based on Social Science and Catholic Social Thought" in Steubenville, OH.

A summary of the presentation was published by Catholic News Agency, a service of EWTN News with worldwide distribution. Click here to read the article: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267459/catholic-social-scientists-reframe-perspective-on-retirement

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Catholic social scientists reframe perspective on retirement

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“Retiring for Eternity: Planning Based on Social Science and Catholic Social Thought” was one topic at the Society of Catholic Social Scientists’ annual conference.

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P.E.A.C.E. hosted a social time for all BEC majors. 

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The Economics club, P.E.A.C.E., held a social time on Nov. 13 at the Clarion campus. Students from different majors had the chance to sit together and mingle. Dr. Paul Woodburne and Dr. Miguel Olivas-Lujan joined and we all had a great time!

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Dr. Joseph Croskey visits the ECON 4600 class! 

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On Nov. 11, part of the session in the Global Economic Perspectives class covered how to practice habits to become happier and healthier, two aspects that in economics we know increase productivity.

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Well done, Joe Schwerha, who furthered his ongoing work in Privacy, AI & Information Governance Law by presenting at the Great Lakes Regional Academy of Legal Studies in Business Annual Conference in Akron, Ohio, in October.

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Left to Right: Cassondra Enterline (BSBA '16),Dr. Jingze Jiang, Natasha McCarthy (BSBA '15, MBA '20)

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Beyond the Textbook: ECON2200 Hosts Career Insights with Successful PennWest Edinboro Alumni 

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Beyond the Textbook: ECON2200 Hosts Career Insights with Successful PennWest Edinboro Alumni 

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A huge thank you to our incredible PennWest Edinboro Alumni, Cassondra Enterline (VP, Erie Prep and Owner, EnterWorld LLC) and ​Natasha McCarthy (Global Service Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific), for joining Dr. Jingze Jiang for a dynamic "Career Insights Frieside Chat" as part of the ECON 2200 course. The event also opened to all students on Edinboro Campus.

They chatted with Dr. Jiang, sharing their career journeys, tips for navigating macroeconomics, how to stand out in job applications, and the impact of Generative AI.

​We are so grateful to our alumni for giving back and helping our students define their path and prepare for the post-graduation world.

Thank, Edinboro Campus Career Center, for helping promote the event and supply the gifts for our Alumni!

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Lingwall Presents COVID-19 Research at International Conference

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Lingwall Presents COVID-19 Research at International Conference

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Dr. Andrew Lingwall, a Professor in the Department of Business, Economics, and Communication, presented "Uniting a Team of 5 Million: An Analysis of New Zealand's Unite Against COVID-19 Campaign" June 27 at BledCOM 2025, an International Public Relations Conference held in Bled, Slovenia. He was joined by international PR colleagues from around the globe.

Lingwall's presentation was based on research he and his colleague Dr. Doug Ashwell of Massey University conducted during Lingwall's Spring 2023 sabbatical in Wellington, New Zealand.

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Students from the Global Economic Perspectives (ECON 4600) class had a chance to meet some professors and administrators at the PASSHE Summit last week. We discussed about conference-attending etiquette.

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For this year's MGMT 3000 team challenge, I gave out medals (gold, silver, bronze) for the tallest structures. Here are the Gold Medalists with their 22.5 inch structure.

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​Huge shoutout to the ECON Connect Student Club for a successful fundraiser at Bean and Bear Coffee! 🎉 Drs. Dexter and Jiang were there to support the students. It was fantastic seeing the business thriving—it's owned by our own former business student! All proceeds go directly to funding the club's experiential learning efforts, including valuable conference attendance.

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This afternoon, I had the privilege of speaking at the Penn State sponsored "Global Impact Forum: Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI and Automation." Had a wonderful group of participants and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Unfortunately, I got a very crappy photo so this will have to do

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Christian, Josh, Shaun, and Adnan doing our best to be "Larger than Life..." Sorry, had to put the musical pun in there. 

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Not The Backstreet Boys, but the PennWest Boys!

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Not The Backstreet Boys, but the PennWest Boys!

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Shaun, Josh, Adnan and Christian attended NABET last week in State College to discuss all things Business, Econ, and Tech. Always a fun time to interact with peers from across the state, and kudos to both Adnan and Josh for serving on the board for the wonderfully run organization.

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Students Ware, Lanager, Bumbarger, and Fink (l to r)

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Students taking Occupational Safety and Health Management made a poster presentation, "Harnessing AI for Safe Workplaces," at this year's PASSHE Summit. This class is part of the Human Resource Management minor and certificate.

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"Retiring for Eternity," a presentation to the SCSS on 10/24

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Dr. Olivas-Lujan's presentation on retirement

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Dr. Olivas-Lujan's presentation on retirement

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A presentation on retirement, joining social science and CST (Catholic Social Thought) at the annual conference of the SCSS.

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Lingwall-Ashwell Article Accepted by Journal of Public Relations Research

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Lingwall-Ashwell Article Accepted by Journal of Public Relations Research

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"Uniting a Team of 5 Million: An Analysis of New Zealand's 'Unite Against COVID-19 Campaign' by Dr. Andrew Lingwall of PennWest Clarion and Dr. Doug Ashwell of Massey University, has been accepted for publication in The Journal of Public Relations Research.

The article is based on COVID-19 research Drs. Lingwall and Ashwell conducted during Lingwall's sabbatical in New Zealand during Spring 2023.

Published by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), this peer-reviewed journal accepts only 11 percent of submissions.

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Just got home from a super fun night speaking on a super fun topic (accountability) at DisruptHR Pittsburgh. 20 slides. 5 minutes. 15 seconds per slide. Oof! My husband took some photos that were not my best work, so I'll use this nice headshot ad instead and will post the video when the organization does.

Here's the video link if you have five minutes to waste: https://vimeo.com/1141249609

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Putting Theory to Practice: ECON Connect Volunteers

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Putting Theory to Practice: ECON Connect Volunteers

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Putting economics into practice! For its first event, ECON Connect volunteered at the PennWest Edinboro Community Trick-or-Treat. What better way to understand improving social welfare than by getting out and improving the community? The students led the effort, designing the table and engaging with families. Dr. Jingze Jiang, her family, and friends from Erie, Waterford and Springboro attended the event, showing their support for the club's goals.

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President: Rhonda Gardner (Math Major, Econ Minor); Vice President: Sadiyah Dexter (Math Major, Econ Minor); Treasuer: JD Colie (Political Science Major); Secretary: Olivia Tucker (BSBA-Marketing Major); Public Relations: Madelyn Manupella (BSBA-Marketing Major)

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Exciting New Student Initiative Launches: ECON Connect Student Club! 👏

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Exciting New Student Initiative Launches: ECON Connect Student Club! 👏

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I'm thrilled to announce and wholeheartedly commend the establishment of our newest student club, ECON Connect! This is a fantastic, student-led initiative that will undoubtedly enrich the academic and professional lives of our students.

The club's ambitious mission is truly inspiring: to foster a deeper connection to the field of economics by bringing students together to discuss real-world topics, build community through engaging activities, and deepen their commitment to the broader community through service and volunteerism.

ECON Connect's focus on professional development is particularly noteworthy, as they aim to improve job readiness, provide support for scholarly ambitions, and offer recognition for scholastic achievement. This is precisely the kind of proactive, holistic engagement we encourage in our students.

Join me in congratulating the founders (President: Rhonda Gardner (Math Major, Econ Minor); Vice President: Sadiyah Dexter (Math Major, Econ Minor); Treasuer: JD Colie (Political Science Major); Secretary: Olivia Tucker (BSBA-Marketing Major); Public Relations: Madelyn Manupella (BSBA-Marketing Major)) of ECON Connect on their vision and leadership. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they'll have!

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Organic versus Mechanistic Lego Tower Challenge

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Organic versus Mechanistic Lego Tower Challenge

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So, I tried something fun in class yesterday, which could have been a disaster, and I am glad to report it wasn't.

Our unit includes some basic coverage of organizational design. Students were in two groups. One with an organic structure with a flat hierarchy and decentralized communication flow. The mechanistic group had a narrow span of control and formal communication rules.

The challenge was to build the highest stable Lego tower they could in 15 minutes using their assigned structures (matching Lego kits, of course).

Team Organic won. Team Mechanistic's tower had googly eyes on it, so what they didn't achieve in height, they made up for in whimsy. 😆

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PennWest Students Attend Investment Research Challenge Kickoff Event at Howmet Aerospace Headquarters

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PennWest Students Attend Investment Research Challenge Kickoff Event at Howmet Aerospace Headquarters

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I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Christian Ola and Dr. Shaun Pfeifer for their exceptional leadership and mentorship as PennWest students participated in the Investment Research Challenge Kickoff Event at Howmet Aerospace.

Three students from the Edinboro and California campuses of PennWest University’s Finance and Personal Financial Planning and Mathematics program attended the event at Howmet Aerospace for a regional investment research challenge hosted by the CFA Society of Pittsburgh.

