Tauhidur Rahman

Interests

Research

Development Economics, Behavioral Economics, Law and Economics, Climate-Resilient Development.

Teaching

Development Economics, Statistics, Econometrics, Environmental Law and Economics, Experimental/Behavioral Economics

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Rahman, T., Mittelhammer, R. C., & Wandschneider, P. R. (2011). Measuring quality of life across countries: A multiple indicators and multiple causes approach. Journal of Socio-Economics, 40(1), 43-52.
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  Abstract: Life expectancy, literacy rates, per capita income, mortality and morbidity statistics have been widely employed in empirical analyses to construct various indices of quality of life (QOL). The reason why so many indices of well-being exist in the literature is partly explained by the fact that such indices are sensitive to domains of QOL that are included in the measurement and how they are aggregated to arrive at a composite index. In this paper we model the QOL across countries as an unobservable latent link variable between observable causes and observable effects, which reduces the problem of bias, inconsistency, and arbitrary weightings of explanatory factors. We estimate and compare the QOL indices for 43 countries for the year 1999, noting differences between countries and varying role of various determinants of the QOL. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.
• Rahman, T., Mittelhammer, R., & Wandschneider, P. (2011). Measuring Quality of Life across Countries: A Multiple Indicators and Multiple Causes Approach. Journal of Socio-Economics, 40(1), 43-52.
• Rashid, D. A., Smith, L. C., & Rahman, T. (2011). Determinants of dietary quality: Evidence from Bangladesh. World Development, 39(12), 2221-2231.
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  Abstract: Whereas a large number of studies have been devoted to analyzing consumer demand for dietary quantity, much less attention has been paid to the demand for dietary quality. To address this gap in the literature, this paper explores the determinants of dietary quality in Bangladesh using data from a nationally representative household expenditure survey conducted in 2000. We find that while male education plays a positive role, female education has a substantially stronger influence. Further, female household headship is associated with lower dietary quality than male headship. Thus, promoting female education and addressing the unique constraints faced by female headed households with respect to diet quality could be a significant policy instrument for addressing food insecurity in Bangladesh. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
• Rahman, T. -., Tauhidur, R., Mini, K. M., Medgal, S., Aradhyula, S., & Moxley, J. (2010). Determinants of Environmental Noncompliance by Public Water Systems. Contemporary Economic Policy, 28(2), 264-274.
• Rahman, T. -., Dennis, C., & Tauhidur, R. (2009). Environmental Justice and Enforcement of Safe Drinking Water Act: The Arizona Arsenic Experience. Ecological Economics, 68, 1825-1837.
• Rahman, T. (2008). Determitanants of public health expenditure: Some evidence from Indian states. Applied Economics Letters, 15(11), 853-857.
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  Abstract: This study examines the evolution of public health expenditure in India. A panel data model is used to explain the main factors which affect public health expenditure in the period 1971 to 1991. The empirical results show that the key determinants in the explanation of the regional health expenditure are real state per capita income and literacy rate, while other structural demand variables such as the proportion of the state population over age 60, population per primary health care center and population per doctor are statistically insignificant factors. An income elasticity of 0.47 implies that health care is not a luxury good.
• Rahman, T. -., & Tauhidur, R. (2008). Determinants of Public Health Expenditure: Some Evidence from Indian States. Applied Economics Letters, 15, 853-857.
• Rahman, T. (2007). Measuring the well-being across countries. Applied Economics Letters, 14(11), 779-783.
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  Abstract: Dissatisfied with any measure of income as a sufficient indicator of well-being, emphasis has shifted to identification of alternative measures. However, identifying robust Quality of Life (QOL) indicators, or providing a coherent and robust definition of the concept, remains problematic. Over the years, alternative measures of well-being have been suggested. Probably the best-known composite indices of well-being are the Human Development Index and Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI). These alternative measures are recognized as improvements in terms of representing various dimensions of QOL, but they still suffer from various limitations. Using information on eight indicators of QOL for 43 developing countries of the world, in this article I show that various measures of well-being are highly sensitive to the domains of QOL that are considered in the construction of comparative indices, and also sensitive to how measurable inputs into the well-being are aggregated and weighted to arrive at composite measures of QOL. I find results that support the result obtained by Dasgupta and Weale (1992) that measures of health are closest to overall measure of QOL. Thus, if we had to choose a single domain of aggregate well-being, the domain of health would seem to be the most appropriate.
• Rahman, T. -., & Tauhidur, R. (2007). Measuring the Quality of Life across Countries. Applied Economics Letters, 14, 779-783.
• Rahman, T. -., Tauhidur, R., Mittelhammer, R., & Wandschneider, P. (2005). Measuring the Quality of Life across Countries: A Sensitivity Analysis of Well-being Indices. UN-WIDER Research Paper, 2005/06.
• Rahman, T. -., Chaudhri, D., Nagar, A., Tauhidur, R., & Wilson, E. (2003). Determinants of Child Labor in Indian States: Some Empirical Explorations (1961-1991). Journal of Quantitative Economics New Series, 1(1), 1-19.

