Productivity and Prosperity Project Research Reports

An Overview of the Household Location Decision Process, With a Focus on Arizona, October 2013
The factors important to an individual contemplating making a long-distance move are discussed. The desirability of Arizona and its major metropolitan areas are evaluated. Migration trends also are examined.

Benefits from Improving Educational Attainment in Arizona, August 2012
Discusses the individual and community benefits associated with educational attainment and reviews the educational attainment of Arizonans

The Economic Base of Arizona, Metropolitan Phoenix, Metropolitan Tucson, the Balance of the State, and Chandler, June 2012
The economic base in 2009 and the change in the base between 2001 and 2009 are examined. The data are available from three Excel files:
Arizona, Metro Phoenix, Metro Tucson and Balance of State, 2009
Chandler, 2009
Arizona and Chandler, 2001-09 Change

An Assessment of Arizona’s Economic Competitiveness, May 2012
A summary of Arizona’s competitiveness position following legislative actions in 2011 and 2012.

An Overview of the Knowledge Economy, With a Focus on Arizona, August 2011
Definitions, importance, and characteristics of the global knowledge economy are discussed.  Measurements of the size of the knowledge economy nationally and in Arizona are presented.

Causes of Varying Economic Performance By State, March 2011
Economic growth by state since 2000, particularly during the 2002-07 expansion and during the 2008-09 recession, is examined in this report.

The Magnitude and Causes of Arizona’s Low Per Capita Income, February 2010
Explains why incomes in Arizona are below the national average, presents ways in which the shortfall may be addressed, and describes the differences between the various income measures that are available.

A Comparison of Arizona to Nations of Comparable Size, July 2009
Compares Arizona to 11 nations with developed economies of comparable size on a range of economic and demographic data.

The Contribution of Universities to Regional Economies, May 2009
A summary of the three ways that universities contribute to the local economy: as an economic base industry, as an institution of higher education, and as a research institution.

Economic Growth: The Importance of Education and Technological Development, January 2009
The importance of economic growth to the standard of living and individual well-being. Education and research and development are of particular importance to productivity gains and overall economic growth.

Supply and Demand of “STEM” Occupations in Arizona, November 2008
Employment, degree production, and migration of individuals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Preparing for an Arizona of 10 Million People: Meeting the Infrastructure Challenges of Growth, November 2008
A shorter version of the background report (see below), this report was distributed at the infrastructure conference held at Arizona State University on November 17, 2008.

Preparing for an Arizona of 10 Million People: Meeting the Infrastructure Challenges of Growth – Background Report, October 2008
Arizona’s infrastructure needs are placed into national and historical contexts, the changing conditions in infrastructure provision that make building Arizona’s infrastructure in the future a more problematic proposition than in the past are identified, and projections of the possible costs of providing infrastructure in Arizona over the next quarter century are provided.

The Societal Benefits of Higher Education, April 2008
A short summary of the societal benefits specific to Arizona, including an estimate of the benefits of increasing the percentage of university graduates.

Quantitative Examples of the Financial and Economic Benefits of Higher Education, March 2008
Looks at individual financial benefits, social financial benefits, and economic benefits of university research.

The Contribution of Universities to Regional Economies, March 2008
Presented to the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, this report addresses three ways that a university contributes to its local community: traditional economic impact, benefits to individuals and society, and creation of knowledge.

Targeting Federal Laboratories as a Catalyst for Private Investment in Research and Development, January 2008
A brief discussion of how the attraction of a federally funded research and development center would aid economic development, particularly private-sector research and development.

Sunbelt Growth and the Knowledge Economy: An Exploratory Analysis, June 2007
Looks at education and income characteristics of migrants (proxies for the knowledge economy) to the Sunbelt, and the economic performance of the Sunbelt.

University Research and Local Economic Development, August 2006
A review of studies that examine the extent to which university research contributes to economic growth and development.

High-Wage Jobs, May 2006
An offshoot of the work on job quality, this report examines high-wage jobs in the United States, Arizona, and other states.

Universities in the U.S. National Innovation System, March 2006
A review of research and development efforts in the United States, including the role played by universities.

Job Quality: 2004 Update, March 2006 (click here for the initial job quality reports from 2005)
An update of the initial analysis of job quality conducted in 2005, which presented a new way to calculate job quality nationally and by state.

Educational Attainment in Arizona Compared to All States, November 2005
A summary of educational attainment nationally and by state, with a particular focus on those active in the labor force.

Higher Education Enrollment and Finance in Arizona Compared to All States, October 2005
An analysis of public support for higher education nationally and by state.

The Value of Higher Education: Individual and Societal Benefits, October 2005
An in-depth look at the benefits to individuals, the economies where educated individuals work and live, and society in general of enhanced educational attainment.

Five Reasons to Skip College: A Reply, May 2006
A response to an article at Forbes.com that questioned the value of higher education.

Lessons From the Irish Miracle, June 2005
An analysis of Ireland’s dramatic improvement in economic growth and prosperity, with comparisons to Arizona.

Jobs, Income and Growth in Arizona: Individual Versus Aggregate Measures of Economic Performance, March 2005
Compares Arizona’s mediocre performance on per employee and per capita measures to its fast growth on overall measures.

The Economics of Early Care and Education in Arizona, March 2004
A discussion of the child care industry and its economic impact, a literature review of early care and education, and the costs and benefits of an early care and education program in Arizona.