Capturing Elusive Metrics in Economics
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Authors
Paulson, Marja-Lisa Rose
Issue Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
This dissertation presents three chapters that address distinct economic challenges requiring novel data sources and methodologies. Chapter 1 introduces a computational text analysis technique for historical economic texts using natural language processing. Chapter 2 employs an experimental design to examine how gendered impartial spectators evaluate credit-stealing behavior through the lens of bounded ethicality. Chapter 3 evaluates the impact of wind generation on Türkiye’s electricity system and its relationship to the country’s energy security strategy. Chapter 1 analyzes the intellectual journey of John Stuart Mill between two representative works, On Liberty and Socialism. Using pre-trained transformer models, the study applies thematic classification and semantic similarity analysis to interpret Mill's views on libertarianism, laissez-faire, socialism, and other economic concepts. These results are compared to existing scholarly debates over Mill's ideological consistency. Findings indicate that Mill maintained a consistent and positive view toward social welfare in both works and, surprisingly, a consistently negative view of laissez-faire. These results both support and challenge existing scholarly interpretations of Mill's ideology. Chapter 2 employs a quasi-spectator framework with incentivized attention to evaluate credit stealing in the workplace from a gendered impartial spectator perspective. Respondents reviewed workplace vignettes and received monetary incentives for correctly recalling key details, ensuring awareness of the scenarios. Results indicate that while male and female respondents agreed on what occurred and how credit should be allocated, they showed different assessments of the ethicality and workplace consequences of those actions. These findings are interpreted through the lens of bounded ethicality. Chapter 3 finds that wind generation in Türkiye primarily displaces natural gas, hydropower, and, to a lesser extent, imported coal. Despite uniform renewable subsidies, there is significant heterogeneity in the displacement impacts of individual wind farms across these fuel types. Given Türkiye’s large hydropower capacity and its ability to effectively store renewable energy, secondary hydropower effects were calculated and show additional displacement of natural gas. These findings align with Türkiye’s current energy security policy to reduce reliance on import-dependent fuels such as natural gas and imported coal and to prioritize renewable energy.