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This paper examines changes in concentration in the U.S. textile industry in recent years and projects future changes using Markov analysis. The top 75 firms, based on assets, are classified according to five size categories, and the total movements of firms between size categories from 1970-1979 are used to generate a transition prob ability matrix. Projections for future years are obtained using the size distribution of firms in 1979 and various powers of the transition probability matrix. While the analysis is confined to the top 75 firms in the textile industry, such firms account for approximately 53% to 60% of the industry assets in the base period. It is likely that changes and, in particular, increases in concentration would be reflected in data for the top 75 firms.The results indicate that concentration is expected to decrease in the U.S. textile industry over the next 20 years, a continuation of a trend from 1970 to 1979. The equilibrium distribution is reached after 150 years, and since the values for the year 2000 and equilibrium are close, the decrease in concentration is projected to occur at a decreasing rate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study applied economic analysis to an evaluation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's standard. The costs and benefits attributable to the standard were identified, measured, and compared. A period of twenty years was used to estimate the costs of the standard to allow for the cumulative effect of cotton dust controls. For a similar reason, benefits were estimated for a forty-year period, since spillover benefits would continue after the expiration of the standard. Various degrees of standard effectiveness were used in view of existing uncertainty about the impact of the standard on byssinosis.The results of the study indicate that benefits are considerably lower than costs throughout the forty-year period. Even under the most optimistic assumptions, costs exceeded benefits by more than two and a half to one. In part, this result reflects the magnitude of costs incurred in the early years of the standard and the delay in accrual of benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Changes in concentration in the textile industry in recent years were examined. While the results indicated an in crease in concentration since 1958, Markov analysis of the leading firms in the industry suggested that major changes in concentration may have occurred already. In most cases, changes from 1958 to 1968 were greater than those pro jected to occur from 1968 to equilibrium. In view of the growth of the world textile industry, increased concentration in the U. S. textile industry may be necessary if it is to compete in world markets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Since the passage of the Flammable Fabrics Act Amendment in 1967, there has been considerable interest in the problem of apparel burn injuries and actions which might be taken to reduce them. Decision theory was employed in this study to evaluate alternative courses of action such as protective clothing and education. The results indicate the necessity for improvements in technology for textile fire retardance, if protective clothing is to become a feasible alternative for many consumers. More information concerning the relationship between program costs and effectiveness is also needed, if the decision maker is to select the appropriate course of action. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Investment behavior in the United States textile industry in the postwar period was examined. In addition to the influence of liquidity restraints, the two main components of investment—investment for expansion and investment for replacement or modernization—were considered. Both cross-section and time series data were utilized. The results for time series data confirmed the hypothesis that capital-labor substitution was an important determinant of investment. Result for both cross-section and time series analyses indicated that depreciation expense, either by itself or in conjunc tion with cash flow, had a significant influence on investment. The importance of liquidity constraints indicates that government policies affecting the availability of funds to the textile industry are likely to have a significant im pact on investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]