This event was held at the headquarters of Howmet Aerospace, a leading Pittsburgh aerospace company. The event provided these students with the opportunity to meet leaders at Howmet, as they provided insight into their company that the students will expand upon as they begin their investment analysis.

Well done FPFP!

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Dr. Olivas-Lujan's peer-reviewed article accepted for publication 

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Dr. Olivas-Lujan's peer-reviewed article accepted for publication 

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Very grateful to Drs. Yanira Lizeth Rubio Leal and Sergio Madero, for inviting me to join this research project on Sustainable Human Resource Management! It's always a great feeling when an article is finally approved for publication!!

~Miguel

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Chris Lantinen speaking about NWPA Made initiative.

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Chris Lantinen, Director of Edinboro Beehive, unveiled NWPA Made, a new initiative “bringing together regional artists, manufacturers, food and beverage makers, craftspeople, software developers, and other maker-entrepreneurs. Centered around products made in Northwest PA, the initiative encourages residents to buy local while empowering regional makers through educational programming…” Representatives from PennWest Edinboro Beehive and Bridgeway Capital were in attendance, in addition to other campus and outside guests.

Chris hosted the event at the shop of one of the clients. Chris delivered a presentation about the NWPA Made grant-funded ($400,000 range) project. Two Corporate Communication graduate students—Sabrina Bootz and Ben Kalmey—discussed how they assisted in the branding and development of the project.

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Drs Trejos and Olivas-Lujan as panelists in PennWest's Cafe con Leche celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

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Drs Trejos and Olivas-Lujan as panelists in PennWest's Cafe con Leche celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

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Drs. Sandra Trejos and Miguel Olivas-Lujan participated in PennWest's celebration of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. On September 15, PennWest's CORE (Office of Community, Opportunity, Responsibility, and Engagement) organized a panel with students, staff, and faculty from all three campuses.

Cafe con Leche means "coffee with milk," which is a traditional beverage in most Iberoamerican countries that cherish conversations, discussions, and the connections that family and friends often have around a table, patio, or anywhere else, to catch up and strengthen their communities. Topics discussed included history, food, music, customs, and many other ways in which Hispanics have been part of the American fiber, even before the USA was constituted as a country.

This event is usually held in September.

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Communication and Conflict Transformation: Building Mediative Capacity

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Communication and Conflict Transformation: Building Mediative Capacity

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Andrew Smith led an outstanding session yesterday for managers, supervisors, and department chair teams on communication practices that shape conflict dynamics in organizational settings. The participants learned to distinguish between managing everyday tensions, transforming workplace conflicts, and resolving serious violations.

Thank you for lending your invaluable expertise to improving PennWest, Andrew! I know you helped many build insight for all attendees for turning destructive conflict into constructive dialogue.

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2-Day Financial Planning Profession Trip to Pittsburgh 

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2-Day Financial Planning Profession Trip to Pittsburgh 

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On September 25, 8 students from the PennWest Finance and Personal Financial Planning Program, led by Dr. Nan Li, went on a financial planning profession trip to Pittsburgh. During the two-day trip, PennWest students, together with students from Penn State, visited 4 successful financial firms in the region, including Allegheny Financial Group, Beratung Advisors, Federated Hermes, and Fort Pitt Capital Group. Students also had the opportunity to form connections with other professionals during the NextGen Networking event that was hosted by the Financial Planning Association Pittsburgh.

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Ideas came up from our conversation for an integrated panel in collaboration with the economics clubs.

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I was selected to participate in a PASSHE ACUE course this fall and today I completed the requirements. According to their website, "The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) partners with higher education institutions to deliver a complete solution for excellence in every class." The course was entitled "Inspiring Inquiry and Lifelong Learning in Your Online Course". I found it to be a worthwhile reflective experience to help me better design engaging online courses. I encourage you all to participate in ACUE courses if/when they're available again.

Stephanie Adam

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BE&C Awards over $60,000 in scholarships

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BE&C Awards over $60,000 in scholarships

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I would like to extend my thanks to our Departmental Scholarship Committee, Adnan, Cindy, Kim, and Lacey, for their work overseeing our BE&C scholarships during the past academic year. Their goal was to allocate 100% of the available funds, and they successfully achieved that. I know their diligent work will make a difference for many students.

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Congratulations to our very own Cindy Nellis, valued non-teaching faculty member of BE&C, and Director of Clarion SBDC!

https://www.pennwest.edu/about/news/images/clarion-sbdc-recognized-for-excellence.php

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Clarion SBDC and team members recognized for excellence at state conference | PennWest

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PennWest Clarion’s Small Business Development Center and its staff were recognized for excellence in multiple categories during the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center 2025 Growth Conference in May at Penn State University.

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Dr. Melissa Gibson and Dr. Jingze Jiang had a wonderful time volunteering at the Highland Games on Edinboro Campus!This event is truly impactful because it's so much more than a celebration of Scottish tradition and a competition for people across the nation. It's a way for us to support our incredible community and bring so much joy and laughter to families. We're so proud to be a part of it!

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PennWest Students Attend The 2025 CFA Society Pittsburgh Career Fair “Investing in the Future”

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PennWest Students Attend The 2025 CFA Society Pittsburgh Career Fair “Investing in the Future”

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I am pleased to share the great work of Shaun Pfeiffer and Nan Li!

On September 11, 2025, they took a group of ten students from the Edinboro and California campuses to the 2025 CFA Society of Pittsburgh Career Fair. This event was held at the River’s Club, and the day consisted of panel discussions, networking, and professional development events.

Employers in attendance included BNY Mellon, Erie Insurance, Federated Hermes, Waldron Private Wealth, C.S.

McKee, First National Bank, Dollar Bank, Highmark Health, T. Rowe Price, PNC Bank, and American Century Investments.

Fantastic work, Shaun and Nan!

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Thank you, BE&C, for a fabulous 2025 retreat! It was a great day of connection, collaboration, and conversation. What a great-looking crew we are! 🤩

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2025 Summer- PW Biz Econ Comms Retreat-9343

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Apologies for the "humblebrag," but I don't receive these messages every day:

With 1,305 reviewers contributing their time and expertise, your engagement has significantly strengthened the quality and impact of our program.

Among this exceptional group, 28 reviewers have been specially recognized for their outstanding contributions...

I am very grateful to the Entrepreneurship division of the Academy of Management for this recognition.

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Research Selected as ARER Featured Article

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Research Selected as ARER Featured Article

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I just learned that research led by Dr. Jiang has been selected as the Featured Article by the editor of the Agricultural and Resource Economics Review (ARER). This is a highly regarded, peer-reviewed journal in the fields of econometrics, environmental and natural resource economics. The research covers the issue of microplastic pollution in agriculture.

Thank you for representing PennWest so well, Jingze, and congratulations on this well-deserved success.

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Thank you to the BEC Department for offering valuable faculty professional development opportunities. I completed a one-week course in Summer 2025, where I explored a variety of AI tools and how they can be effectively integrated into instructional design. - Sonia-

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A big thank you to Sonia Hur, Business Accreditation Director, and Chad Smith, "Keeper of Capstone," for representing PennWest at this year's ACBSP conference in Las Vegas. Bridges Across Borders:

Collaborative Strategies for Academic and Professional Success.

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New Research Offers Path to Optimize Microplastic Pollution in Agriculture Using Soil-Biodegradable Mulches

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New Research Offers Path to Optimize Microplastic Pollution in Agriculture Using Soil-Biodegradable Mulches

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I am pleased to announce the publication of a research paper I led in the Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, a prestigious double-blind peer reviewed agricultural and environmental economics journal published by Cambridge University Press. The paper, "Optimizing Microplastic Pollution in a Terrestrial Environment: A Case for Soil-Biodegradable Mulches," introduces an economic model to simulate the effects and advantages of these innovative materials.

This research is significant as it represents the first economic study to evaluate the long-term implications of biodegradable plastics for soil health. Addressing the complexities of this topic necessitated a close working relationship with crop scientists, soil scientists, and material scientists from Washington State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Their data on mulch behavior and properties were fundamental to our structural economic model and simulations, highlighting the importance of this interdisciplinary collaboration for assessing real-world applications.

The generous funding support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was instrumental in conducting this research and has enabled us to offer the article as open access, thereby broadening its reach and impact.

The full article, "Optimizing Microplastic Pollution in a Terrestrial Environment: A Case for Soil-Biodegradable Mulches," can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2025.20

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Introduction

The popular use of plastics in agriculture, while boosting productivity (Ingman et al Reference Ingman, Santelmann and Tilt2015; Steinmetz et al Reference Steinmetz, Wollmann, Schaefer, Buchmann, David, Tröger, Frör and Schaumann2016) and ensuring food security in the short run (Brodhagen et al Reference Brodhagen, Goldberger, Hayes, Inglis, Marsh and Miles2017; Coskun et al Reference Coskun, Britto, Shi and Kronzucker2017), has caused a pressing environmental dilemma (Rochman Reference Rochman2018). Conventional plastic products, like those made from polyethylene, have increased crop yields across the world. For example, cotton, maize, and wheat yields have increased by 30% in China (Bloomberg 2017). Polyethylene mulches (PEMs) are a prime example of beneficial plastics for food production, widely used in commercial agriculture around the world. The scale of their use is substantial: U.S. farmers alone use 1 billion pounds of plastic annually, with 40% being plastic mulches (Kirkham et al Reference Kirkham, Antony and Bolan2020). In China, a staggering 1.45 million metric tons of plastic mulches covered nearly 50 million acres of farmland in 2017, representing 12% of the country's total farmland (Bloomberg 2017).