Presentations

• Buizer, J. l., & Rahman, T. (2016, February). Presentation of Valuation Study Results of Drought Information Service in Jamaica. Seminar. Bethesda, MD: Abt Associates.
• Buizer, J. l., & Rahman, T. (2016, February). Study Results: Drought Valuation in Jamaica. Seminar. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA.
• Buizer, J. l., Buizer, J. l., Rahman, T., & Rahman, T. (2016, February). Results of Drought Valuation Study in Jamaica. Seminar. Washington, D.C.: USGCRP.
• Rahman, T. -. (2012). ACADEMIC SEMINARS/CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS. Presentation in 2012-2013.
• Rahman, T. -. (2012, May). Western Farm Management & Marketing Extension Committee conference. Western Farm Management & Marketing Extension Committee conference. Monterey, CA.
• Rahman, T. -., Uhlman, K., Posner, A., Gunes, P., & Westfall, E. (2012, May). Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate in Arizona. 2009 USDA-CSREES National Water Conference. St. Louis, Missouri.
• Rahman, T. -., Uhlman, K., Posner, A., Gunes, P., & Westfall, E. (2012, May). Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate in Arizona. AIPG/AHS/3rd IPGC Conference. Flagstaff, AZ.
• Rahman, T. -., Uhlman, K., Posner, A., Gunes, P., & Westfall, E. (2012, May). Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate in Arizona. The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). Colorado Springs, CO.
• Rahman, T. -., Uhlman, K., Posner, A., Gunes, P., & Westfall, E. (2012, May). Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate in Arizona. Watershed Planning Subcommittee meeting. Tucson, AZ: Pima Association of Governments.

Others

• Rahman, T. -., & Aradhyula, S. (2011, August). Moving Beyond Income: Inequality, Neighborhood, Household Behavior, and Children s Health in the United States.
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  Exact Date: 08/02/2011
• Rahman, T. -., Murugesan, A., & Dayal, V. (2011, August). Neighbors Can Make You Sick: Hygiene Behavior and Health in rural Uttarakhand, India.
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  Exact Date: 08/02/2011
• Rahman, T. -., Murugesan, A., & Dayal, V. (2011, August). Neighbors Can Make You Sick: Hygiene Behavior and Health in rural Uttarakhand, India. 2008 North American Meeting of Econometric Society.
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  Exact Date: 08/02/2011
• Rahman, T. -., Murugesan, A., & Dayal, V. (2011, August). Neighbors Can Make You Sick: Hygiene Behavior and Health in rural Uttarakhand, India. Northeastern Universities Development Consortium Conference.
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  Exact Date: 08/02/2011
• Rahman, T. -., Tronstad, R., & Teegerstrom, T. (2011, May). Agri-Tourism and Specialty Agri-Product Market Opportunities for Native Americans.
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  Exact Date: 05/19/2011