Regional Economics Commons^™

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 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.

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2020, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University, Vinod Agarwal, Andrew A. Bennett, Barbara Blake, Emily Campion, Ethan Crouson, Steve Daniel, Addie Gregory, Elizabeth Janik, Nikki Johnson, Sheila Keener, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O' Hallarn, Robert M. Mcnab

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

[From the introductory material]

This is Old Dominion University’s 21st 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, John R. Broderick, 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.

Although our devotion to this work remains steadfast, our enthusiasm, admittedly, has been dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the toll it has taken on the region, …

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 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 5: The Kids Are Not All Right: Youth Mental Health In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

More and more young people, particularly teenagers, report that they are anxious or depressed – a trend that has only escalated since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter looks at the state of youth mental health and the accessibility of care in Hampton Roads. The $224 million Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters mental health hospital now under construction will address an urgent need and place the region at the forefront of behavioral and mental health care for children.

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

State of the Commonwealth Reports

No abstract provided.

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 5: Virginia's Opioid Epidemic Continues And Covid-19 May Be Making It Worse, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 2017, we explored the rising toll of the opioid epidemic in Virginia and the United States. While COVID-19 has garnered much of the attention in 2020, the opioid epidemic continues in the Commonwealth. We revisit the evidence and consider whether the pandemic and social distancing measures have affected opioid overdoses in Virginia.

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

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 2018, 1 in 10 adult Virginians did not know with certainty how they would obtain their next meal. This food insecurity affects an even greater proportion of children in the Commonwealth. It not only lowers learning outcomes, but also reduces workplace productivity. Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity in Virginia has increased. We explore how public programs and regional food banks are working to address this problem.

Part 4: Youth Mental Health In Virginia, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Over the last decade, an increasing number of young people reported being anxious or depressed. And now, the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated closing schools, curtailing extracurricular activities and limiting social contacts for many of Virginia’s youth. In this chapter, we explore the state of youth mental health in the Commonwealth and gauge how our younger residents are faring during the pandemic. We find that there is an increasing need for youth mental health services and discuss what can be done to help those who could benefit the most.

2019 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Ethan Crouson, Steve Daniel, Addie Gregory, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Janet Molinaro, Bailey Park, Terry Park, Jay Walker, Hannah White

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is Old Dominion University’s fifth 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, John R. Broderick, 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.

While the enthusiasm we have for our work remains high, it has been dampened by the recent passing of George Dragas, the individual most responsible for perceiving the need for an …

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

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Over 30 states permit the personal use of marijuana for medical purposes and more than 10 states have legalized the possession of small amounts for personal use. With increasing calls in Virginia for the decriminalization or legalization of small amounts of marijuana, we examine who uses the substance, who is being arrested for possession or use, and what the revenue impact might be if marijuana were legalized in the Commonwealth.

Part 3: The Virginia Retirement System: Assessing Its Challenges And Charting Its Future, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) manages the assets in the Commonwealth’s public employee retirement systems. The available evidence suggests that the VRS has been well managed and has outperformed many other state pension funds. We evaluate the VRS’s performance and suggest changes that could enable it to lower its costs even while improving its rate of return.

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2019, 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 2019 The State of the Region report authored by Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2019, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Ethan Crouson, Steve Daniel, Addie Gregory, William Heffelfinger, Saloni Jain, Elizabeth Janik, Nikki Johnson, Kiran Karande, James V. Koch, Timothy M. Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, George Mcleod, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Bailey Park, Emily Steinhilber, Jay Walker, Hannah White, Robert M. Mcnab

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

[From the introductory material]

This is Old Dominion University’s 20th 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, John R. Broderick, 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.

While the enthusiasm we have for our work remains high, it has been dampened by the recent passing of George Dragas, the individual most responsible for perceiving …

Part 2: 420 In The 757: Marijuana And Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

More than 30 states permit the personal use of marijuana for medical purposes and 11 states have legalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Over 50 percent of Americans have used marijuana in their lifetimes and young adults in Hampton Roads use it at a higher rate than their peers in all other regions of the Commonwealth. We take a look at how a change in the status of marijuana could affect Hampton Roads.

