Regional Economics Commons^™

Part 3: Splish - Splash - Cash: Swimming In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Hampton Roads is known for its relationship with water. For some, it is too much water in the wrong place at the wrong time. For others, it is how water can transform lives. Hampton Roads is home to several premier swimming organizations, and Hampton is opening a state-of-the-art aquatics facility. We explore how swimming is intertwined with the history of the region and the economic impact of the sport on the economy and lives of the region’s resident

Part 2: The Rent Is Too Damn High: Housing In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Is Hampton Roads an affordable place to live? At first glance, median rents and housing values are below those of the closest major metropolitan areas. Comparing housing costs to household income yields a different conclusion: more than 1 in 3 households in Hampton Roads paid more than 30% of their income for housing and 1 in 7 households paid more than 50% of their income for housing. In this chapter, we explore housing affordability in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the United States and ask what the region can do to make housing more affordable.

Part 5: Strangers In A Strange Land: Finding Refuge In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In 2021, a record breaking 90 million people were forcibly displaced, fleeing war, violence, human rights violations, and persecution. In early 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added to this toll, pushing the estimated number of refugees past the 100- million- person mark This chapter explores how all of these developments are affecting Hampton Roads, which has received more than 300 Afghans and other political refugees over the past eighteen months.

Part 6: Perhaps I Won't Go To Law School After All: Lawyers In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

While movies and television shows portray lawyers as members of high society, with expensive cars and tastes, the reality in Hampton Roads is grittier. Between 2005 and 2021, lawyers’ real income in the region declined by more than 25%. In this chapter, we explore the supply of lawyers in Hampton Roads and whether we are producing too many lawyers for economic conditions in the region. We ask what the future may hold for the legal profession in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the nation.

Part 4: Does Hampton Roads Have Enough Nurses?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In 2021, nurses ranked again as the most trusted profession in the United States. Yet, even though many Americans view nurses favorably, nurses have been the target of conspiracy theories, verbal abuse, and yes, physical violence. As more nurses report symptoms of burnout and some are quitting the profession entirely, we explore the coming shortage of nurses in Hampton Roads, Virginia and the United States and ask what factors limit the supply of nurses in the region.

Part 1: Shock And Awe? Covid-19, Vaccines, And The Recovery, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the Hampton Roads economy. One in 10 workers were unemployed at the height of the pandemic, 4 in 10 small businesses were forced to reduce hours and thousands of residents left the labor force entirely. Yet, in the midst of the pandemic, housing prices and trade volumes through the Port of Virginia continued to rise. We explore the economic recovery and discuss whether Hampton Roads can rely on defense spending in the coming decade.

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2021, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University, Vinod Agarwal, Barbara Blake, Steve Daniel, Ashley Desilva, Addie Gregory, Elizabeth Janik, Nikki Johnson, James V. Koch, Tim Komarek, Feng Lian, Sharon Lomax, Christian Manty, Janet Molinaro, Brendan O'Hallarn, Hannah White, Jake Zalewski

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

[From the introductory material]

This is Old Dominion University’s 22nd 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, 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.

Over the past year, we have endured the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of vaccines and a return to a semblance of normality in …

Part 2: Bounce Back? The Pandemic And Tourism In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Nearly 1 in 5 workers in the Hampton Roads hospitality and leisure sector lost their jobs in 2020. Even as the sector started to recover, employers found themselves in need of employees to fill available positions. Now, with tourists returning to the region, we look at how traditional hotels and short-term rentals fared over the last 18 months

Part 3: Earn While You Learn: The Apprentice School At Newport News Shipbuilding, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding is not only one of the nation’s premier schools for educating and training workers, but it also stands as an example of how 21st-century learning can occur in the region. In this chapter, we look at the apprenticeship model and delve into the unique aspects of The Apprentice School that have made it successful.

Part 4: All In: Casinos, Online Betting And The Future Of Gambling In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

In 1987, Virginia voters approved the state lottery, bringing legalized gambling to the Commonwealth. Fast forward to 2021: Virginians can now buy lottery tickets online, place sports bets on their phones and wager in historical horse racing parlors. Now, with casinos opening soon in Norfolk and Portsmouth, as well as Bristol, Danville and, likely, Richmond, we discuss the benefits and costs of casinos in Hampton Roads

Part 6: The Decline Of Local Journalism, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

Local journalism is in peril. Newspapers all over the country are reducing coverage, cutting staff, abandoning physical newsrooms or shuttering operations altogether. The United States has lost fully one-fourth of its newspapers since 2004, including 70 dailies and more than 2,000 weeklies and other nondaily papers. Hampton Roads has not escaped these cutbacks. We discuss the future of local journalism in Hampton Roads.

Part 7: Securing Release: Cash Bail In Hampton Roads, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis & Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

On any given day in 2019, on average, there were more pretrial inmates per 100,000 residents in Hampton Roads than in Virginia or the United States. To secure their release from jail, many inmates must provide collateral in the form of a secured bond. Now, with momentum building for reducing or eliminating cash bail in the Commonwealth, we estimate the costs and benefits of cash bail reform for cities and counties in Hampton Roads.

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2020, 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 2020 The State of the Region report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University

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 …

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.

Front Matter: The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2018, 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 2018 The State of the Region report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University

Part 1: Is It Morning Again In Hampton Roads?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy

State of the Region Reports: Hampton Roads

The three pillars of our regional economy (defense, the port and tourism) have improved and prospects for growth are looking up. We ask whether Hampton Roads has finally emerged from a “lost decade” and if the future is bright.