Regional Economics Commons^™

2017 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake Gonzalez, Chloe Cohen, Vicky Curtis, Steve Daniel, Chip Filer, Dominique Johnson, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Alice Mcadory, Janet Molinaro, Ken Plum, Jennifer Seay, Aiden Thompson, Jay Walker, Son D. Wilson, Ziniya Zahedi

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is the third State of the Commonwealth Report produced by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University. The report is sponsored, in part, by ODU's Strome College of Business. While the report represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, it does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, John R. Broderick, or the Board of Visitors.

This report maintains the goal of stimulating thought and discussion that ultimately will make the Commonwealth of Virginia an even better place to live, work, and do business. We are …

Assessment Of And Outlook On China's Corruption And Anticorruption Campaigns: Stagnation In The Authoritarian Trap, Shaomin Li

Management Faculty Publications

Since the beginning of China's economic reform in the late 1970s, corruption has been progressing alongside of economic growth. In 2012, when Xi Jinping took power, he waged the largest and longest anticorruption campaign known in the history of the Chinese Communist Party. This study provides an assessment on his campaign and projects an outlook on the future of corruption and anticorruption in China. The author argues that China will enter into an "authoritarian trap," in which the authoritarian power enables the state to effectively carry out the economic reform and achieve economic growth, while suppressing the demand for the …

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2016, James V. Koch, Vinod Agarwal, Christopher B. Colburn, Vicky Curtis, Steve Daniel, Larry "Chip" Filer, Timothy Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Wolfgang Mairinger, Alice Mcadory, Robert Mcnab, Janet Molinaro, Lisa Suhay

Economics Faculty Books

This is Old Dominion University's 17th 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 or it's president, John R. Broderick. The report maintains the goal of stimulating thought and discussion that ultimately will make Hampton Roads an even better place to live. We are proud of our region's many successes, but realize that it is possible to improve our performance. In order to do so, we must have accurate information about "where we are" and a …

Part 5: Broadband In Virginia: Vital For Economic Development, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Up to 70 percent of the world’s internet traffic flows through Northern Virginia, but some areas of the Commonwealth still do not enjoy broadband internet connections. Robust broadband access now is as important as roads, bridges and airports in terms of economic development and population growth.

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 6: Stock Car Racing In Virginia: The Sport And The Business, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In addition to its nationally prominent Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Speedway, the Commonwealth hosts nine other racetracks, five dirt tracks and eight drag racing strips. While still a very important economic phenomenon, attendance and revenue data suggest that stock car racing has passed its peak of popularity.

Part 1: Life In The Slower Lane: The Hampton Roads Economy, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Our regional economy is on track in 2016 to record a “real” (after inflation) economic growth rate of only 1.20 percent – well below our 2.60 percent average economic growth rate over the past 30 years. We have yet to recover all of the jobs we lost in the Great Recession. The outlook for 2017 is not much better.

Part 2: The Hotel Industry: The United States, Virginia, And Hampton Roads, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Since 2000, hotel revenue as a percentage of personal income has declined in Virginia and Hampton Roads. Declining federal spending is the primary reason.

Part 3: Prisons And Prisoners: The Virginia Way And The Alternatives, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Virginia imprisons large numbers of people; this is expensive. Economic analysis suggests that we would save money if we did not imprison so many people, redefined what constitutes a felony and gave more attention to preparing prisoners for re-entry into society.

Part 4: The Rise Of Single-Earner Households In Virginia: Why It Matters, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Almost one-third of all households in Hampton Roads are “nonfamily,” in the sense that they are not headed by two married individuals. More than 40 percent of all births now occur out of wedlock and the number of older single people has skyrocketed. Both public and private programs and policies have not kept pace with these developments and are in need of revision.

Part 5: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender And Queer Community In Hampton Roads, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

A 2012-2014 Gallup Poll reported that 4.4 percent of the population of Hampton Roads is LGBTQ in orientation. Available data suggest that LGBTQ women fare relatively better economically speaking than LGBTQ men. Norfolk and Virginia Beach are viewed as the region’s friendliest cities for members of the LGBTQ community.

Part 6: 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 Region Reports: Hampton Roads

A recent study suggested that 47 percent of all jobs in the United States are at risk of being eliminated by automation. The jobs most vulnerable are those that involve repetitive tasks and relatively little judgment. Those holding these jobs can be replaced by robots or machines utilizing artificial intelligence.

