Regional Economics Commons^™

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: March 31, 2020, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) 1 report for this month reflects data from February 2020, a period before the Covid-19 Pandemic began to have a very significant impact on the U.S. economy. As a result, the outlook provided by the leading indicator will not capture the decline in economic activity that occurred beginning in March 2020. Nonetheless, the LEI-N report is presented here to provide information about where the Nebraska economy was headed before the current health crisis. The LEI-N fell by 0.19% during February of 2020. The modest decrease in the LEI-N, which is designed to predict …

Solar Bait: How States Attract Solar Investments From Large Corporations, Jed J. Cohen, Levan Elbakidze, Randall Jackson

The Nature Conservancy

Past literature in solar adoption has focused primarily on households without significant attention to the potential of commercial properties as sites for solar generation. Herein we examine firms’ decisions to install solar panels on their properties using state-level data. We are interested in the effects of state-level characteristics, including policies and regulations, on firm decisions regarding solar investments. We find that state characteristics that influence the return-on-investment from solar installations, most notably solar intensity, are important for commercial adoption decisions. Further results suggest that certain state-level policies, in particular solar carve-outs in renewable portfolio standards, financing programs and tax breaks, …

Integration Of And Deliveries Among The World Zionist Organization, Israel, And Diaspora Countries: System Articulation With The Social Fabric Matrix, F. Gregory Hayden

Department of Economics: Faculty Publications

The religious economics (not economics of religion) concern here is the relationship between the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and Israel, which is known as a geopolitical power in its region and which is also known as an economic success story. Joseph Schumpeter and Karl Polanyi explained how the political economy of medieval Europe was influenced and guided by Christian morality. This paper extends the analysis of religious economics by using the social fabric matrix of original institutional economics to define and structure the integration of the WZO, Israel, and the Diaspora countries. This allows us to observe how to conduct …

The Coal Industry And Funding Support For Elementary And Secondary Education In Appalachia: A Descriptive Analysis, Jilleah G. Welch, Matthew N. Murray

Coal Industry Effects on Education

This is the first of two reports exploring the relationship between coal activity and funding for elementary and secondary education in the Appalachian Region. In this first report, patterns in funding for elementary and secondary education are explored using annual data from 1995 to 2016. Counties that had some level of coal employment over this time period (coal counties) are compared to counties that had no coal employment over the same time (non-coal counties). Through a descriptive analysis, we find that educational attainment rates in the Appalachian Region lag behind national rates, often by a significant margin. There is considerable …

Data From: Municipal Water Consumption And Urban Economic Growth In El Paso, Daniel J. Pastor, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr.

Datasets

This study investigates the nexus between municipal water consumption and economic growth for El Paso, Texas. Located in the semi-arid southwestern United States, El Paso water consumption has been the subject of prior economic studies. However, the relationship between water consumption and economic growth has not been previously analyzed for El Paso or any other metropolitan economies in the region. Empirical results indicate that municipal water usage and real personal income are integrated of order one, but are not co-integrated. Given that, a vector autoregression model is estimated and a Granger causality test is performed. Estimation results show unidirectional causation …

Borderplex Business Barometer, Volume 4, Number 3, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Steven L. Fullerton, Ana Gutierrez Zubiate, Ignacio Santana

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

Common Power Laws For Cities And Spatial Fractal Structures, Tomoya Mori, Tony E. Smith, Wen-Tai Hsu

Research Collection School Of Economics

City-size distributions are known to be well approximated by power laws across a wide range of countries. But such distributions are also meaningful at other spatial scales, such as within certain regions of a country. Using data from China, France, Germany, India, Japan, and the United States, we first document that large cities are significantly more spaced out than would be expected by chance alone. We next construct spatial hierarchies for countries by first partitioning geographic space using a given number of their largest cities as cell centers and then continuing this partitioning procedure within each cell recursively. We find …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: February 26, 2020, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) 1 fell by 0.15% during January of 2020. The modest decrease in the LEI-N, which is designed to predict economic activity six months into the future, followed a strong increase in December 2019. Taken together, the two monthly results indicate moderate economic growth in Nebraska through mid-2020. The leading indicator fell due to a drop in airline passenger enplanements and an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance. However, business expectations remained positive during the month, with respondents to the January Survey of Nebraska Business reporting plans to increase sales and employment at …

Poverty And Labor Force Participation Across Metropolitan Philadelphia, Zachary J. Porreca

Undergraduate Economic Review

This study utilizes data drawn from municipalities across the Philadelphia metropolitan area to examine trends in poverty amongst communities.While some research has been done on urban and rural poverty, this paper seeks to fill the gap in literature regarding poverty across the subksnurban and metropolitan landscape. A multiple regression model is specified, so as to provide an in depth analysis of observed trends. The central hypothesis that a relationship exists between poverty and labor force participation is tested and affirmed. The implication of this finding, as well as auxiliary findings, are explored and expanded upon. Recommendations are made for more …

