Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

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: Virginia's Lawyers Confront Tougher Times, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

While movies and television shows portray lawyers as members of high society, with expensive cars and tastes, the reality is grittier. In 2021, more than 90% of law students took out a loan to enable them to pay their costs, and the typical law school graduate owed $165,000 in loans. The crucial point of this report, however, is that significant proportions of law school graduates are destined to be disappointed if they pursue a career in law believing they will earn lots of money. In this chapter, we explore the supply of lawyers in Virginia and whether we are producing …

Part 5: A Deeper Dive Into The Blacksburg-Christiansburg Metropolitan Area, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan statistical area includes the counties of Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski as well as the independent city of Radford. Virginia Tech, with over 37,000 full-time equivalent students in the 2021–2022 academic year, is not only the largest employer in the metro area, but it continues to expand its reach across the Commonwealth. We highlight how the metro region has fared over the last decade and discuss the prospects for future growth.

2022 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Bojana Bolozan, Ashley Desilva, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Timothy M. Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Christian Manty, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Terry Parker, Matt Voegel, Suzanne Wright, Robert M. Mcnab

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is Old Dominion University’s eighth annual State of the Commonwealth Report. While it represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., the Board of Visitors, the Strome College of Business, or the generous donors who support the activities of the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy.

Our work seeks to contribute to the conversation about how Virginia can foster growth across the Commonwealth over the coming decade without glossing over the challenges we face. Instead of …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #5: Perceptions Of The Economy & Employment, Social Sciences Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

Life in Hampton Roads 2021 - Perceptions of the Economy & Employment

Hampton Roads residents had mixed perceptions of the economy but showed some optimism about their own financial situation. Less than half (47.5%) of those surveyed rated the economic conditions in Hampton Roads as excellent (6.5%) or good (41%). More than four in 10 (41.4%) rated economic conditions as fair and 8% rated them as poor. Interestingly, despite the impacts of COVID-19, these ratings are not much different than in past years of the survey. In 2019, 49.9% of respondents rated economic conditions as good or excellent. This year’s …

Local Fiscal Adjustments From Depopulation: Evidence From The Post–Cold War Defense Contraction, Timothy M. Komarek, Gary A. Wagner

Economics Faculty Publications

In this paper, we estimate the long-term causal effect of population losses on local government revenue, expenditure, and debt by exploiting a quasi-exogenous change that reduced the number of US military personnel by about 40 percent between the late 1980s and 2000. Aggregating across governmental units within commuting zones, we find that real per capita total revenues and expenditures remained unchanged for remaining citizens. At the same time, however, we note several important compositional effects. First, local governments appear to have offset reductions in state intergovernmental aid by increasing property tax revenues. Second, they significantly shifted the composition of expenditures …

Part 5: Viewed Through A Different Lens: Evaluating Virginia Higher Education, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and William & Mary historically have played important roles in the Commonwealth. They have assembled impressive records in admitting and graduating talented students who (predictably) do well after they leave these campuses. Except for our historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, no public four-year institution in Virginia enrolls a significant percentage of low-income students. We discuss what the Commonwealth and its public colleges and universities can do to make higher education more affordable.

Part 1: Shock And Awe? Covid-19, Vaccines, And The Recovery, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the Hampton Roads economy. One in 10 workers were unemployed at the height of the pandemic, 4 in 10 small businesses were forced to reduce hours and thousands of residents left the labor force entirely. Yet, in the midst of the pandemic, housing prices and trade volumes through the Port of Virginia continued to rise. We explore the economic recovery and discuss whether Hampton Roads can rely on defense spending in the coming decade.

Part 3: Earn While You Learn: The Apprentice School At Newport News Shipbuilding, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding is not only one of the nation’s premier schools for educating and training workers, but it also stands as an example of how 21st-century learning can occur in the region. In this chapter, we look at the apprenticeship model and delve into the unique aspects of The Apprentice School that have made it successful.

Part 6: The Winchester Metropolitan Area Outperforms The Commonwealth, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Conversations about growth in Virginia primarily focus on the metropolitan areas of Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Richmond. Often forgotten in these discussions is how the smaller metropolitan area of Winchester has outperformed many of the larger metros in the Commonwealth. We explore why Winchester is growing and how this growth could change the quality of life of its residents in the future.

Part 2: Bounce Back? The Pandemic And Tourism In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Nearly 1 in 5 workers in the Hampton Roads hospitality and leisure sector lost their jobs in 2020. Even as the sector started to recover, employers found themselves in need of employees to fill available positions. Now, with tourists returning to the region, we look at how traditional hotels and short-term rentals fared over the last 18 months

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 7: Securing Release: Cash Bail In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis & Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

On any given day in 2019, on average, there were more pretrial inmates per 100,000 residents in Hampton Roads than in Virginia or the United States. To secure their release from jail, many inmates must provide collateral in the form of a secured bond. Now, with momentum building for reducing or eliminating cash bail in the Commonwealth, we estimate the costs and benefits of cash bail reform for cities and counties in Hampton Roads.

Part 6: The Decline Of Local Journalism, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Local journalism is in peril. Newspapers all over the country are reducing coverage, cutting staff, abandoning physical newsrooms or shuttering operations altogether. The United States has lost fully one-fourth of its newspapers since 2004, including 70 dailies and more than 2,000 weeklies and other nondaily papers. Hampton Roads has not escaped these cutbacks. We discuss the future of local journalism in Hampton Roads.