Soil-biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs), have emerged as a promising solution, offering a more environmentally friendly approach to managing agricultural plastic mulch waste. However, to assure BDM films are an economic viable alternative, several challenges must be overcome. BDMs incur an often-higher cost compared to their conventional counterparts, PEMs, presenting a significant barrier to their widespread implementation. Furthermore, unreliable degradation rates of new BDM products during the production season can influence their efficacy in critical agricultural functions such as weed suppression and moisture retention, potentially impacting crop yields. The inherent uncertainty surrounding the degradation process and its susceptibility to environmental fluctuations further complicates the decision-making process for farmers and policymakers (Madrid et al Reference Madrid, Goldberger, Miles and DeVetter2022 b).

The intricate trade-off between the environmental benefit of BDMs and their performance in agricultural production underscores the need for a more comprehensive economic evaluation. The resolution of this complex problem can help foster the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate the global plastic pollution issue.

To capture the accumulation of plastic pollutants over time, this study utilizes a dynamic model, which offers a more complete understanding of intertemporal environmental interactions compared to static models that assume a level of pollutant unchanged by time. Dynamic models effectively capture the evolution of pollutant stocks, accounting for both the natural degradation of pollutants and the addition of new pollutants through emissions (Tietenberg Reference Tietenberg2004).

Literature review

Soil-biodegradable plastics have emerged as a potentially competitive alternative to conventional plastics, offering a more sustainable solution to mitigating agricultural plastic waste and pollution. These plastics are derived from biobased feedstocks or a combination of biobased and fossil fuel sources (Miles and Ghimire Reference Miles and Ghimire2020). They degrade biologically under anaerobic or aerobic conditions, ultimately breaking down into harmless byproducts like carbon dioxide, water, and minerals (Avérous and Halley Reference Avérous and Halley2014). Recent advancements in soil-biodegradable plastics technology have improved their performance in agricultural applications (Ghimire et al Reference Ghimire, Wszelaki, Moore, Inglis and Miles2018; Mohanty et al Reference Mohanty, Misra and Hinrichsen2000; Sintim et al Reference Sintim, Bandopadhyay, English, Bary, DeBruyn, Schaeffer and Flury2019; Tofanelli & Wortman, Reference Tofanelli and Wortman2020).

Despite their environmental benefits, several challenges impede the widespread adoption of BDMs as a full replacement for PEMs in agriculture. The higher cost of BDMs compared to PEMs poses a significant economic challenge for farmers (Velandia et al Reference Velandia, Smith, Wszelaki, Galinato and Marsh2018; Velandia et al Reference Velandia, Jensen, DeLong, Wszelaki and Rihn2020 c ; Marí et al Reference Marí, Pardo, Cirujeda and Martínez2019). Additionally, the degradation rate of BDMs can influence their effectiveness in weed suppression and moisture conservation, potentially impacting crop yields (Griffin-LaHue et al Reference Griffin-LaHue, Ghimire, Yu, Scheenstra, Miles and Flury2022; Li et al Reference Li, Moore-Kucera, Miles, Leonas, Lee, Corbin and Inglis2014). The uncertainty surrounding the degradation process and its environmental dependence (e.g., the moisture and the temperature level) further complicates the decision-making process for farmers.

Despite these findings, a critical gap remains in understanding the dynamic nature and long-term economic and environmental consequences of microplastic accumulation from both conventional and biodegradable mulches. As Bishop ( Reference Bishop1993) noted, understanding these consequences, efficiency in particular, is necessary for developing sustainable farming and disposal practices. This is particularly important given concerns about the potential for soil to act as a sink for microplastics (Rillig Reference Rillig2012; Rochman Reference Rochman2018), raising questions about the long-term productivity and economic viability of agricultural systems. This gap in the literature underscores the need for a comprehensive economic evaluation of the trade-off between the environmental benefits of BDMs and their performance in agricultural production, which can help foster the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate the global plastic pollution issue.

Therefore, this paper aims to fill this gap by developing a dynamic optimal choice model that considers the trade-off between the degradation rate of plastic mulches and their functionality in agricultural production. By incorporating the costs of plastic residue and disposal, as well as the long-term impact of microplastic accumulation on soil health, this stock pollutant model will provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating the economic and environmental implications of PEMs and BDMs use. The research will also explore the influence of various factors, such as disposal costs, crop prices, BDM certification and corrective tax, on decision-making regarding BDMs adoption and use.

Dynamic models

Following previous studies in agricultural pollution control (Anderson et al Reference Anderson, Opaluch and Sullivan1985; Conrad and Olson Reference Conrad and Olson1992; Conrad and Clark Reference Conrad and Clark1987; Martínez and Albiac Reference Martínez and Albiac2004), we develop a dynamic optimal control model for a representative grower. The private grower model analyzes the optimal degradation rate of plastic mulches, plastic residue management, and disposal decisions. Next, we introduce biodegradation standards and then extend the private grower model to a social planner model with an optimal corrective tax.

Private grower optimization

Consider N identical growers who use one type of plastic mulch in growing a single crop on a homogeneous farm under an infinite planning horizon. Initially each representative grower has perfect information of the degradation rate of mulches, and each grower is indexed by i. We assume that the market can offer different types of plastic mulches characterized by an in-soil degradation rate, where the degradation rate parameter is assumed to be between 0% and 100% (). The degradation rate equal to 0% represents the PEMs that have no degradation during a crop year t. If the in-soil degradation rate is greater than 0% but no more than 100% (0 < 1), the plastic mulch is identified as a BDM. When the degradation rate is equal to 100%, it implies the completely degradable BDMs. Because of environmental differences for degradation rates in-soil as opposed to above the soil, the above-soil degradation rate is denoted as . Then the function expresses the in-soil degradation rate as a function of above-soil degradation rate. We assume the above-soil degradation rate is a monotone function of , and the value of is between 0% and 100% as well. No matter the type of plastic mulches used by the farmer, the waste management decision on disposal of used plastic mulches will affect the plastic stock of pollution in the farmland soil. Henceforth, to focus the analysis, we assume if the farmer does not dispose of the plastic mulch waste after the growing season, then the used plastic mulches will be incorporated in the soil contributing to the plastic pollutant stock in the farmland soil, .

We assume the production function for each grower, i, is a continuously differentiable strictly decreasing function of the degradation rate, and the plastic pollutant stock in the farmland soil, , (<0,<0). The production function is strictly concave (). The grower i is assumed to sell all the crops at the market price, . Hence, represents the revenue of grower i's farm at the end of the crop year. Figure 1 illustrates a grower's decision flowchart, and box A is corresponding to the revenue.

The cost function has two components, the production costs and the disposal costs. The grower's private input cost function, , is a strictly increasing function of the degradation rate () to recognize that the cost of BDMs is higher than that of PEMs. The input cost function is non-concave ( The production costs are represented by box B in Figure 1. The term represents the plastic-mulch-waste disposal cost, where (measured in $/lb) is the disposal rate. is the amount of plastic mulch waste disposed at disposal facilities (measured in pounds), where is a non-decreasing function of the portion of plastic mulch waste, , handled by the disposal facility (, but a strictly decreasing function of the degradation rate (). It is non-concave (in the degradation rate. The disposal costs are represented by box C in Figure 1.

Following previous literature, the discount factor indicates that the grower values the current profit more than the future profit (Conrad and Olson Reference Conrad and Olson1992; Martínez and Albiac Reference Martínez and Albiac2004). Therefore, the grower's objective of maximizing the discounted sum of current and future annual profits from selling a single crop is specified as

Subject to

where the grower i simultaneously chooses a mulch with degradation rate, for the local environment, and the portion of plastic mulch waste handled by the disposal facility, , which can have a value between 0 and 1. In practice most growers either dispose of all () or none () of the plastic mulch waste, which form individual corner solutions.

Equation 2 is the function of the evolution for the plastic pollutant stock in the farm soil. At the end of each crop year, the plastic pollutant stock in the farm soil, , will come from two sources: the plastic pollutant stock in the farmland soil from previous crop years and the in-flow of undisposed plastic mulch residue from the current crop year. At the beginning of the crop year, the farmland soil has contained plastic pollutant stock, , but during the crop year, degrades in the soil with a degradation rate, . Therefore, is an increasing function of the plastic pollutant stock, but a decreasing function of the in-soil degradation rate, . is a base level of residue from PEM (or BDM for that matter) whether the mulch goes to a landfill or stays on the property. We also assume that if the completely degradable BDMs are used, the accumulated plastic mulch pollutant stock will equal to a base level, . We assume is subject to the curvature conditions: .

