Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Part 5: Virginia's Hotel Industry Grows, But Change Is Coming, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This chapter assesses the performance of the hotel industry in the Commonwealth and discusses the challenges facing the hotel industry in 2024 and beyond. To understand the prospects for growth, we examine the recovery from the shock of 2020 and how different areas of the commonwealth fared with regard to hotel revenue and occupancy. We take stock of the competitive environment and how labor shortages continue to challenge hoteliers. We ask: what does the future hold for the hotel industry in Virginia?

Part 1: Virginia's Economy Grows, But Questions Linger About The Future, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

There is good news to report about the economy of the Commonwealth. Economic activity increased in 2022 and 2023. A record number of Virginians were at work or looking for work. Labor force participation increased above pre-pandemic levels. However, this news is tempered by the fact that Virginia grew slower than the nation and Virginians continue to migrate out of the Commonwealth. The Virginia economy should grow in 2024, but work remains to be done to match the economic performance of our peers.

Part 3: Virginia Is For Veterans, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Approximately 1 in 10 Virginian adults ages 18 years and older was a veteran of military service in 2021. The Commonwealth only ranked behind Alaska in the proportion of adults who identified as a veteran of military service in 2021. Virginia ranked first for the share of veterans in the adult population among states with populations greater than 1 million in 2021. Military veterans in Virginia, on average, are more educated than their civilian counterparts and have higher household incomes. The presence of military veterans and retirees not only provides talents to employers, but also generates billions of dollars of …

Part 4: Death And Dying In Virginia, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Death and taxes may be inevitable, but where we die is usually not a topic of public policy or discussion. Hospice care is the specialized treatment that provides support and comfort to patients who are terminally ill with a general life expectancy of six months or less. In this chapter, we take a close look at serious disease and hospice care in the United States and Virginia. We examine the demand for hospice care by Medicare beneficiaries as well as the changing nature of hospice care suppliers as now more than two-thirds of hospices nationwide operate as for-profit entities. We …

New Perspectives On The Ocean Economy Of The Mid-Atlantic States, Charles Colgan

Publications

No abstract provided.

Part 3: Who's At The Bedside? Does Virginia Have Enough Nurses?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 2021, nurses ranked again as the most trusted profession in the United States. Yet, even though many Americans view them favorably, nurses have been the target of conspiracy theories, verbal abuse, and physical violence. As more nurses report symptoms of burnout and some are quitting the profession entirely, we explore the coming shortage of nurses in Virginia and ask what factors limit the supply of nurses.

Part 3: Splish - Splash - Cash: Swimming In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Hampton Roads is known for its relationship with water. For some, it is too much water in the wrong place at the wrong time. For others, it is how water can transform lives. Hampton Roads is home to several premier swimming organizations, and Hampton is opening a state-of-the-art aquatics facility. We explore how swimming is intertwined with the history of the region and the economic impact of the sport on the economy and lives of the region’s resident

Part 1: Inflation, Uncertainty, And Volatility Undermine Virginia's Recovery, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

If the story of 2020 was the pandemic and the tale of 2021 was the recovery, then rising inflation and interest rates dominated the narrative of 2022. The economic recovery remained incomplete, with jobs returning to pre-pandemic levels but some Virginians remaining outside the labor force. Now, with the possibility of a recession in 2023 looming, we ask how Virginia fared over the last 12 months and what are the prospects for future growth?

Part 4: All In: Casinos, Online Betting And The Future Of Gambling In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In 1987, Virginia voters approved the state lottery, bringing legalized gambling to the Commonwealth. Fast forward to 2021: Virginians can now buy lottery tickets online, place sports bets on their phones and wager in historical horse racing parlors. Now, with casinos opening soon in Norfolk and Portsmouth, as well as Bristol, Danville and, likely, Richmond, we discuss the benefits and costs of casinos in Hampton Roads

Part 1: Inflection Point? Covid-19, Vaccines And The Recovery, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

To say that most Virginians would prefer to forget 2020 might be an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic threw tens of thousands of Virginians out of work, shuttered businesses and abruptly transitioned much of education into the world of remote learning. As 2021 draws to a close, the story has changed from one of shock to one of recovery. In this chapter, we examine the impact of the pandemic, the ongoing recovery and prospects for continued growth in 2022.

