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Browsing by Author "Schaller, Zachary, committee member"

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    Three essays regarding the impacts of legalization of marijuana on housing and historical population theory
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Rasmussen, Jorgen August Skriver, author; Weiler, Stephan, advisor; Pena, Anita Alves, committee member; Pressman, Steven, committee member; Schaller, Zachary, committee member; Burkhardt, Jesse, committee member
    Chapter 2 looks at the novel question of whether legal marijuana dispensaries' insufficient access to banking institutions has affected home prices in Denver County, Colorado. Presently, little research exists regarding legalized marijuana's impact on home prices in Colorado. Yet such research suggests legalization positively affects such prices (Burkhardt & Flyr, 2019) (Cheng, et al., 2018) (Conklin, et al., 2020). However, mechanisms by which marijuana legalization might affect home prices are not investigated. It is well-established that banks are unable and unwilling to do business with state-legalized marijuana dispensaries (Hudak, 2020). Hence, we hypothesize that dispensaries are investing cash in the housing market. We avail ourselves of tried-and-true hedonic modeling for such analysis. In so doing, we discover a statistically significant positive correlation between the quantity of recreational marijuana revenue generated and home prices in Denver County, Colorado. Our research is novel both in its thoroughness and accuracy of the data employed. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to utilize historically accurate housing characteristics and unique economic controls in the analysis of marijuana and home prices in Denver, Colorado (Burkhardt & Flyr, 2019) (Cheng, et al., 2018) (Conklin, et al., 2020). Additionally, our study appears to represent the first consideration of implications arising from the juxtaposition of state vs. federal legal status of marijuana. As such, our research holds insights for policymakers. Chapter 3 resumes our investigation of the possible implications of legalized marijuana for housing. Specifically, Denver County home resale probabilities and any associations they might have with marijuana revenue generated. Research has presented evidence that there exists a distinct possibility of dispensaries investing in the Denver housing market (Cheng, et al., 2018) (Rasmussen, 2021). Navarro (2013) and Seefried (2019) suggest that if dispensaries are purchasing houses, it may be for money laundering purposes. However, there is reason to believe that dispensaries have incentives to retain purchased homes for either legitimate rental purposes or more nefarious grow house uses (Schaub, 2016) (Snowden, 2020). To investigate such possibilities, we employ both logit and probit probability models. Such models are used to determine any potential association between changing amounts of legal marijuana revenue and Denver home resale probabilities. We find a statistically significant rise in property resale rates associated with increased recreational marijuana revenue. Thus, our results fit the type of money laundering activity discussed by Navarro (2013) and Seefried (2019). Consideration of the impacts of the legalization of marijuana on home resale probabilities appears absent in the literature. Thus, our work has import for policymakers. In particular, there are implications for affordable housing availability. Together with Cheng, et al. (2018) and Rasmussen (2021), our findings bode ill for Denver County affordable housing. This is especially true as marijuana demand continues to grow while banking access remains largely absent. Our final chapter considers the Marquis de Condorcet's six assumptions on population growth. Such a model of population development is presented in Esquisse d'un Tableau Historique des Progress de L'Esprit Humain. In addition, we examine the original principles and outcomes of the Malthusian population model. Such an undertaking is done to discover what conclusion Malthus' model would arrive at had the views of Condorcet been incorporated. Another important aspect of our work is investigating why Malthus's essay disagreed with the Marque de Condorcet's propositions on population. Finally, we conclude our efforts by examining empirical and historical scholarly inquiry regarding which of the population models history favored. To our knowledge, only the work of Winch (1996) comes close to our investigation. However, Winch (1996) presents a hypothetical meeting of Malthus and Condorcet, intended to discuss general differences and common ground these men possessed. However, Winch (1996) fails to consider implications for the Malthusian population model of Condorcetian population theory. Thus, our research is innovative in discovering Malthus as a man of his times and Condorcet as a scryer of the distant future of population growth.
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    Waste reduction in multi-family construction: a comparative study
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Bond, Catherine E., author; Killingsworth, John, advisor; Elliott, Jon, committee member; Conrad, Steve, committee member; Schaller, Zachary, committee member
    In a linear economy, construction and demolition (C&D) waste is considered to have zero value and, thus, most C&D waste ends up in landfills. However, key stakeholders have begun to improve waste management practices, focusing on waste reduction, material reuse and recycling in an effort to meet Circular Economic and Zero Waste targets. Modular construction presents itself as a sustainable alternative to traditional, site-built construction, and an important component of the emergent circular economy in the built environment. The advertised advantages to modular are reduced construction time, reduced energy consumption, reduced onsite pollution, and reusability of modular units. This study compared wood framing waste during the construction of two multi-family projects – one volumetric modular and one traditional site-built. I found evidence to suggest that the volumetric modular manufacturing process allows for greater waste aversion and diversion than the site-built environment. Overall, the modular project produced 20-33 fewer tons of wood than the traditional site-built project, which, according to the methods from ​Toochi (2018)​ is approximately 10 -16.5 tons of sequestered CO2 per year. This was quantified through waste records, project plans, and site observation. This study is an important step in the growing body of work in circular economics in the built environment and the sustainability of modular construction.