The discrete current value Hamiltonian (Shone Reference Shone2003) is

where can be interpreted as the shadow price whose value is negative. The shadow price measures the loss in future profit due to additional plastic pollutant stock in the farmland soil reducing the soil productivity. The Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions (equations 7 - 10) and the sufficient transversality condition (equation 11) are as follows:

We use and to denote the steady-state solutions. Condition (8) quantifies the differences between the marginal cost () and marginal benefit () associated with the disposal decision. Both the cost and benefit of disposal are not associated with crop production function or crop price. If the marginal cost is large than the marginal benefit of disposing mulch waste, i.e., , the grower will till all used plastic mulches into the farmland soil. This practice leads to a continuous accumulation of plastic pollutants, diminishing soil productivity and ultimately causing the grower to cease farming operations. Consequently, the model will converge towards the transversality condition (11). An increase in disposal costs and fees, , will elevate the marginal cost of disposing mulch waste, making condition more likely to be satisfied. Therefore, the grower is more inclined to till all used plastic mulches into the soil.

However, if the marginal cost is smaller than the marginal benefit of disposing mulch waste, i.e., the grower will opt to send all used plastic mulches to a disposal facility. In this case, the plastic pollutant stock in the farmland soil is determined by an accumulated base level of residue from mulch even if it goes to a disposal facility.

Considering condition (7) that identifies the degradation rate decision, we first discuss the boundary solutions. Suppose that then the optimal in-soil degradation rate (the fully degradable BDMs). Therefore, if is equal to 0, the optimal pollutant stock in the farmland soil will only be determined by initial plastic residue in the farmland soil. Considering the case in which we obtain that the optimal in-soil degradation rate , which is the conventional PEMs.

We now turn to the interior solution, where . We follow Schnitkey and Miranda ( Reference Schnitkey and Miranda1993) to drop the time subscript t, and grower subscript i, and denote the steady state for a representative grower as , . Therefore, the optimal degradation rate at the steady state satisfies the equation ( 12) (see derivation is in Appendix A)

where is the inverse function of with respect to the degradation rate, and it is a strictly decreasing function of . Equation ( 12) identifies the steady-state degradation responses relative to changes in key parameters. Consequently, when the crop price, increases, the grower is more likely to use plastic mulches with a higher degradation rate. In other words, when crop prices are higher, farmers have the financial incentive to prioritize long-term soil improvement by choosing the faster-degrading mulch with higher upfront cost. Equation ( 12) also predicts that for a higher the disposal rate and fee,, then a mulch with a higher degradation rate will be chosen by the grower. If disposal fees for plastic mulch are very high in the farmer's area, the economic benefits of faster degradation could outweigh other considerations. A higher degradation rate means less plastic to haul away and pay for at the end of the season. Essentially, the analysis of equation ( 12) reveals that higher crop prices or higher disposal cost incentivize growers to invest in practices that maximize long-term yield and minimize costs. Growers will weigh the benefits of faster degradation (reduced disposal costs and soil health) against the potentially higher upfront cost of BDMs. The relationship revealed in this research aligns with existing research on the private interest of farmers in maintaining or increasing soil quality. Note that Issanchou et al. ( Reference Issanchou, Daniel, Dupraz and Ropars-Collet2019) reported that crop prices positively influence farmer investments in soil conservation.

Biodegradation standards

In this section, we relax the assumption of perfect information regarding degradation rate. Here, growers rely on biodegradation standards and certifications to identify biodegradable plastic mulches. Plastic producers substantiate degradability claims by adhering to national or international standards (Federal Trade Commission 2012, 2014). Several standards guide the identification of biodegradable plastics in various environments (compost, marine, etc.): ASTM D6400 and D5526-11 (US), EN 13432 and EN 17033 (Europe/Japan), and ISO 17088. These standards establish protocols, materials, and conditions for testing, as well as define degradation rate benchmarks for certified soil-biodegradable plastics. For instance, ASTM D6400 certifies a plastic as soil-biodegradable if at least 90% of its organic carbon converts to CO ₂ within 180 days under controlled laboratory conditions (Avérous and Halley Reference Avérous and Halley2014).

In other words, asymmetric information creates a challenge for BDMs production. When farmers lack complete knowledge of BDMs' degradation rate, BDMs manufactures are required to produce BDMs meeting the standard, the variety of plastic mulches offered with varying degradation rates may be lower compared to a scenario with perfect information. To reflect such conditions, the constraint (3) will be modified as follows:

Let denote the optimal degradation rate under the current biodegradation certification scheme. If defined in equation ( 13) is no smaller than 90% (), . However, if , then the optimal choice will depend on the general shape of a grower's profit function.

Figure 2 depicts three plausible scenarios. Figure 2(a) depicts the scenario that the lifetime profit is larger when a grower chooses PEMs rather than BDMs meeting standards. A grower would gain a higher lifetime profit by using BDMs meeting standards with a 90% degradation rate than PEMs if the scenario represented in Figure 2(b) happened. We also can observe the situation depicted in Figure 2(c) where there is no difference between using PEMs or BDMs meeting standards with a 90% degradation rate to achieve the highest lifetime profit. Simulation methods are applied in section "Empirical model and data" to characterize the shape of a grower's profit function so that we are able to study the grower's optimal choice under current biodegradation standards in section "Results and discussion."

Social planner optimization

This section expands our model to consider the social optimum and the policy implications of aligning individual grower decisions with the social planner's choice (assuming perfect information).

While growers manage plastic mulch waste on-farm to minimize reductions in crop productivity from soil pollution, negative environmental externalities still persist. Landfilling, a common disposal method, contributes to the global plastic waste crisis, harming terrestrial (Dreyer et al Reference Dreyer, Fourie and Kok1999; Lgbokwe et al Reference Lgbokwe, Kolo and Egwu2003; Omidi et al Reference Omidi, Naeemipoor and Hosseini2012) and marine animals (Cameron and Dudek Reference Cameron and Dudek2009; Derraik Reference Derraik2002; Joyner and Frew Reference Joyner and Frew1991). Incineration releases greenhouse gases by converting petroleum-based carbon into atmospheric carbon (Ellis et al Reference Ellis, Kantner, Saab and Watson2005; Gautam Reference Gautam2009).

To mitigate negative externalities arising from pollution, social planners can employ various environmental policies. Three primary instruments exist for pollution control, aiming to achieve a socially optimal outcome (Baumol and Oates Reference Baumol and Oates1988; Kolstad Reference Kolstad2011). Command-and-control regulations directly limit pollution emissions or mandate specific technologies. While offering certainty in pollution reduction and potentially simplifying complex environmental processes, this approach can discourage innovation in pollution control methods (Kolstad Reference Kolstad2011). Pollution fees (or taxes) incentivize polluters to internalize external costs by imposing a charge on their emissions (Pigou Reference Pigou1932). Pollution permits utilize a market-based approach where a limited number of permits are issued and traded among firms. Both fees and permits are price-based incentives that require less information than command-and-control and can be cost-effective due to market-driven adjustments. However, these price-based instruments may struggle to address the complexities of environmental systems without becoming overly complicated themselves (Kolstad Reference Kolstad2011) and may face challenges in accurately measuring marginal social damage (Baumol and Oates Reference Baumol, Oates, Bohm and Kneese1971).

Consequently, many scholars advocate for a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both quantity-based and price-based instruments (Baumol and Oates Reference Baumol, Oates, Bohm and Kneese1971; Jacobs and Timmons Reference Jacobs and Timmons1974; Moffitt et al. Reference Moffitt, Zilberman and Just1978; Schnitkey and Miranda Reference Schnitkey and Miranda1993; Holland Reference Holland2012). This typically involves setting a cap on total pollution allowed and using a market mechanism (such as a tax or a tradable permit system with a price ceiling) to ensure the cap is not exceeded. This approach allows policymakers to achieve emission reduction targets while encouraging innovation in pollution control.

Therefore, we adopt the hybrid approach in this research and assume that the social planner aims to control both plastic pollutant stock in farmland and waste disposed of in landfill facilities with a limitation. Such a limitation can be expressed as an extra constraint for the optimization problem

where the maximum level of the plastic mulch waste is exogenously determined by the social planner as .

The socially optimal problem is to maximize the summation of all growers' profit in equation ( 15) subject to conditions (2) to (5) and constraint (14)

Therefore, the discrete current value Hamiltonian is as follows:

where is the shadow price associated with the plastic mulch waste constraint (14), which represents the minimum monetary incentive the social planner has to impose on grower i so that the total amount of plastic mulch pollution in the farmland soil ( and the plastic waste sent to disposal facilities ( from all growers, N, will not be over the limit . Therefore, can be considered as a corrective tax. By solving the first-order conditions of discrete current value Hamiltonian, if the constraint (14) is binding, we find that the optimal corrective tax is defined as

Note that if the plastic mulch waste generated by all growers are less than the limit, , the optimal corrective tax is . Since the models for the individual grower and social planner cannot be completely solved analytically, we turn to simulation methods to solve for the optimal solutions to the models. Figure 1, Box D illustrates that once the social planner determines the corrective tax amount, growers will incorporate the tax into their decision-making, internalizing the social cost of plastic pollution and considering both farmland and landfill impacts. The numerical methods and results are discussed in sections "Empirical model and data, Results and discussion."