Part 7: Traffic Congestion In Hampton Roads: Myths And Realities, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Sixty-five percent of job holders in Hampton Roads cross a city or county boundary when they go to work. Many encounter traffic congestion as they do so, but the level of this congestion has increased only modestly in recent years. Major road improvements seldom change this situation very much because drivers soon redistribute themselves in response to the improvements.

Part 2: Northern Virginia: Turning The Corner?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

NOVA now accounts for 37 percent of all employment in Virginia, but approximately 45 percent of the value of the Commonwealth’s economic activity. Recent growth in professional and business services employment suggests that the region may have turned the corner toward a more diverse, private sector-oriented 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 7: The Rise Of Single-Earner Households In Virginia: Why It Matters, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Forty-seven percent of all households in Virginia now are headed by one or more single individuals and these households include all adult age groups. Nevertheless, our current legal and regulatory structure continues to focus on “Ozzie and Harriet” households.

Part 8: Liberty University: A Higher Education Phenomenon, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Christian-centered Liberty University has a combined on-campus and online enrollment of more than 100,000 students and has accumulated an endowment of $1.4 billion. The university’s long-term aspiration is to be considered in the same breath as Notre Dame is for Roman Catholics and Brigham Young is for Mormons.

Institutions Of Higher Education And Cultural Heritage Tourism: A Case Study Of The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, Terence Michael Gilley

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The southwest region of Virginia has an unstable economy, which cycles through periods of growth and decline. The strategic plans for southwest Virginia propose cultural heritage tourism as a sustainable industry for economic development of this rural region. Institutions of higher education provide education and training for a qualified workforce and community service. This qualitative, single case study on The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail examines the roles of institutions of higher education with regard to cultural heritage tourism for sustainable community and economic development in rural areas. The data sources for this study are the administrators of …

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 2: Northern Virginia: Standing At A Fork In The Road, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Direct federal employment and procurement spending accounts for almost 40 percent of all economic activity in Northern Virginia, which in turn accounts for more than 40 percent of all economic activity in Virginia. Sequestration has hobbled Northern Virginia’s growth. However, George Mason University’s leading economic index suggests better times are on the horizon.

Part 7: Consolidating Or Merging The Public Service Provision In Virginia Cities And Counties: Where Can We Save The Most Money?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Controlling for variables such as the cost of living and local characteristics, we examine the provision of 25 distinct public services by the 95 counties and 39 independent cities in Virginia. Could we save money and perhaps provide better services if we combined the provision of some of these services across county and city lines? The evidence suggests that the answer is yes for at least 13 of these public services and perhaps for another four.

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2015, 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 2015 The State of the Region report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University

Part 1: Running In Place? Our "So-So" Regional Economy, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

2015 has been another “Goldilocks” year – not too hot, not too cold – economically speaking. We grew faster than the rest of Virginia, but slower than the U.S. It appears that 2016 will reprise this scenario.

Part 2: Defense Expenditures In Hampton Roads: Digging Deeper, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

While defense expenditures are decelerating, in FY 2015, Newport News (dominated by Huntington Ingalls) received $1.13 billion in new defense contract awards, while Virginia Beach received $838 million, Norfolk $774 million and Hampton $166 million. Atlantic Diving, headquartered in Virginia Beach, was our second-largest contractor with $206 million.

Part 3: The Port Of Virginia: A Primer, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The economic importance of the Port of Virginia has increased as it is handling record cargo volumes and now is recording positive net operating income. The Port is challenged to find ways to deal effectively with congestion and logistical problems in and around the Port as well as to secure the funds necessary to modernize its infrastructure and equipment.

Part 4: The Third Economic Sector: Nonprofit Organizations In Hampton Roads And The United Way, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

A total of 2,009 nonprofit organizations in Hampton Roads filed tax returns with the IRS in 2012. This does not include most churches. Collectively, these organizations are big business: their revenues approached $9.6 billion.

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 6: Is Hampton Roads Facing A Shortage Of Nurses?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Our region does not face a debilitating shortage of nurses. With a few tweaks to our policies, we will have a sufficient number of nurses to meet our needs in the years to come.

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.