Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Economic impact studies are just one of the services offered by The Center for Business and Economic Research.
Any change in economic activity – a concert or another event, an opening of a new retail store, expansion of a manufacturing facility – triggers a larger change in the local economy. An economic impact study is a way to measure the resulting increase in output produced, incomes earned and jobs created or supported.
When new spending is introduced to an area, it impacts existing activity in three distinct ways:
- The direct impact stems from an increase in dollars used to purchase goods and services or to hire workers.
- The indirect impact occurs when other businesses increase their purchases of products that serve as inputs for the new activity.
- Any new spending increases the income of those who sell goods and services, and at least some of that income is spent locally, resulting in the induced impact.
The resulting increase in economic output translates into:
- more goods and services produced and consumed
- more jobs created and supported
- and more income earned.
This, in turn, contributes to local government's tax revenues, which has the potential to improve infrastructure, fund programs, and otherwise raise residents' standard of living.
Data from the annually-updated Bureau of Economic Analysis are used to calibrate an Input-Output model which can be employed to estimate the individual and combined effects of the direct, indirect and induced impacts.
Project portfolio
Local and state government agencies; nonprofits; small, medium and large businesses; civic groups; and SFA as a whole as well as individual departments and offices have requested various research and consulting projects. Below are examples of economic impact analyses completed by CBER researchers.
Economic Impact Assessment of SFA JacksTeach STEM PBIC Pathway
This report analyzes the impact a post-baccalaureate alternative certification program may have on increasing the number of highly trained STEM teachers in East Texas.
The proposed program is based on a model developed by UTeach, a nationally recognized STEM teacher preparation program. JacksTeach is a replication site of UTeach.
Economic Impact Analysis of SFA's School of Art and Cole Art Center Events and Activities
The analysis presented in this report focuses on the School of Art and Cole Art Center contributions to the local economy.
Economic Impact of the Purchasing From People With Disabilities Program on Texas
The report, requested by the Texas Workforce Commission, shows that the State Use Program benefited Texas in multiple ways, including adding approximately $300 million to the state’s gross domestic product and around 9,000 jobs each year for fiscal years 2019 and 2020.