Part 2: A Recovery At Different Speeds: Virginia's Metropolitan Areas, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis & Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Virginia’s economic recovery in 2021 has been driven by the performance of some, but not all, of its metropolitan areas. While Hampton Roads and Richmond have lagged the performance of the state and nation since the onset of the pandemic, smaller metros like Blacksburg and Winchester have recovered jobs more quickly. As we near the end of 2021, we discuss how Virginia’s metros have fared over the last 24 months and present the challenges for creating growth across the Commonwealth in the coming years.

Front Matter: 2021 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Cover, front matter, table of contents, sponsors, and other materials for the 2021 State of the Commonwealth Report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University.

Part 3: Bounce Back? The Pandemic And Tourism In Virginia, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

For the Virginia hotel industry, the last 24 months have been challenging in a number of ways. The pandemic and associated social distancing measures resulted in a collapse of visitors and revenue in the spring and summer of 2020. In 2021, the Hampton Roads market set records for hotel revenue, but other markets continued to struggle. In this chapter, we look at how the markets in Virginia have performed over the past two years and how 2022 may bring good news for the hotel industry.

Part 4: Let It Ride: Casinos, Online Betting And The Future Of Gambling In Virginia, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 1987, Virginia voters approved the state lottery, bringing legalized gambling to the Commonwealth. By 2021, Virginians could buy lottery tickets online, place sports bets on their phones, wager in historical horse racing parlors and play “gray machines” in convenience stores, restaurants and bars. Now, with casinos opening soon in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth, we discuss the benefits and costs of casinos in the Commonwealth.

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 State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2021, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Steve Daniel, Ashley Desilva, Addie Gregory, Elizabeth Janik, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Christian Manty, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Hannah White, Jake Zalewski

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

[From the introductory material]

This is Old Dominion University’s 22nd annual State of the Region Report. While it represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., the Board of Visitors, the Strome College of Business or the generous donors who support the activities of the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy.

Over the past year, we have endured the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of vaccines and a return to a semblance of normality in …

2021 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Steve Daniel, Ashley Desilva, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Christian Manty, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Terry Parker, Golbarg Roghani Araghi, Jake Zalewski, Robert Mcnab

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is Old Dominion University’s seventh annual State of the Commonwealth Report. While it represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., the Board of Visitors, the Strome College of Business or the generous donors who support the activities of the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy.

With the 2021 election in the rearview mirror, the question now becomes: Where does Virginia go from here? Our work seeks to contribute to this conversation without glossing over the …

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2020, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Cover, Front Matter, Table of Contents, Sponsors, and other materials for the 2020 The State of the Region report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University

Part 4: Food Insecurity In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

One in 10 residents of Hampton Roads was unsure where their next meal was coming from in 2018. Among children, food insecurity rates were even higher in the region. Food insecurity reduces workplace productivity and learning, and negatively impacts health. We discuss how public programs and regional foodbanks are working to address these problems in Hampton Roads.

Part 3: Anxiety And Stress In The Workplace, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Workplace stress and anxiety cost the Hampton Roads economy more than $1 billion in lost productivity and health care expenditures in 2019. We explore the economic impact of workplace anxiety, stress and depression. We highlight how COVID-19 has increased anxiety and taken a toll on African American and Hispanic households. We ask how businesses can help alleviate anxiety and stress in a time of economic uncertainty.

Part 6: Jefferson Lab Ponders Its Future, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

While many of Hampton Roads’ K-12 students are familiar with this federal laboratory’s support for STEM education in the region, many residents would be surprised to know the region is home to a laboratory that delves into questions about the very nature of the universe. Research conducted at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News is not only being used to battle cancer but also to produce supercooled materials which, one day, may lead to breakthroughs in power generation and transmission and computing. We shed light on its impact and the potential for Jefferson Lab to increase its …

Part 1: A Shock To The System: Covid-19 And Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

COVID-19 changed how we view the Hampton Roads economy. In January 2020, the region was projected to grow faster than the nation, there were more unfilled jobs than unemployed workers and boosts in defense spending brightened our economic future. By April, however, businesses were closing, jobs were being lost and residents were under a stay-at-home order. We assess the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic and examine prospects for the coming year.

Part 2: The Way We Were: 2010-2019, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing measures, the challenges of the last decade seem almost trivial in comparison. Yet, those challenges hold valuable lessons for our current economic environment and how to build a better economy in this decade. We take a fresh look at the previous decennial – our economic successes and areas where we could improve – and provide insight into how these experiences can help us recover in the coming years.

Part 1: Covid-19 And The Commonwealth, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In January 2020, Virginia was focused on the continuing economic expansion and shortages of skilled labor in many areas of the Commonwealth. Now, as 2020 draws to a close, we face the prospects of a hard winter and a slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We examine the impact of COVID-19 on Virginia and discuss how the pandemic has disproportionately impacted our Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino residents.

Part 2: The Way We Were: 2010-2019, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Commonwealth Reports

No abstract provided.

Front Matter- 2020 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Cover, front matter, table of contents, sponsors, and other materials for the 2020 State of the Commonwealth Report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University.