Empirical model and data

In this section, we introduce an empirical economic model of plastic residue in farmland soil, which is more likely than the theoretical model to capture the complexities intrinsic to real-world economic behavior. First, a deterministic model and then a stochastic extension of the model are presented in the Appendix C. Then, data for a case study application in tomato production in the state of Washington are discussed.

Illustrative case study: deterministic environment

Grounded in the optimization specification and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker equations ( 1)-( 11), and following Schnitkey and Miranda ( Reference Schnitkey and Miranda1993) and Miranda and Fackler ( Reference Miranda and Fackler2004), we apply the functional forms:

The well-defined functions allow us to numerically illustrate the results. represents the crop production under the PEMs. The negative coefficients of the production function and captures the impact of the changes in degradation rates on crop production. Meanwhile, negative coefficients and measure the reduced crop production associated with the increased plastic residue in the farmland soil. The total amount of the plastic mulch used by grower i during period t is denoted as . and mean the production cost not associated with the plastic mulch and the amount of plastic mulch residue in the farmland soil at the very beginning of period t, respectively. captures the impact of disposal decisions on the dynamic accumulation of plastic pollutant in the farmland soil. reflects the interaction between the grower's disposal decision and the mulch's degradation rate, which may in turn affect the plastic pollutant in the farmland soil. represents a base level of residue from PEM (or BDM for that matter) whether the mulch goes to a landfill or stays on the farmland. is the economic disposal cost, and it is determined by the disposal cost in monetary value, , and the effort coefficient . is a function of the portion of mulches to be removed from the farmland, . When near zero portion of mulches is to be removed, then the effort coefficient . As the portion of mulch required to removed increases, the effort coefficient will increase with the rate of . We use effort coefficient to capture the situation that as the grower seeks to remove more percentage of plastic mulch from the farmland to the landfill, the more effort they will put in, which increase the economic disposal cost.

We apply the collocation method to solve the current dynamic economic model (Bellomo et al Reference Bellomo, Lods, Revelli and Ridolfi2007; Golub and Ortega Reference Golub and Ortega1992). Under the deterministic environment, we perform sensitivity analysis to examine how changes in key parameters affect the decision maker's optimal choice and the accumulation of plastic residue in the farmland soil. Results are presented in section "Results and discussion."

Data

This study focuses on tomato growers due to readily available data, their extensive use of mulch, and the significance of tomato production within specialty crops. Tomatoes rank among the top three vegetables in the United States by area harvested and total production, contributing over 50% of the total vegetable category in 2019 (USDA-NASS 2020). Furthermore, their economic importance is undeniable, placing them among the top three vegetables in terms of value, alongside head lettuce and onion, accounting for 32% of the total vegetable production value in 2019 (USDA-NASS 2020). Additionally, mulch plays a critical role in tomato production. To simplify analysis, we assume a one-acre tomato farm and normalize all inputs and outputs on a per-acre basis. While this study focuses on Washington State tomato growers, the particular numerical values might not be directly applicable to a specific grower, as well as other crops or regions, due to differences in crop prices, labor costs, and disposal costs. However, the modeling framework with sensitivity analyses, such as examining the impact of landfill tipping fees and the influence of crop price changes on optimal choices, offer valuable insights that can be generalized to a broader context.

In the baseline analysis, average tomato prices are $1.4/ lb, which is based on the northwestern US tomato retail price (USDA 2021). The plastic waste disposal fee is assigned $0.042/lb, which is based on the surveyed landfill tipping fee in Washington in 2018 (Environmental Research and Education Foundation 2018). A field survey was also conducted to characterize tomato growers' plastic mulch choices in Washington by Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center's Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project team from 2010 to 2012 (Galinato et al Reference Galinato, Miles and Ponnaluru2012). All the baseline parameter values are presented in Table 1, and we assume the discount factor is equal to 0.9. Piehl et al ( Reference Piehl, Leibner, Löder, Dris, Bogner and Laforsch2018) reported about 0.1 pounds of plastic residue per acre in German agricultural land, whereas Gao et al ( Reference Gao, Yan, Liu, Ding, Chen and Li2019) reported over 200 pounds of plastic residue per acre in China on lands that have had long-run exposure to plastic mulch use and its residue. Our baseline assumptions and initial conditions of plastic residue are more in line with Piehl et al ( Reference Piehl, Leibner, Löder, Dris, Bogner and Laforsch2018), meaning we do not impose in the baseline that the farmland has a history of long-run buildup of plastic residue in the soil.

Results and discussion

In this section, we derive economic insights from an illustrative empirical model of this economic system. The results are then examined through four lenses: optimal grower behavior under deterministic and stochastic environments, the impact of a corrective tax, the effectiveness of current BDM standards and the impact of growers' risk preferences. It is crucial to acknowledge that the model's findings presented below are contingent upon the underlying assumptions, data, and parameters employed. As such, they may not be universally applicable across all agricultural scenarios. Nonetheless, the derived outcomes, along with a selection of sensitivity analyses, offer valuable contributions to our understanding of economic behavior within this system and inform potential policy recommendations.

Optimal choice of a representative grower

We first discuss the optimal selection of a representative grower when offered a range of plastic mulches with varying degradation rates under deterministic environment, assuming the grower has perfect knowledge of these rates. Table 2 summarizes the findings for the baseline scenario and several sensitivity analyses (increased crop prices, production costs, and yield impact from plastic residue). The baseline results in Table 2 indicate that growers will choose PEMs and dispose of all waste at a landfill facility. This approach leads to a long-term equilibrium of 0.06 lb plastic residue remaining in farmland soil, while plastic waste accumulates continuously at the landfill. However, the outcomes in Table 2 from increasing crop prices, production costs, and the negative impact of plastic residue on yield do not influence the growers' optimal choice from the baseline scenario. This aligns with our theoretical finding that altering parameters related to the production function or crop price does not directly influence growers' optimal disposal method choices (Equation ( 8)). As growers currently dispose of used mulch waste in landfills, plastic pollutants do not accumulate and harm farmland soil quality. Consequently, growers lack the incentive to adopt more expensive BDMs, leading to ongoing plastic waste accumulation at landfills.

Next, in Table 3, we examine the responses in the optimal choices and the accumulation of plastic waste to increases in landfill tipping fees.

Rising landfill tipping fees in the U.S. (Environmental Research and Education Foundation 2018; Repa Reference Repa2005) incentivize grower adoption of BDMs. Projecting a 4.7% average annual growth rate from a baseline of $0.042/lb, Washington State's tipping fee could reach $0.052/lb ($104.98/ton) in five years, $0.066/lb ($132.08/ton) in ten years, and $0.105/lb ($209.08/ton) in twenty years. As demonstrated in section "Biodegradation standards," growers are more likely to till used mulch into farmland when disposal costs become sufficiently high. Our empirical model predicts a tipping point of $0.055/lb. Above this threshold, growers financially benefit from leaving used plastic mulches on-site or tilling them into the soil.

A comparative statics analysis (Table 3) reveals that if the tipping fee reaches $0.066/lb, $0.105/lb within ten years and twenty years respectively, growers transition from PEMs to BDMs with a 61% degradation rate (interior solution, condition 7), maximizing profit by favoring on-site decomposition (The alternative analysis based on dynamic path analysis is in Appendix B). Consequently, BDM waste in farmland soil reaches an equilibrium of 3.27 lb, and plastic waste contributions to landfills are eliminated. Furthermore, with a higher tipping fee ($0.105/lb in 20 years) and more severe crop damage (Gao et al. Reference Gao, Yan, Liu, Ding, Chen and Li2019), growers adopt BDMs with a 100% degradation rate (boundary solution, condition 7). This incentivizes BDM adoption by discouraging landfill disposal, preventing soil quality reduction, and minimizing plastic pollution. Similar to Bueno and Valente ( Reference Bueno and Valente2019) and Fullerton and Kinnaman ( Reference Fullerton and Kinnaman1996), who found monetary incentives effective in inducing behavioral changes in household waste generation, we observe analogous results for growers facing rising landfill tipping fees.

Increased crop prices also incentivize faster BDM adoption. As Table 3 shows, a 7% crop price rise leads growers to adopt BDMs with faster degradation rates, prioritizing long-term soil improvement (condition 7). This aligns with our theoretical analysis, indicating that higher crop prices encourage the use of faster-degrading mulch despite higher upfront costs.

Even though this study focuses on Washington State tomato growers, the modeling framework with sensitivity analyses provide insights that can be generalized to a broader context. For example, the finding that increasing landfill tipping fees can incentivize the adoption of BDMs is relevant for policymakers in other regions seeking to promote sustainable agricultural practices. Similarly, the analysis of how crop price fluctuations affect BDM adoption decisions can inform growers and policymakers across different crops and regions.