Economic Impact Of Downstream Gas Development In West Virginia, Eric Bowen

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

Downstream gas development has the potential to provide significant economic value if West Virginia can capture this development within its borders. In this report, we explore the potential impact of downstream natural gas industries on the West Virginia economy. To estimate the economic impact of downstream natural gas development, we take a two-pronged approach. First, we identify those industries nationally that require large amounts of natural gas in their production process. We then choose three of these industries that have the greatest potential for development within West Virginia. Second, we estimate the economic impact of a typical establishment in each …

Borderplex Business Barometer, Volume 4, Number 2, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Steven L. Fullerton, Ana Gutierrez Zubiate, Ignacio Santana

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

Rural Poverty And Urban Proximity In Sabah, Malaysia, Joseph Jeron

Student Works (2020-2029)

One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to eradicate extreme poverty globally by 2030 in all countries including Malaysia. While Malaysia is close to achieving this target, poverty still persists in the state of Sabah. Therefore, this study examines the determinants of household poverty in rural Sabah with a focus on urban proximity. A purposefully designed survey instrument was used to gather primary data on a total of 407 rural households in 78 villages, spread across 16 poorest districts of Sabah. In addition, Geographic Information System (GIS) data on sample households and villages was collected to construct …

Reviewer Acknowledgments For 2019, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md, Erin N. Haynes, Erin Bouldin, Robert M. Shapiro Ii, Tim Marema, Charlotte S. Seidman

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Editorial Team extends a heart-felt “thank you” to those who have given their time and expertise in the past year to participate in this process with the Journal of Appalachian Health. We know that you have many competing pressures on your time, and that you are not financially compensated for the time you spend reviewing manuscripts. We hope that there are other forms of compensation that make the sacrifice worth the effort.

A Healthy Attitude: Rural Leaders In Tn County Organize To Address Well-Being In Appalachia, Tim Marema, Erin Bouldin

Journal of Appalachian Health

When it came to formal philanthropy, Grundy County was not on the map. That changed with the 2012 establishment of South Cumberland Community Fund, which serves the plateau portions of Grundy, Franklin, and Marion counties.

Development And Early Outcomes Of The Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative, North Carolina, Tim Marema, Erin Bouldin

Journal of Appalachian Health

Addressing adverse childhood experiences has become a public health imperative, and communities across the United States are working to develop and implement programs and policies to both prevent childhood trauma and support adults who experienced trauma as children. Here we describe the development of the Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative (WCCI) in Watauga, County, North Carolina.

Introduction To The New “Early Reports Of Innovation” Section, Erin Bouldin, Tim Marema

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Journal of Appalachian Health is introducing a new section this issue. While the journal is centralizing some of the best research and commentary on Appalachian health, the editorial team felt that practice-focused groups, organizations, and agencies may not be fully represented in the publication.

Introducing The L.A.U.N.C.H. Collaborative, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md, Kevin Patrick

Journal of Appalachian Health

The L.A.U.N.C.H. Collaborative: Linking & Amplifying User-Centered Networks through Connected Health: A Demonstration of Broadband-Enabled Connected Health and Community-Based Co-Design brings together a group of organizations that are eager to use Appalachian Kentucky as a site for the development of a project aimed at creating an environment that addresses two of the nation’s major concerns about cancer. First, individuals who live in rural and remote areas are more likely to die of cancer than those who live in urban or suburban settings. And second, geographic obstacles hinder their ability to access evidence-based strategies that can prevent cancer or treat it …

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: January 22, 2020, Eric Thompson

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) 1 rose by 1.10% during December of 2019. The increase in the LEI-N, which is designed to predict economic activity six months into the future, confirms expectations for moderate economic growth in Nebraska through mid-2020. The leading indicator primarily rose due to strong business expectations. Respondents to the December Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment at their businesses over the next six months. There also was a rebound in building permits for single-family homes during the month, suggesting an increase in construction activity mid-year.

Shift-Share Analysis, Appalachian Counties, Randall Jackson, Péter Járosi

Shift Share Analyses

In County-level CIE Supply Chain Analysis, the second of five p a rts o f A n E c onomic A n alysis of the Appalachian Coal Industry Ecosystem posted to the Commission’s website in January of 2018, we developed a set of metrics that were used to provide insights on the past and future supply chain implications of long-term coal industry decline in Appalachia. These metrics were used to identify counties that have been heavily impacted by the decline of the coal industry, those that remain dependent on the coal industry ecosystem (CIE), and among the dependent counties, those …

Regional Industry Cluster Analysis For The Potomac Highlands Region Of West Virginia, Jing Chen, Randall Jackson

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

Industry clusters are defined as “a form of network that occurs within a geographical location, in which the proximity of firms and institutions ensures certain forms of commonality and increases the frequency and impact of interactions.”1 In this report we identify existing industrial clusters for the Potomac Highlands region in West Virginia and examine potential industries or clusters for economic development. The primary objective of this study is to use a variety of tools to analyze the industry cluster structure for Potomac Highlands and evaluate the strengths and gaps of existing industry clusters. Our cluster analysis comprises three parts: (1) …

