Arizona

The Relationship Between Government Finance, Educational Attainment, and Economic Performance

Compares states and the nation over time. States with higher levels of overall state and local government revenues and expenditures, measured per person, and higher levels of education funding, measured per student, generally have greater educational attainment among the adult population, and greater productivity and prosperity.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

Modernization of Arizona's Sales Tax

Considers options for modernizing Arizona's sales and use taxes, primarily with the goal of ensuring that sales tax revenues keep pace with economic growth. Sales and use tax collections as a share of personal income have declined significantly in Arizona and in other states for decades—a major issue for Arizona state government’s general fund, which is heavily dependent on sales and use tax revenue.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

Options for Raising State Government Revenue in Arizona

Examines a number of possible sources of additional state government revenue. Public revenue and spending in Arizona in recent years has been substantially below both the national average and the state’s historical norm.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

The Financing of Public Education in Arizona: Update

Addresses the funding of public higher education and elementary and secondary education in Arizona, relative to the nation and other states. Relative to higher education, per student state and local government funding for public elementary and secondary education in Arizona has been further below the national average, but has not decreased as much in recent years.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

Occupational Requirements

Examines occupational data, focusing on the typical requirements to obtain an entry-level position in each occupation and making comparisons of Arizona and its subregions to broader geographies. The distribution of employment in 2015 across the 51 categories of requirements was not much different in Arizona from the nation.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

The Geographic Distribution of Average Earnings Per Worker

Analyzes average earnings per worker by state and metropolitan area. Average earnings per worker varies widely across the nation’s metropolitan areas, largely reflecting geographic differences in the cost of living, job quality, and metro area size, each of which is positively correlated to average earnings per worker.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

Job Quality in 2015 and the Change in Job Quality Between 2001 and 2015

Investigates job quality by state, particularly for Arizona and its subregions, relative to the national average. Job quality in 2015 was highest along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts south to Virginia, with the western states of Washington, Colorado, and Utah also among the top 10.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

The Contribution of Arizona State University to the Arizona Economy, Fiscal Year 2016

Assesses the contribution of ASU to the Arizona economy based on (1) an economic impact analysis, (2) its net benefits as a provider of higher education, and (3) its research. Fiscal Year 2022 Update: Table 1 from the January 2017 report.

Kent Hill, Ph.D.
Kent Hill, Ph.D.
Principal Research Economist, L. William Seidman Research Institute

After completing his undergraduate degree in economics at Wake Forest University, Kent received his Ph.D. in economics from Rice University in 1979. He was an assistant professor at ASU from 1978 to 1983. After leaving the university for seven years, during which he worked in the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, he returned to ASU to teach in 1991. He joined ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute in 1999.

A Fiscal Comparison of Arizona and Utah

Compares the public finance systems of Arizona and Utah. The public finance system, a component of competitiveness, in Utah is considered to be one of the best in the nation, while Arizona’s system is rated as average to below average.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

The Financing of Public Higher Education in Arizona

Investigates revenues for higher education in Arizona by source, with comparisons made to other states and the nation. Public support for higher education—the combination of universities and community colleges—is quite low in Arizona and lower than the historical norm.

Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the University Economist; Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Professor of Economics

Dennis received a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1978. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Economics at ASU since 1979, as director of ASU’s L. William Seidman Research Institute (2004-24), and as the director of the Office of the University Economist since 2005.

Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Tom Rex, M.B.A.
Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research; Manager of Research Initiatives, Office of the University Economist

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, Tom earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1976. After working in the private sector, he joined ASU in 1980, working for the predecessor of the L. William Seidman Research Institute. Since 2005, he has served as manager of research initiatives in the Office of the University Economist.

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