Optimal choice of a representative grower with BDMs meeting standards

Table 4 presents the empirical results of optimal grower choice when the market offers either PEMs or BDMs meeting a minimum 90% degradation standard. Our analysis, constrained by a minimum 90% biodegradability requirement (Equation ( 13)), shows that growers maximize profit by choosing either PEMs or BDMs that meet this standard (Figure 2, Panels a and b). This is because a strictly interior optimum degradation rate is not achievable. To determine the best overall choice (global optimum), we compare profits across these two options, as presented in Table 4. While factors like tomato price do not change these optimal choices, they do affect the profitability of each, influencing the global optimum. We further examine the impact of rising tomato prices on this choice, with results detailed in Table 4.

Although Table 4 (illustrated in Figure 2 c, Section "Dynamic models," points A and B) suggests minimal profit differences between PEMs and BDMs meeting the standard (less than 0.1%), it reveals important dynamics. Growers with low disposal costs tend to favor PEMs due to slightly higher profits. However, as disposal costs rise, on-site disposal becomes more appealing, making BDMs more competitive. For example, at a tomato price of $3/lb, growers using BDMs meeting the 90% degradation standard earn $117 more profit than those using PEMs. This highlights the complex interplay between BDM certification, grower choices, and plastic accumulation.

Our analysis also shows that choosing BDMs with a 90% degradation rate caps total plastic mulch waste on farmland and in landfills at 3.06 lb/farm. In contrast, continued use of PEMs leads to either the continual buildup of plastic waste in landfills or the complete abandonment of farming due to the soil contamination (converging towards the transversality condition 11).

However, the economic incentive for adopting certified BDMs (with even higher degradation rates) is limited. Our analysis reveals that BDMs with a 90% degradation rate represent only a global profit maximum in 2 out of 6 scenarios. Therefore, certified BDMs with higher degradation rates, while environmentally preferable, may be less appealing to profit-driven growers. This finding aligns with research on other certification programs, such as organic certification and Fair-Trade coffee certification (Seufert et al., Reference Seufert, Ramankutty and Foley2012; Dragusanu et al., Reference Dragusanu, Giovannucci and Nunn2014), which also highlight the potential trade-offs between achieving standards and maximizing profit.

Corrective tax

Besides the increasing landfill tipping fee in the long term, a corrective tax is another approach to reduce plastic mulch waste in both farmland soil and landfills. The results for the numerical analysis of a corrective tax (Equation 17) are represented in Table 5. The corrective tax, derived from the shadow price of the plastic waste constraint (Equation 14), internalizes the social cost of plastic pollution, incentivizing growers to adopt BDMs and reduce landfill disposal. This encourages a shift towards the socially optimal outcome with lower plastic waste in both farmland and landfills. The tax level is influenced by crop prices, production cost and waste management cost, balancing environmental goals with each grower's profit maximization goal.

We assume that the policy limiting plastic pollutants, is 400 lbs. for a total of 130 one-acre-farm growers. In contrast to the grower optimum in baseline presented in Table 2, Table 5 demonstrates that a corrective tax scheme targeting farm-discharged used mulch waste incentivizes growers to reduce total mulch waste pollution. This reduction is achieved through various means, including innovation in waste management practices. As Endres ( Reference Endres2011) observed, firms may redesign production processes to mitigate pollution and avoid corrective taxes. Similarly, our findings indicate that growers, faced with a corrective tax, opt to retain mulch waste on the farm and transition from PEMs to BDMs with a 96% degradation rate. Within the model's assumptions, this choice leads to a long-term steady state with 3.08 lbs/farm of plastic pollutants remaining in the farmland soil and no plastic waste deposited in landfills. This finding complements those in section "Optimal choice of a representative grower," indicating that a corrective tax effectively encourages the adoption of BDMs that meet biodegradable standards.

Table 5 further illustrates that while decreased crop prices and increased production costs impose financial burdens on growers, the corrective tax increases in both scenarios. As shown in Table 5, the optimal tax is $1.39/lb per grower per growing season. However, this value requires adjustment to $8.03/lb and $11.05/lb, respectively, to account for a 50% decrease in tomato price or a 50% increase in the production cost coefficient associated with the degradation rate. This observation is consistent with studies demonstrating that firms facing financial distress are more likely to violate environmental regulations or forgo investments in cleaner technologies (Xu and Kim Reference Xu and Kim2022; Atkinson Reference Atkinson2023; Oestreich and Tsiakas Reference Oestreich and Tsiakas2024). Therefore, social planners may need to implement stricter environmental policies, such as higher taxes, to align grower behavior with socially optimal outcomes. Further research is needed to fully understand the interplay between corrective taxes and the financial challenges faced by growers.

Although we found that corrective taxes can incentivize BDMs adoption, potential unintended consequences such as farmer resistance (Carattini et al Reference Carattini, Carvalho and Fankhauser2018), logistical challenges in implementation (Cai et al Reference Cai, Bai and Davey2022) and the impact of limited factor mobility, corruption, and imperfect competition on the distribution effect of taxes (Fullerton and Muehlegger Reference Fullerton and Muehlegger2019) need to be considered. Exploring alternative policy instruments, such as subsidies for BDM adoption (Velandia et al Reference Velandia, Jensen, DeLong, Wszelaki and Rihn2020 c) or educational programs (Dentzman and Goldberger Reference Dentzman and Goldberger2020), could enhance the effectiveness of promoting sustainable agricultural practices and mitigating plastic pollution in future research.

Stochastic environment

We extend the analysis of plastic mulch degradation by incorporating uncertainty into the model (see Appendix C). Recognizing that factors like weather and climate can significantly impact the degradation of plastic pollutants in farmland soil, a stochastic element is introduced to the model. This allows for the examination of how variability in degradation rates, potentially influenced by factors like temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions, affects growers' decisions regarding biodegradable mulch adoption.

The stochastic analysis reveals that while short-term weather fluctuations may not significantly impact the average degradation rate or long-term plastic accumulation, consistent slowdowns in degradation, potentially linked to climate change, incentivize growers to adopt faster-degrading biodegradable mulches. Farmers are more likely to embrace innovation when facing climate challenges (Rising and Devineni, Reference Rising and Devineni2020). Furthermore, Feder et al. ( Reference Feder, Just and Zilberman1985) provide a comprehensive overview of the uncertainties influencing technology adoption in agriculture. Our work builds upon their findings by demonstrating that increased variability in plastic pollutant stock can negatively affect expected grower profits and amplify profit uncertainty. This underscores the importance of considering uncertainty in degradation processes when making decisions about plastic mulch management and highlights the potential economic benefits of adopting biodegradable options, particularly in the context of a changing climate.

Grower risk aversion analysis

Since the use of BDMs introduces profit uncertainty due to weather and climate variability, it is important to understand if a grower's risk preference impacts the optimal choice of mulch adoption. Relaxing the assumption of a risk-neutral grower with a linear utility function of lifetime profit, we assume a constant absolute risk aversion exponential utility function (Pratt Reference Pratt1964; Phelps Reference Phelps2024) as shown in Equation 23, where r is the Arrow-Pratt coefficient of absolute risk aversion (Mas-Colell et al Reference Mas-Colell, Whinston and Green1995).

Given the profit uncertainties associated with BDMs, the expected utility of using mulches is given by Equation 24. We assume that lifetime profit, , follows a normal distribution with mean and standard deviation .

To understand how grower risk preference influences mulch adoption, we examine the difference in expected utility between using BDMs with profit uncertainty and using PEMs with profit certainty. We use the stochastic baseline scenario in Table C1 (Appendix) to illustrate our findings. Under the risk-neutral assumption, the landfill cost is high enough that growers choose BDMs, earning a profit of $136,740.37, which is $800 more than using PEMs. However, the standard deviation of BDM profit is $25.30.

We consider three scenarios for the grower's constant absolute risk aversion utility function: risk-neutral ( r = 0.001), moderate risk aversion ( r = 0.01), and high-risk aversion ( r = 0.1). Figure 3 shows that as the grower becomes more risk-averse, the difference in expected utility between using BDMs and PEMs decreases. When the grower is risk-neutral (Point A in Figure 3) or moderately risk-averse (Point B in Figure 3), they gain more utility from using BDMs. However, when the grower is highly risk-averse (Point C in Figure 3), they do not gain more utility by switching from PEMs to BDMs.

Our findings reveal that while risk-neutral and moderately risk-averse growers are more likely to adopt BDMs due to the increased expected utility of profit, high-risk-averse growers tend to avert BDM adoption despite the financial benefits. This highlights the importance of considering grower risk preferences when designing policies and incentives aimed at promoting BDM adoption.