The 'New Normal' Of Flooding In Portsmouth, Virginia: Perspectives, Experiences, And Adaptive Responses Of Residents And Business Owners In Low To Moderate-Income Communities, Donta Council, Michelle Covi, Wie Yusuf, Joshua Behr, Makayla Brown, Old Dominion University Resilience Collaborative, Virginia Sea Grant

Presentations, Lectures, Posters, Reports

[First three paragraphs from the Summary]

This project is a part of a broader initiative - the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) - that addresses the daunting challenges coastal communities are facing related to sea level rise and climate change (more information about RAFT is available here: https://ien.virginia.edu/raft).

This aim of this project was to investigate how residents and business owners in low-to-moderate income communities in Portsmouth, Virginia cope with flooding, and to assess implications for how the local government can better engage with residents to better meet their information needs so they can be more resilient to flooding. The …

Part 5: Much Ado About Nothing? Virginia's "Kings Dominion Law", Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 1986, Virginia passed into law a requirement that public schools cannot open until after Labor Day unless they met specific conditions for a waiver. In 2017, over 50 percent of Virginia elementary, middle and high school students attended schools that opened prior to Labor Day. We ask whether there is evidence to support the commonly offered arguments for and against the Virginia “Kings Dominion law.”

A Technical Note On Spatial Aggregation For Independent Cities And Counties In Virginia, Jing Chen

Regional Research Institute Technical Documents

This document provides an overview of two approaches to treat Virginia’s independent cities in county-level data sets. Then, issues of spatial aggregation and geographical division change are introduced respectively. A Python function for spatial aggregation is also provided. Although this document focuses on independent cities and counties in Virginia, it can be extended into other regions for spatial aggregation.

Part 3: The Scourge Of Opioids In The Commonwealth, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Opioid-related deaths have skyrocketed in the Commonwealth and the United States. Almost three-quarters of those who abuse opioids start with a legitimate prescription. We investigate the rise of fentanyl as the primary cause of overdose fatalities and compare opioid practices in the United States with other industrialized countries. We estimate the costs of the opioid crisis and ask what steps can be taken to help those currently addicted and to prevent future deaths.

Part 5: The Scourge Of Opioids, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The number of opioid-induced deaths has skyrocketed in Hampton Roads. Approximately three-quarters of opioid addicts began their fall from grace with a legitimate prescription from a knowledgeable physician. We estimate the costs.

Part 1: Waiting For Godot? Virginia Impatiently Anticipates The End Of Sequestration, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Commonwealth’s lackluster economic performance in 2016 highlights a lost decade of slow economic growth. The dependence on federal spending presents challenges to stimulating growth when discretionary federal spending is constrained by sequestration. We investigate the reasons for the slow pace of economic activity and ask whether new efforts to spur innovation and entrepreneurship are a step in the right direction.

Part 4: Airbnb Rising: Short-Term Rentals And The "Gig Economy", Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Airbnb offers consumers short-term rentals that increase choice and lower costs. Cities in the Commonwealth are struggling with the question of how to work with Airbnb and similar firms, and the rise of Airbnb is a challenge to the traditional lodging sector. We explore the emergence of Airbnb, its phenomenal growth, and ask how Airbnb plays a role in the larger “gig economy.”

Part 1: The Virginia Economy In Transition, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Commonwealth is experiencing relatively slow economic growth as it gradually transitions from an economy highly dependent upon federal spending to one that still involves a substantial federal presence, but also more value-added private-sector activities, entrepreneurial ventures and participation in international trade.