An Economic Profile Of The Potomac Highlands Region In West Virginia, Eric Bowen, Christiadi, Brian Lego

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands region—consisting of Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, Mineral, and Pendleton counties—experienced a significant economic disruption in 2015 when the Sugar Grove Naval Station closed its doors. The Naval Station, which was designed to monitor communications transmissions for the military and National Security Agency, made a significant contribution to the Pendleton County economy, and to the broader Potomac Highlands region. This study is part of a series of reports from West Virginia University researchers at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, the Regional Research Institute, and the Brownfields Assistance Center that evaluate the Potomac Highlands region’s economy and …

Potomac Highlands Workforce And Education Assessment, Christiadi, Eric Bowen

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

Human capital is a crucial element of any regional economic growth plan, as companies looking to locate or grow in a region require a skilled workforce to meet the demands of their businesses. In this report, we examine human capital in the Potomac Highlands region, focusing on occupational and educational requirements to support the region’s growth over the next five years.

An Action Plan For Economic Prosperity In The Potomac Highlands Region Of West Virginia, Eric Bowen, Patrick Kirby, Monica Miller

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

In this final report, we summarize our findings and provide a Strategic Action Plan for the Potomac Highlands region. First, we assess the previous strategic plans covering the region, followed by an analysis of interviews the project team conducted with dozens of employers and other leaders in the community. Lastly, we make our recommendations to enhance the Potomac Highlands region’s economic prosperity.

An Action Plan For Economic Prosperity In The Potomac Highlands Region Of West Virginia: Executive Summary, Eric Bowen, Patrick Kirby, Monica Miller

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

As a result of the closure of the Sugar Grove base, the Pendleton County Commission, in coordination with the Region 8 Planning and Development Council, engaged researchers at West Virginia University to develop a Strategic Action Plan to promote the economic development in the Potomac Highlands Region. The development of the Strategic Action Plan was completed through a four-pronged approach with the completion of: (1) an economic impact analysis of the Sugar Grove Naval Base closure and economic profile of the region; (2) a cluster analysis that made recommendations for industrial targeting based on an assessment of existing economic conditions …

Ecio Input-Output Relationships Generating Expected Output Series, Randall Jackson, Péter Járosi

Regional Research Institute Technical Documents

Generating expected output series is a critically important step in building Conway-type hybrid econometric input-output models. Because the RRI most often uses a modeling method that takes advantage of Jackson's Rest-of-World industry mechanism for representing imports in the Supply (Make) table rather than in final demand, we must insure that this method for generating historical expected output series will be consistent with the way in which future expected output is estimated (Jackson, 1998). This brief TechDoc lays out the relevant mathematical foundations. In so doing, we also identify the appropriate corresponding impacts assessment formulation.

State Of The Northwest Arkansas Region 2020 Report, Mervin Jebaraj, David Sorto

State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report

The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is an annual publication, commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council, that serves as a tool for evaluating economic performance. In July 2018, the Northwest Arkansas Council created a new blueprint for development that outlines the peer regions and a strategic action agenda for 2018-2021. In this plan, the performance of Northwest Arkansas is benchmarked with other contemporary, high-performing regions, namely Austin, Des Moines, Madison, Durham-Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Provo-Orem. The 2020 State of the Region Report compares Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA) with these geographies in the areas of gross domestic product, employment, …

Mapping Socioeconomic Indicators By Race And County In Arkansas, Mervin Jebaraj, David Sorto

Urban League of the State of Arkansas

The Urban League of the State of Arkansas seeks to lead efforts in advancing and obtaining equal opportunities for all citizens with a particular focus in the areas of health, education, jobs, and housing. In keeping with this mission, the Urban League of Arkansas partnered with the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas to produce a report that provides data to identify key areas of need in the African American and Latinx communities in Arkansas and develop programs and policies to address them.

In this report, the …

The Missouri-Wide Effects Of City Earnings Taxes, Howard J. Wall

Center for Applied Economics

The cities of St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, impose a 1 percent tax on residents’ earnings and non-residents’ earnings within the cities. This paper provides estimates of the effects of these taxes on the parts of Missouri outside the two metro areas. I estimate that over the decade from 2000 to 2010 the earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis reduced household employment in the taxing cities by about 14,500, and by about 34,700 in the Missouri portions of their surrounding metro areas. When the link between the St. Louis metro area and outstate Missouri is considered, the …

China’S One Belt One Road Initiative—A Debt Trap?, Qi Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infrastructure has been a bottleneck for industrialization of developing countries. After decades of economic growth led by investment in infrastructure, China released its first global strategy in 2013, One Belt One Road (BRI), to improve infrastructure in less developed countries along the belt and road. Although economic development has been witnessed in some BRI members, large amount of investments from China raised concern over debt crisis from the Western world and host countries. Countries receiving loans from China are struggling to effectively manage the BRI projects. Some are renegotiating the investments with China and some BRI members even canceled them. …

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 …