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Full-Text Articles in Business
Evaluating Roads As Investments: A Primer On Benefit-Cost And Economic-Impact Analysis, Eric Thompson, David Rosenbaum, Arthur Hall
Evaluating Roads As Investments: A Primer On Benefit-Cost And Economic-Impact Analysis, Eric Thompson, David Rosenbaum, Arthur Hall
Bureau of Business Research Publications
Kansas and neighboring states spend billions of dollars on roads. Do the huge expenditures represent good investments? The taxpaying public will never know because public decision makers rarely analyze road projects as investments. A disciplined use of benefit-cost analysis can close this knowledge gap.
Roadways constitute an economically vital form of transportation infrastructure that have the potential to contribute to the productivity and economic growth of state economies—if the economic benefits of the roadways exceed their cost. Benefit-cost analysis totals the annual user benefits derived from road projects and compares these benefits with the total costs related to construction. The …
Omaha Area Projections To 2050 The 2007 Update Final Report, Eric Thompson, Christopher Decker, Roger Riefler, Pavel Jeutang
Omaha Area Projections To 2050 The 2007 Update Final Report, Eric Thompson, Christopher Decker, Roger Riefler, Pavel Jeutang
Bureau of Business Research Publications
The Omaha area is in a period of sustained expansion. Population, employment, housing stock, and commercial and industrial space are growing together both in the City of Omaha and in surrounding communities and counties. This pattern of growth is likely to continue over the next few decades, but the pace and nature of growth is in question. In particular, it is unclear whether growth in the Omaha area will accelerate from its current pace, or moderate. Also in question is the degree to which growth will occur in core counties like Douglas and Sarpy or suburban and exurban areas of …
Bureau Of Business Research 2006-07 Annual Report, Eric Thompson
Bureau Of Business Research 2006-07 Annual Report, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
The Bureau of Business Research (BBR) is pleased to publish its second annual report. The annual report is one of the important ways in which the Bureau fulfills its mission to monitor and analyze the Nebraska economy. The 2006-07 Annual Report contains articles that address many of the major economic trends and policy issues facing the state.
In publishing this report, we draw on expertise from the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative, Creighton University, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, and the Nebraska …
The Economic Impact Of The Nebraska Early Care And Education Industry, Eric Thompson, Mary Mcgarvey, Matthew Cushing, Randolph Cantrell, Seth Freudenburg, Travis Heller
The Economic Impact Of The Nebraska Early Care And Education Industry, Eric Thompson, Mary Mcgarvey, Matthew Cushing, Randolph Cantrell, Seth Freudenburg, Travis Heller
Bureau of Business Research Publications
The early care and education industry has both current and long-term economic consequences for the Nebraska economy. The long-term impact is to help to educate and develop children into productive and higher earning adults. This impact is well understood. As stated by Nobel Prize winning economist James Heckman, “Early advantages cumulate; so do early disadvantages… redirecting additional funds toward the early years, before the start of traditional schooling, is a sound investment in the productivity and safety of our society” (Heckman and Masterov, 2005).
In addition to these long-term impacts, the early care and education industry also has current impacts …
The Growth Dividend: How Has It Been Allocated?, Eric Thompson
The Growth Dividend: How Has It Been Allocated?, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
A growing economy and population in Lincoln, Nebraska have generated an expanding tax base for the city. Growth has been especially rapid in the property tax base. As noted in a recent report by the UNL Bureau of Business Research (2005), the average new housing unit generates annual property taxes for the City of Lincoln substantially greater than does the average existing housing unit. This additional property value is referred to as the “growth dividend” in the Bureau of Business Research report. This growth dividend is available for a variety of uses, including capital outlays on infrastructure, tax relief, or …
Economic Impact Analysis: The Potential Impact Of An Nhra Drag Racing Facility In Lancaster County, Eric Thompson, Seth Freudenburg, Travis Heller
Economic Impact Analysis: The Potential Impact Of An Nhra Drag Racing Facility In Lancaster County, Eric Thompson, Seth Freudenburg, Travis Heller
Bureau of Business Research Publications
Entertainment venues are an important component to the quality of life in cities and states. Venues provide local residents with an opportunity to attend events that interest them without requiring them to travel to another city. This saves local residents money and allows residents to attend more events. Both factors increase the quality of life for local citizens, in much the same way that having more local shopping options raises the quality of life.
Lincoln’s need for new entertainment venues to improve the quality of life and to retain or attract younger residents has been a recent topic of discussion …
Preliminary Economic Impact Analysis For The Lincoln Arena Task Force, Eric Thompson
Preliminary Economic Impact Analysis For The Lincoln Arena Task Force, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
The entertainment industry is part of the growing service sector in the state and national economy. The industry both creates employment opportunities and contributes to the quality of life within communities. To fully grow the entertainment industry, however, a city requires appropriate venues to host entertainment events. In the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, there has been a recent proposal to develop a new arena facility for this growing City. The following report addresses some of the economic consequences of developing a new arena in Lincoln. In particular, the report estimates the potential economic impact of the proposed project, that is, …
The Effect Of A Smoke-Free Ordinance On Eating And Drinking Places In Lincoln, Nebraska, Mary Mcgarvey, Eric Thompson, Bree Dority, Jyothsna Sainath
The Effect Of A Smoke-Free Ordinance On Eating And Drinking Places In Lincoln, Nebraska, Mary Mcgarvey, Eric Thompson, Bree Dority, Jyothsna Sainath
Bureau of Business Research Publications
The Lincoln Smoking Regulation Act which prohibited smoking in most public places and places of employment in Lincoln, Nebraska including restaurants and bars was implemented in January 2005. This report examines the impact of the ordinance on the following measures of business activity in Lincoln:
• Sales revenue of eating and drinking places
• Employment of eating and drinking places
• Gross revenues from keno.
