Prosperity at a Crossroads: Targeting Drivers of Economic Growth for Greater Kansas City

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) and the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program joined forces to lay the groundwork for future regional economic analyses. The REMI model was incorporated into the study to help assess the Kansas City region’s overall economic performance, conduct focused research on productivity and the underlying factors determining regional economic performance, and suggest a framework for future action. The report included a comparison of Kansas City’s economic outlook and industries to 14 similar U.S. metropolitan regions, the number of jobs per industry sector, educational forecast, net domestic migration, and numerous other evaluations in order to create a complete economic picture of Greater Kansas City.

Mid-America Regional Council – Prosperity at a Crossroads [full PDF]

The Economic Impact of The Eastern States Exposition

The Eastern States Exposition creates nearly 5,000 jobs for New England and New York residents, while adding $226 million in personal income and bringing approximately 3,600 people to live in these regions. The Exposition also donates 1% of its gross revenues each year to youth and elderly services in the western Massachusetts area. The total amount of payments made by the Exposition to West Springfield in 2012 exceeded $1.3 million.

REMI -The Economic Impact of the Eastern States Exposition [full PDF]

Economic Impact of Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport

This study that was prepared by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research estimated the economic impact of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport on the greater Kalamazoo-Battle Creek region. If the airport were to close in 2008, researchers estimated that the region would lose nearly 1,350 jobs, personal income would reduce by $46.2 million, gross regional product would decline by $105.3 million, and total sales of goods and services in the region would fall by $175.2 million. In the later years, the region would continue to lose jobs due to the increase in the cost of doing business in the area resulting from not having an airport. It was estimated that the region would employ 2,244 fewer workers solely because of the added expense of doing business in the region without a commercial airport. Estimates of indirect employment impacts were generated using the Upjohn Institute’s REMI model.

W.E. Upjohn Institute – Economic Impact of Kalmazoo-Battle Creek International Airport [full PDF]

New REMI Endogenous Residence Adjustment Equation: Transportation, Development, and Commuting for an Example in the NY/NJ/CT Metro Area

The new residence adjustment equation provides a dynamic forecast of income by place-of-work compared to place-of-residence in terms of New Economic Geography theory. It allows for policy simulations based on relative consumer prices, taxes, labor force availability, and commuting costs. This report displays the methodology of applying this equation to economic modeling with the example simulation for a transit project in the Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York metro area and how it influences the economy and the commuting flows between the local counties. Endogenous residence adjustment adds to the analytical capabilities of any policy analysis model.

REMI – Residence Adjustment Equation 2014 Paper [full PDF]

Better Use of Public Dollars: Economic Impact Analysis in Transportation Decision Making

Transit systems, airports, canal systems, transcontinental railroads, and interstate highways all exist because the government made investments with the expectation that transportation improvements would deliver extensive social and economic benefits in return. This report analyzed case studies from four transportation projects from different states, explaining their overall outcomes and lessons learned before detailing some policy recommendations for future transportation endeavors.

Eno Consulting – Better Use of Public Dollars [full PDF]