Part 1: Full Speed Ahead: The Regional Economy Continues To Improve, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

For the first time in a decade, the Hampton Roads economy is poised to grow for the third straight year. Unemployment has declined, incomes have increased and output has risen. Increases in defense spending, tourism, and education and health services have fueled our recent growth. Yet, there are storm clouds on the horizon. How long can the good times last?

Part 4: The State Of Soccer In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The "beautiful game" is thriving in Hampton Roads. Two new professional soccer teams now play in the region and thousands of children, teenagers and young adults play on pitches from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach. We look at the demographics of soccer, how the model of youth sports has changed in America and the prospects of growth in the coming years.

Part 3: Mind The Gap: Women's Leadership In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

We examine whether there is a leadership gap between women and men in Hampton Roads. While a gap in earnings can be explained partly by occupational choice, part-time versus full-time employment and the risks of certain occupations, there remains the challenge of women being able to ascend to the higher levels of their chosen profession. We explore the extent of the leadership gap in our region and discuss what can be done to narrow it.

Part 5: Can Defense Save Us?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Sequestration is blamed for many of our region's problems. In this chapter, we assess what would have happened to the Hampton Roads economy if sequestration had never occurred. We compare the impact of sequestration with the drawdown from the Cold War. We ask whether it is time to prepare for the next downturn in defense spending.

Part 6: The Economic Impact Of A Hurricane On Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In 1821, a Category 3 hurricane made landfall in Hampton Roads, flooding Norfolk before moving on to New York City. What would be the impact of a similar hurricane today on the region's economy? We find that a major hurricane would cause almost $20 billion in property damage, create more than 2 million tons of debris and reduce economic output by over $20 billion in the first year following landfall.

Part 2: Virginia's Metropolitan Areas: Moving Forward, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Many indicators of economic performance suggest that the Commonwealth’s metropolitan areas grew in 2018 and into 2019. Unemployment is below 3% across Virginia’s metros, and average wages have risen over the last three years. Compared to 2015, the metros are in a better place today but there are storm clouds on the horizon.

Front Matter- 2019 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 2019 State of the Commonwealth Report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University.

Part 5: Federal Spending In The Commonwealth: A Primer, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In fiscal year 2018, federal government awards in Virginia totaled $109 billion, or $12,866 per Virginian. The Commonwealth’s economy is fueled, for better or worse, by spending decisions in the halls of Congress and the White House. We explore how the federal government spends money in Virginia and highlight procurement spending in the state’s metropolitan areas. We also look back at the impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on the economies of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Part 1: Virginia's Growth Improves In Uncertain Times, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Virginia’s economy is poised to grow for the fifth consecutive year. The number of jobs and people employed set new records in the summer of 2019 and CNBC recently ranked the Commonwealth as the most business-friendly state in the country. However, increasing economic uncertainty threatens the promise of a bright start to the coming decade. We assess the performance of the Virginia economy and ask what the future holds.

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 3: The Promise And Peril Of Medicaid Expansion For The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Virginia will expand Medicaid, a health insurance program for low-income adults and children, on Jan. 1, 2019. Medicaid expansion will reduce the number of uninsured, allow Medicaid recipients to work more and offer health care providers a measure of relief with regard to uncompensated care costs. The future costs of expansion, however, remain uncertain.

Part 1: Virginia Breezes Along, But Are There Storm Clouds On The Horizon?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

After an anemic recovery from the Great Recession and sequestration, Virginia’s economy picked up the pace in 2018 and is likely to improve in 2019. We should not, however, grow complacent. There are storm clouds on the horizon. The challenge now is to enact wise policies to foster and sustain economic growth while preparing for the next eventual downturn.