Furthermore, this analysis complements and extends our previous findings on the impact of economic incentives, such as landfill fees and corrective taxes, on BDM adoption. While economic incentives can play a significant role in encouraging BDM adoption, the effectiveness of these incentives may be constrained by grower risk aversion. Therefore, a comprehensive approach that considers both economic and behavioral factors is crucial for promoting the widespread adoption of BDMs.

Conclusions and possible extensions

This research contributes to the existing literature by developing a dynamic economic model to analyze the complex problem facing farmers and policymakers' trade-off between the environmental benefit of BDMs and their performance in agricultural production. The numerical solutions of the illustrative case study, generated under both deterministic and stochastic scenarios, offer valuable insights into the impact of economic incentives and policy interventions on plastic mulch choices and pollution levels.

The theoretical analysis reveals that growers prioritize long-term soil improvement and higher yields when crop prices are high, opting for faster-degrading mulches even with higher upfront costs. Similarly, higher disposal costs incentivize the adoption of faster-degrading mulches to minimize disposal volume and associated costs. Essentially, growers weigh the benefits of faster degradation (reduced disposal costs and improved soil health) against the potentially higher upfront cost of BDMs. This finding aligns with existing research on farmers' interest in maintaining or increasing soil quality, where crop prices positively influence investments in soil conservation (Issanchou et al. Reference Issanchou, Daniel, Dupraz and Ropars-Collet2019).

Empirical analysis of tomato production in Washington State supports these theoretical findings. While growers currently favor conventional plastic mulches (PEMs) and landfill disposal due to lower costs, increasing landfill tipping fees and crop prices could drive the adoption of BDMs. However, the study also reveals that current biodegradation standards might not incentivize the use of BDMs with the fastest degradation rates due to limited economic benefits. This challenge is not unique to BDMs, as other certification programs, such as organic and Fair-Trade coffee certifications, face similar issues (Seufert et al. Reference Seufert, Ramankutty and Foley2012; Dragusanu et al. Reference Dragusanu, Giovannucci and Nunn2014).

A corrective tax on plastic waste is identified as a potential policy tool to encourage environmentally optimal behavior by promoting BDM adoption and reducing landfill disposal. However, when growers face financial distress, i.e., crop price decreases or production cost associate with mulch degradation rate increases, higher corrective taxes may be necessary to align their behavior with socially optimal outcomes. To prevent non-compliance by private decision makers during financial distress (Xu and Kim Reference Xu and Kim2022; Atkinson Reference Atkinson2023; Oestreich and Tsiakas Reference Oestreich and Tsiakas2024), a higher corrective tax may be necessary.

Finally, the study highlights the importance of considering uncertainty in degradation processes, particularly in the context of a changing climate, which can influence grower decision-making and the long-term accumulation of plastic pollutants in the environment. Furthermore, the analysis of grower risk aversion reveals that high-risk aversion can hinder BDM adoption, suggesting the need for policies that address both economic and behavioral factors.

Our findings have significant practical implications for both growers and policymakers. First, the model provides a framework for growers to evaluate the economic and environmental trade-offs of different plastic mulch choices, helping them make informed decisions that balance profitability and sustainability. Second, the study highlights the potential of economic incentives, such as landfill tipping fees and corrective taxes, to drive the adoption of BDMs and reduce plastic pollution. This information can be used by policymakers to design effective policies that promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Future research could explore several areas to further enhance our understanding of BDM adoption and plastic pollution control. First, it would be valuable to investigate farmer adoption behavior under real-world conditions, considering factors such as, information access, behavioral economics (e.g., nudging), and social norms. Second, field trials could be conducted to validate the model's assumptions and assess the long-term impact of BDMs on soil health and crop yields. Finally, the model could be extended to analyze the potential of other policy instruments (Baumol et al 1988), such as subsidies (Velandia et al Reference Velandia, Jensen, DeLong, Wszelaki and Rihn2020 c) or extended producer responsibility schemes, to promote BDM adoption and reduce plastic pollution.

While our model is designed for the agricultural sector, its framework can be extended to analyze single-use plastic problems in the retail sector. However, this extension requires several key assumptions. First, consumers must derive utility from consuming disposable plastic products (Jiang Reference Jiang2016). Second, their utility must decrease as plastic pollution increases. Applying the model to the retail sector requires a more detailed understanding of consumer decision-making. Nevertheless, the framework presented here serves as a strong foundation for future research. Additionally, our current work focuses on a production function approach, examining the impact of plastic residue on soil yield and revenue. A future avenue of research could explore a dual cost function approach, particularly relevant when the cost of removing plastic residue becomes infinitely high as levels increase (or conversely, as plastic residue approaches zero).

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Optimizing microplastic pollution in a terrestrial environment: a case for soil-biodegradable mulches | Agricultural and Resource Economics Review | Cambridge Core

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Optimizing microplastic pollution in a terrestrial environment: a case for soil-biodegradable mulches

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Privileged to join Erie Insurance Group's panel discussion in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

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Privileged to join Erie Insurance Group's panel discussion in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

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It was an honor to be alongside esteemed AANHPI leaders:

Aaysha Noor, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Erie Insurance;

Razin Karu, Executive Director, Governor Shapiro’s Advisory Commission;

Niken Astari Carpenter, Former New American Liaison for the City of Erie, PA, and Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs.

The event was well-attended, with approximately 70 employees from Erie Insurance. It's also noteworthy that Erie Insurance is a significant employer of our PennWest graduates.

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I want to congratulate our very own Dr. Ola for graduating today from our PennWest Master's of Corporate Communication.

He did not attend his ceremony, because he was in the audience today in the role of proud parent - instead of full academic reglaia as a member of the faculty or as a graduate himself - to see his daughter Mia cross the stage at the California Campus (honors and Summa Cum Laude!). Son, Alex, graduated from PennWest Edinboro in spring 2024. Grandfather graduated from Cal in 1968.

What a legacy of Olas!

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On Tuesday, April 29, I attended a Strategic Planning Workshop for the SAI Farm at the SAI Farmhouse! The workshop was attended by a variety of stakeholders including PennWest California faculty, staff, students, and members of the community. We toured the farm, developed a draft mission and vision statement, drafted focus areas for the farm, and developed criteria for an organizational structure.

Some of you may recall, we had our first PennWest Business Unit retreat at the SAI Farmhouse in 2022 😊

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I put out a bowl of candy in Eberly Hall to encourage students to take a treat for finals week on behalf of the department. It's a little internal marketing - look at all our great minors and certificates while you take a little snack - and also office candy inventory liquidation at the end of the semester. 😂

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Christian Ola, Sandra Trejos, and Clarion's women's golf team sensation and finance student Hailee Liptak at this semester's honors presentations.

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I was at the PennWest Strategic Planning and Shared Governance Summit yesterday, an event for campus leadership, including chairs. Above is Dean Knaust explaining her team's marshmallow and spegettii neural network model of shared governance 😊. It was a very productive day at the beautifully renovated Baron-Forness Library (also the home of our Edinboro NWPA Innovation Behive Network). It was an intense day of activities and workshopping, including a working box lunch. I regret I had no time to visit with my Ediboro Colleagues. I did see Shaun Pfeiffer at the copier when I dropped something off quickly in Hendricks, though. Poor Shaun was probably perplexed to see me out of context😂. I was glad to see PennWest Edinboro's gorgeous campus on a clear and sunny spring day. I was also heartened to have so many campus stakeholders collaborating, sharing laughs, and building in-person relationships on the common goal of our shared future.

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Our students represented PennWest University exceptionally well at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

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Our students represented PennWest University exceptionally well at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

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Diletta and Wayeera showcased their work and represented PennWest University exceptionally well to day at the Economic Scholars Program Conference inside the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. A group of our bright junior economics students also attended to support both Diletta and Way and contributed to the conference by asking insightful questions throughout the 7-hour event.

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From left to right: Diletta Mungo, Beth M. Hammack, Wayeera Robertson, Dr. Jingze Jiang

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Opportunity to meet The President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

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Opportunity to meet The President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

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Both Diletta and Wayeera got a special opportunity to meet the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Beth M. Hammack. Beth attended Diletta's presentation.

Beth M. Hammack is the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, one of 12 regional Reserve Banks in the Federal Reserve System. She began her term on August 21, 2024. In this capacity, she participates in the formulation of US monetary policy and oversees 1,100 employees in the Bank’s Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh offices who conduct economic research, supervise banking institutions, and provide payment services to commercial banks and the US government. Prior to the Fed, Beth was the co-head of the Global Financing Group at Goldman Sachs.

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President of the Fed Way Diletta and Jingze

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Economic Scholars Program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

PennWest students earn prestigious global economics conference spots.

I am proud to share Dr. Jiang's and her students' successes at a recent global economic research conference.

We are so proud of our PennWest BE&C students and Dr. Jiang's hard work and dedication in helping our students compete and thrive at such a prestigious venue.

https://www.pennwest.edu/about/news/2025/economic-scholars-program.php

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Josh Chicarelli and I visited Mr. Bryson's finance, business, and accounting classes at Laurel Highlands High School in Uniontown this week in his Academy of Finance classroom. We spent the morning there with about 120 students over three sessions discussing business programs and career pathways.

