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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.

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 …

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.

2020 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Steve Daniel, Ashley Desilva, Addie Gregory, Elizabeth Janik, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Bailey Park, Terry Parker, Jay Walker, Hannah White

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is Old Dominion University’s sixth 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.

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 Commonwealth and nation. Our work …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

State of the Commonwealth Reports

2017 was the first year since 2006 that each of Virginia’s metropolitan areas exhibited positive economic growth from the preceding year. The uneven economic performance of Virginia’s metros cannot easily be attributed to one specific factor. The challenge is how to stimulate development in all areas of the Commonwealth.

Part 4: A Commonwealth Coming Together Or Growing Apart?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

We shed light on the diversities of circumstances and outcomes that exist in today’s Virginia. The distributions of income and wealth in the Commonwealth provide important information about the extent to which Virginians share an economic destiny.

Part 5: Much Ado About Nothing? Virginia's "Kings Dominion Law", Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 1986, Virginia passed into law a requirement that public schools cannot open until after Labor Day unless they met specific conditions for a waiver. In 2017, over 50 percent of Virginia elementary, middle and high school students attended schools that opened prior to Labor Day. We ask whether there is evidence to support the commonly offered arguments for and against the Virginia “Kings Dominion law.”

Part 6: Sin Taxes And Alcohol Consumption In Virginia, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

How does the Commonwealth tax alcohol? We look at the taxation of beer, wine and distilled spirits and the role of Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. We investigate whether levying taxes on alcohol is an appropriate method of raising revenue.

Front Matter- 2018 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 2018 State of the Commonwealth Report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University.

2018 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Ethan Crouson, Steve Daniel, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Janet Molinaro, Isaiah Smith, Jay Walker, Hannah White, Ziniya Zahedi, Robert Mcnab

State of the Commonwealth Reports

This is Old Dominion University's fourth 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.

The report maintains the goal of stimulating thought and discussion that ultimately will make Virginia an even better place to live. The recent improvements in the Commonwealth's economic performance present an opportunity …

Part 2: Virginia's Metros: Running To Stand Still?, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Commonwealth’s economy is the sum of its regional parts, however different they may be. After most regions performed poorly in 2016, there are signs that 2017 may be a more positive year. We delve into data on employment, jobs and taxable sales to ask whether the good news will last.

Part 1: Waiting For Godot? Virginia Impatiently Anticipates The End Of Sequestration, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The Commonwealth’s lackluster economic performance in 2016 highlights a lost decade of slow economic growth. The dependence on federal spending presents challenges to stimulating growth when discretionary federal spending is constrained by sequestration. We investigate the reasons for the slow pace of economic activity and ask whether new efforts to spur innovation and entrepreneurship are a step in the right direction.

Part 4: Airbnb Rising: Short-Term Rentals And The "Gig Economy", Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Airbnb offers consumers short-term rentals that increase choice and lower costs. Cities in the Commonwealth are struggling with the question of how to work with Airbnb and similar firms, and the rise of Airbnb is a challenge to the traditional lodging sector. We explore the emergence of Airbnb, its phenomenal growth, and ask how Airbnb plays a role in the larger “gig economy.”

Part 5: Affordability And Access In Virginia Public Higher Education, Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

The typical public four-year university has increased its published tuition and fees two to four times as rapidly as the consumer price index. Have reductions in state appropriations driven these increases or are they a result of administrative proliferation, new amenities and the lack of firm control on tuition and fees by the Commonwealth? We estimate the costs and consequences.