Part 3: The Hotel Industry In The Commonwealth, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Over the past quarter-century, the hotel industry has become a relatively less important part of the Virginia economy. Occupancy rates have yet to recover to prerecession levels and price-adjusted hotel revenue and revenue per available room in 2015 similarly were below their previous peaks.

Part 4: Will Robots Take Your Job? A Look At Virginia's Opportunities And Vulnerabilities, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

A recent study found that 47 percent of all current jobs are susceptible to loss because of automation and the use of artificial intelligence. The key to a worker’s job vulnerability relates primarily to whether that worker is engaged in repetitive work that can be replicated by a machine or software using artificial intelligence.

Part 5: Early Childhood Care And Education: Should They Be Our No. 1 Economic Development Strategy?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Investments in early childhood care and preschool programs generate higher rates of return on public dollars than investments in conventional economic development programs that emphasize either attracting new firms, or public-private partnerships to build arenas and hotels.

Part 7: The Economics Of Casino Gambling In Hampton Roads, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The experience of other cities tells us that casino gambling would not have a large economic effect upon Hampton Roads. Further, casino gambling brings with it a variety of other costs that must be considered. The net effect may be close to zero.

Part 3: Digging Deeper: A Closer Look At Defense Spending In Virginia, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

An estimated 11.8 percent of Virginia’s GDP depends upon defense spending. An important part of this are the contracts awarded to Virginia businesses by the Department of Defense. Two regions – Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads – account for 86 percent of these contracts.

Part 6: The Small-Business Story In Virginia: What A Quarter Century Of Data Reveal, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Very small businesses in Virginia (those with fewer than 10 employees) have been holding their own, but many have found it difficult to grow beyond this size. Very small businesses now account for smaller proportions of total employment and payrolls in Virginia than was true 25 years ago. However, public policy changes can alter this situation.

Part 5: Does The Commonwealth Balance It's Budget On The Backs Of Local Governments?, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

We examine the Commonwealth’s fiscal practices and conclude that the answer to this question often is yes.

Part 7: K-12 Independent Education On Virginia's Peninsula, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Thirty-five private (independent) K-12 schools exist on the Peninsula. Because commonwealth regulation of their activities is minimal, there is great variation in their goals, operations and transparency.

Who Benefits From Job Creation At County Level? An Analysis Of Leakage And Spillover Of New Employment Opportunities In Virginia, Xiaobing Shuai

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Faculty Publications

Using an econometric model system built on county level labor market data, this study allocates new employments in Virginia from 1990 to 2000 into various demographic segments: commuters, residents, and new immigrants. The study finds significant leakage of new employment opportunities in Virginia. 52% of new jobs created in the 1990s in a locality were taken by outside commuters. However, Virginia’s localities also benefit from spillover benefits from job creation elsewhere. Economists need to account for employment leakage and spillover to accurately evaluate the fiscal impacts of potential economic development projects.

Workforce Program Performance Indicators For The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Kevin M. Hollenbeck, Wei-Jang Huang

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

New Evidence On Race Discrimination Under "Separate But Equal", Bradley A. Hansen, Mary Eschelbach Hansen

Economics

Recently uncovered data on teachers’ salaries in Virginia in 1906 allow for more precise and consistent estimations of marginal returns to certification and formal education than had been available in previous studies. Virginia's “separate but equal” educational system paid black teachers in rural counties lower wages than it paid white teachers and on average paid a lower premium to blacks for certification and formal education than it paid to whites. In incorporated cities, returns to certification and normal school education were about the same for black teachers and white teachers, although average salaries were lower for black teachers.

Part 4: The Wheels Of Justice: Our Regional Circuit Courts, Regional Studies Institute, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

We trace what happens to parties that enter our Circuit Court system as a plaintiff or defendant. In 2003, the nine Circuits that are wholly or partially located within Hampton Roads dealt with 81,008 cases (35 percent civil and 65 percent criminal). Large proportions of these cases are dismissed or settled before they come to trial and very few cases are heard by a jury. We examine a variety of efficiency measures relating to the region’s Circuit Courts and conclude they are operating rather well.