Studies show that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are reluctant to employ graduates and to up-skill existing employees. The cultural barriers exemplified by this unwillingness limit the ability of SMEs to exploit new knowledge and innovate. In conjunction with its goal of producing a ‘knowledge economy’ the UK government is committed to a dramatic increase in participation in higher education. A sharp increase in the supply of skilled labour may result in the under-utilization of graduate skills, especially if SMEs remain reluctant to employ graduates. This paper investigates a collaborative initiative designed to change the mindsets and attitudes of SMEs towards graduates and of graduates towards SMEs. The initiative enables graduates and SMEs to develop an appreciation of potential mutual benefits through an interdependent relationship.

While several studies have examined the effect of renewable portfolio standard laws on renewable generation in states, previous literature has not assessed the potential for spatial dependence in these policies. Using recent spatial panel methods, this paper estimates a number of econometric models to examine the impact of RPS policies when spatial autocorrelation is taken into account. Consistent with previous literature, we find that RPS laws do not have a significant impact on renewable generation within a state. However, we find evidence that state RPS laws have a significant positive impact on the share of renewable generation in the NERC region as a whole. These findings provide evidence that electricity markets are efficiently finding the lowest-cost locations to serve renewable load in states with more stringent RPS laws. In addition, our results suggest that RPS laws may be more effective tools for environmental policy than for economic development.

In this dissertation, I investigate the effectiveness of renewable policies and consider their impact on electricity markets. The common thread of this research is to understand how renewable policy incentivizes renewable generation and how the increasing share of generation from renewables affects generation from fossil fuels. This type of research is crucial for understanding whether policies to promote renewables are meeting their stated goals and what the unintended effects might be. To this end, I use econometric methods to examine how electricity markets are responding to an influx of renewable energy. My dissertation is composed of three interrelated essays. In Chapter 1, I employ recent scholarship in spatial econometrics to assess the spatial dependence of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), a prominent state-based renewable incentive. In Chapter 2, I explore the impact of the rapid rise in renewable generation on shortrun generation from fossil fuels. And in Chapter 3, I assess the impact of renewable penetration on coal plant retirement decisions. I would first like to thank my committee, which has been a source of inspiration during the process of writing this dissertation. Stratford Douglas has spent numerous hours shaping this project from the beginnings of an idea to fruition. Donald Lacombe has provided many suggestions for improvement. Wesley Burnett has been a source of wisdom throughout. John Deskins has been a great colleague, in addition to being a helpful committee member. Lastly, Brian Cushing has believed all along that I could make it. Several other people were instrumental in helping me along this road. Mark Witte helped spark a lifelong interest in economics. George Hammond helped me decide to go back to school to study economics. Randall Jackson gave me my first paying job as an economist, and Tom Witt gave me my second. Nancy McIntyre kept asking me if I was done yet. Zheng Tian and Christa Jensen Court were fantastic RRI office-mates and friends. Kirill Temlyakov played a mean game of chess. The Adams-Pellillo and Hofferhelped get me through my coursework. And to Annie Walker, who understood the difficulties of going back to school as a non-whippersnapper: I treasure our friendship. I also want to thank my many parents, Barbara and Steve Benjamin, Steve Bowen and Isa Fernandez, and Margo Brinton. In particular, mom, thank you for coming to my aid in the dark days toward the end when I was not sure I would ever get finished. I also thank Jan and Len Carpenter, who have put up with their moody son-in-law through many years of work. And I thank my sister, Kristine Bowen, who has been supportive during this time of transition. Thank you all for being great parents, grandparents, and siblings. Finally, this dissertation is dedicated above all to my wife, Cari Carpenter, and my daughter, Adalyn Carpenter-Bowen. Cari, I know you know how much I have relied on you to keep me going and sane through the times I thought about quitting. I hope you also know how much it has meant to me, and how ...

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