I always preach "take a picture, post to the department Padlet!" and I forgot to take a picture (there were Dunkin' Donuts causing an ongoing distraction 😜). So, instead, I chose to highlight some of Mr. Bryson's achievements with his students and finance academy, which includes the WPIAL Finance Challenge: The students were fantastic and so engaged. I hope to have some join us at PennWest in the coming years.

https://www.facebook.com/SenatorStefano/posts/congratulations-to-mr-bryson-and-his-students-at-laurel-highlands-school-distric/963638685570763/

https://wpial.org/news/2025/1/31/winners-announced-from-2024-financial-trivia-challenge-powered-by-first-national-bank.aspx

https://jeremybryson.wixsite.com/mysite

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Congratulations to Mr. Bryson and his students at Laurel Highlands School District! 💸📖

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Diletta and Wayeera presented their economics research at Strike a Spark 

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Diletta and Wayeera presented their economics research at Strike a Spark 

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Junior Economics major Diletta Mungo and senior Interdisciplinary Studies major Wayeera Robertson, who is pursuing an Economics minor, presented their economics research at Strike a Spark on the California campus.

They have been working with me since Fall 2024 to develop their Applied Econometrics class project into a research project and used this event to practice for their upcoming presentation at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland next Monday.

They outperformed students from Ivy leagues (e.g. Columbia University) and R1 universities (e.g. Boston University).The Fed will feature their work in the auditorium, with Wayeera scheduled to present her research immediately following the president/CEO of the Fed's speech.

I was honored to meet both students' families at California today. Diletta's family traveled 8 hours from Italy yesterday to support her presentation at the Fed.

Thank you, Stephanie, Nan, Christian, Josh, Candice for your hospitality! I enjoyed the visit at the beautiful California campus!

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HRMG4750 students presented their research in progress.

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Students Smith, Battaglia, Bashor, and Thomas (HRMG4750 Employment Regulations) presented their team-based research at the 2025 FDI Conference on Thursday, April 3, at Clarion's Carlson Library. They represented three (of six) teams in the class.

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Recreation and Leisure is featured on the latest PennWest podcast

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Recreation and Leisure is featured on the latest PennWest podcast

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Myself, along with Dr. Kyle Fredrick, students Aaron Barnes and Jesse Lewis discuss our research, the importance of outdoors in fostering social connections and engagement and more.

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In the month of April, we celebrate Earth Day. And on the "Power of PennWest" podcast, we're diving into the wonders of our planet by exploring the great outdoors through the lenses of geology, science, and parks and recreation.

We'll uncover the fascinating stories behind the rocks beneath our feet, the science that helps us understand our environment, and the parks that offer us a chance to connect with nature.

Our guests today share their outdoor learning and adventures and highlight the importance of preserving our natural world.

First up is Dr. Candice Riley, who teaches management, parks and recreation management and event planning management at the California campus. Dr. Riley believes that parks and leisure are essential components of our overall well-being and encourages students to examine the role parks play in communities.

Dr. Kyle Fredrick is a professor of Geology at PennWest and the president of the Pittsburgh Geological Society. He teaches a wide variety of courses, primarily related to Hydrology, Water Resources and Environmental Geology, and leads an annual field course to points of geologic interest in the US.

Next is Aaron Barnes, a geology and earth science student at our PennWest Edinboro campus. In addition to his studies in geo-physics, environmental geology and minerology, Aaron has also presented at several local and regional conferences.

Finally, we have Jesse Lewis, an environmental biology major at the Clarion campus. Jesse serves as the president of the local chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. While outdoors, Jesse enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and learning about wildlife management and conservation.

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Unlocking Nature's Wonders with PennWest Experts by The Power of PennWest

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In the month of April, we celebrate Earth Day. And on the "Power of PennWest" podcast, we're diving into the wonders of our planet by exploring the great outdoors through the lenses of geology, science, and parks and recreation.

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03/28/25 Women in Business Panel Discussion and Networking Event

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03/28/25 Women in Business Panel Discussion and Networking Event

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I asked my students at Clarion to submit their selfies after the event so I could put them together into a short-form video. Hopefully, I’ll receive pictures from all three campuses and create one for PW soon!

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Thank You: 2025 Women in Business Professional Panel and Networking Event Success

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Thank You: 2025 Women in Business Professional Panel and Networking Event Success

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Huge thanks to the Women in Business Professional Panel and the Networking Event planning committee! The event was a resounding success with impressive in-person turnout on every campus. Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the event's significant benefit. This accomplishment was made possible by the incredible work of our committee: seven outstanding faculty members, a key member from the Career Center, and two dedicated individuals from the DEI Office. We also extend our gratitude to the entire department for your promotional support.

The planning committee members, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Alena Clark (DEI Office), Jingze Jiang, PhD, Melissa Gibson, PhD, Nan Li, PhD, Rhonda Gifford (Career Center), Susan Ryan, PhD, Sandra Trejos, PhD, Songyee Hur, PhD, Stephanie Adam, PhD, Savannah Dorsey (DEI Office)

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California Faculty and students hosted a Science Olympiad too :)

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California Faculty and students hosted a Science Olympiad too :)

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Over 300 students along with California faculty, staff, and students help to host the Southwest PA Regional Science Olympiad. Helping to coordinate this event is a lot of work, but worth it in the end!

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Clarion faculty and students hosted a Science Olympiad!

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Clarion faculty and students hosted a Science Olympiad!

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Experience “Office Hours on Air” with 88.9 WFSE Fighting Scots Radio!

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Experience “Office Hours on Air” with 88.9 WFSE Fighting Scots Radio!

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WFSE has launched an exciting new feature, "Office Hours on Air," giving faculty members a unique opportunity to take over the airwaves! Participants can sign up for a one-hour show, selecting their own music and hosting the program, while a student staff member handles all technical aspects—so faculty can simply enjoy the experience.

Our first guest host, Dr. Michael Skelly from the Psychology Department, kicked off the series on Tuesday, March 12, 2025, from 7-8 p.m., sharing personal reflections and a handpicked playlist. Stay tuned for more guest hosts in the coming weeks!

Interested in hosting? We'd love to feature you on the show! Reach out to us to claim your spot and make your mark on the WFSE airwaves.

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Office Hours on Air - Dr. Michael Skelly

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I was pleased to take eight PennWest Edinboro campus media students to the 2025 IBS Conference in NYC, marking our renewed membership in this prestigious international organization dedicated to supporting high school and college radio stations.

This year, we submitted three award entries, and our "Best Community Outreach Event" was named a Top 5 finalist—placing us among the top 5% of all entries, according to the IBS President. While we didn’t take home the award, this recognition is a testament to our students’ dedication and impact.

Beyond the competition, our students had an incredible experience, attending engaging seminars on radio and media, networking with industry professionals, and exploring New York City's most iconic attractions.

For me, the conference highlights included hearing from (among others):

·         Richard Barone – Former lead singer of The Bongos (1980s pop/New Wave band) and now a faculty member in NYC, teaching music history and production.

·         Mike McVay – President of McVay Media and one of the nation's top radio consultants.

·         Al Roker – Longtime Today show weather anchor and keynote speaker, delivering an inspiring address.

It was truly an enriching and rewarding experience for everyone involved, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in student media.

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Matt Zewe PennWest alum (17',21') speaking to Principles of Macro & Micro students

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Spring break kickoff: Real-world insights! 💼 We (Kosin and I) were thrilled to welcome PennWest Edinboro alum, Matt Zewe (AVP, First National Bank), back to campus to share his career journey with our Principles of Macro & Micro students today. Matt's insights on commercial banking, the power of internships, and the importance of networking were invaluable. He proved how PennWest Education can pave the way to a rewarding professional life. One of the highlights from Matt's speech "if you want to join the 1%, you've got to do what the rest 99% won't." Matt earned his BA in Economics in 2017 and MBA in 2021 from PennWest.

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Congratulations Mike Engdahl and Shaun Pfeiffer!!

https://www.pennwest.edu/about/news/2025/club-basketball.php

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I forgot to take a selfie with the class, but I delivered a guest lecture for Dr. Sarah Meiss' BIOL 2020 Introduction to Sustainability course. We discussed the applications of sustainability to the professions of business, parks and recreation management, and event planning and management. It was a great class!

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I would like to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Ron Raymond, campus media director PW Edinboro, and his students for their recent nomination.

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

PennWest Edinboro is a finalist for an IBS (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System) college media award in the “Best Community Outreach Event” category for WFSE and campus media’s contribution to “The Great American Eclipse” event on campus last April 8th. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, March 8th, as the culminating event for the 2024-2025 IBS conference.

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

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With Band Director, Lisa Hummel! The spectacular concert closed with selections from The Lion King.🩵 This time was a great opportunity to chat with members of the community, colleagues, retired faculty members and some administrators. 🩵

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PennWest Clarion Concert Band on Sunday, Feb. 23. Met the director and colleague, Lisa Hummel. What a lovely afternoon with great community attendance. 