We examine the impact of the ordinance during the year 2005, the first year that the ordinance was in effect. While restaurant and bar activity in Lincoln rose during 2005 by some measures, we focus …
Big Box Stores: Their Impacts On The Economy And Tips For Competing, Sean Golden, Noel Jeutang, Ratikanta Pattaik, David Rosenbaum, Eric Thompson
Big Box Stores: Their Impacts On The Economy And Tips For Competing, Sean Golden, Noel Jeutang, Ratikanta Pattaik, David Rosenbaum, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
This is a study in three parts: the general impact of Wal-Mart and big box stores on the economy; an empirical look at Wal-Mart’s impacts on 15 Nebraska communities; and a review of research on ways that local retailers can compete against big box stores.
Part one suggests that Wal-Mart has both positive and negative impacts on the economy. Wal-Mart helps increase productivity and causes consumer prices to fall. Further, a number of studies found that employment increased in communities that received a new Wal-Mart store. However, other studies found that entry of a Wal-Mart failed to lead to net …
Report Of The Attorney General’S Task Force On Motor Fuel Pricing In Nebraska, Ernest P. Goss, Edward A. Morse, Eric Thompson
Report Of The Attorney General’S Task Force On Motor Fuel Pricing In Nebraska, Ernest P. Goss, Edward A. Morse, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
In the wake of the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Nebraskans experienced a dramatic increase in the price of motor fuels. Although Nebraska was not impacted directly by the physical effects of these storms, damage to critical production, refining, and transportation facilities in the Gulf Coast region sent shock waves throughout the country. Attorney General Jon Bruning convened this task force for the purpose of studying these price movements and to analyze whether price-gouging activity may be occurring.
Motor vehicle fuels are a vital commodity. Businesses and consumers depend on a network of oil producers, refiners, and retailers and …
Estimating Demand For Business Recycling Services In Two Nebraska Cities, Eric Thompson, Mingming Pan, Cory Buland
Estimating Demand For Business Recycling Services In Two Nebraska Cities, Eric Thompson, Mingming Pan, Cory Buland
Bureau of Business Research Publications
Creating opportunities for business recycling is an important priority for the State of Nebraska and communities throughout the state. In particular, there is a need to expand opportunities in smaller communities that do not always have the infrastructure or markets for recycling found in the state’s largest cities such as Omaha and Lincoln. With this in mind, the following report, sponsored by WasteCap Nebraska and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, uses a survey of businesses to evaluate business attitudes toward recycling, current recycling efforts, and the level of need and interest for recycling training and services in two mid-size …
The Economic Impact Of The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Department, Eric Thompson
The Economic Impact Of The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Department, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
When the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium is filled for Cornhusker home games (as it has been for an NCAA-record 268 consecutive times since 1962), millions of dollars of economic activity are generated through ticket sales, broadcast rights, and concession sales. This spending and attendance indicate that Cornhusker football provides a popular, high-quality product that creates a high level of consumer demand. Cornhusker football also creates a large ripple effect in the economies of Lincoln, Omaha, and elsewhere in the state of Nebraska as fans attending Husker games spend at restaurants, hotels, retail stores, gasoline service stations, and other businesses …
The Impact Of Growth On Quality Of Life And Fiscal Conditions In Lincoln, Nebraska, Eric Thompson
The Impact Of Growth On Quality Of Life And Fiscal Conditions In Lincoln, Nebraska, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
While growth has moderated in the last few years, the 1990s were a period of rising employment and population in Lincoln, Nebraska. The city and metropolitan area experienced sustained and steady growth, roughly on par with the expansion of other mid-sized cities throughout the United States. The growth brought changes to the city, which raised questions about what benefits and costs might have resulted from these changes.
This following study by the UNL Bureau of Business Research examines some of the implications of growth for Lincoln, Nebraska. The study examines how growth in the 1990s and early 2000s affected wages …
If You Build It, Will They Come? An Examination Of Public Highway Investments And Economic Growth, Eric Thompson
If You Build It, Will They Come? An Examination Of Public Highway Investments And Economic Growth, Eric Thompson
Bureau of Business Research Publications
Economic research studies in general have not found that more highways lead to a larger economy in states and regions. Over the last three decades, the presence of more highway capital in a state has not been found to attract more private capital to the economy. Most studies have not found that highways, and new investment in highways, increase the level of employment or labor earnings in the economy overall. Finally, most studies have found that the presence of more highways in a state has done little over the last three decades to make state economies more productive.
To be …
Where Have All The Packing Plants Gone? The New Meat Geography In Rural America, Mark Drabenstott, Mark Henry, Kristin Mitchell
Where Have All The Packing Plants Gone? The New Meat Geography In Rural America, Mark Drabenstott, Mark Henry, Kristin Mitchell
Bureau of Business Research Publications
The meat industry is an economic powerhouse for rural America - accounting for roughly one of every 16 rural manufacturing jobs. Moreover, this rural powerhouse is adding jobs at a fast clip, with recent growth of 8.5 percent a year versus just 1.2 percent a year for all rural manufacturing industries. Finally, rural America has captured a commanding 52 percent of all meat industry jobs, far above the level of a decade ago.
While all these figures are welcome news to rural areas eager to expand employment, geographic shifts under way in the industry raise fresh doubts over which rural …