Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Measuring Dynamic Patterns In The Structure Of Substate Economies, Richard Mchugh, Ronald Cooper, Sheila A. Martin, Daniel Otto, Stanley R. Johnson

Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Publications

The objective of this study was to explore a new method of analyzing the performance of substate economies. A major limitation of conventional analyses of economic diversity and growth is the reliance on static measures of economic structure. Such measures do not capture the patterns of growth dynamics or structural change the region may be experiencing.

This paper discusses a new measure of dynamic economic diversity and explores its relationship to economic performance. The measure is a statistical index that reflects the degree to which employment in a county's industries move together over time. The more the industries' employment levels …

Traditional And Nontraditional Data As Indicators Of Economic Activity In Rural Communities, Richard Mchugh, Ronald Cooper, Sheila A. Martin, Daniel Otto, Stanley R. Johnson

Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Publications

The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to identify nontraditional sources of data that can be used to monitor economic activity in rural areas, and (2) to test the relationship between such data and trends in traditional measures, such as income and employment.

The need for alternative sources of data arises primarily out of the inconsistent quality and availability of traditional economic data at the subs tate level. New sources of data can help reduce this metro-rural data gap and provide a fuller picture of the diverse experience and structure of subs tate economies.

Two sources of nontraditional data …