Category: Studies

Congressional Budget Office Estimates the Current Impact of Recovery Act

According to the Congressional Budget Office, which produces independent analyses of the federal budget and economic issues, the Recovery Act provided jobs for at least 200,000 people and possibly as many as 900,000 during the third quarter of 2012. Similarly, the gross domestic product increased between 0.1 and 0.7 percent during the same period and the national unemployment rate was lowered between 0.1 and 0.5 percent also as a result of the Recovery initiative, CBO added.

ITIF: 2012 State New Economy Index

More than three years on from the end of  the Great Recession, only six states have  regained employment levels enjoyed prior to the recession, and 17 states are still more than 5 percent below their pre-recession employment levels. As many state economies continue to struggle through the lingering effects of the Great Recession, a question commonly asked is, “What is this seemingly invisible force that prevents the economy from returning to pre-recession and especially 1990s growth rates?” In
other words, why is it that, despite massive monetary and fiscal stimulus, employment seems locked in persistent malaise?

This is for Everyone: The Case for Universal Digitisation

Written with the well-known cross-sector charity Go ON UK, this report presents the socioeconomic case for universal digitisation, particularly in the United Kingdom. Based on quantitative research, it highlights the socioeconomic case for improving the digital infrastructure and promoting usage. We realise the benefits of the internet – including the economic, social, and community benefits – only when everyone is online.

Strategic Networks Group: “e-NC Strategy Report”

e-NC and SNG announced the findings of a comprehensive study of residents and businesses in the state of North Carolina.  In all, 30,000 households and 70,000 businesses and organizations were surveyed to uncover utilization of broadband and e-solutions statewide, with 1,492 households and 6,266 businesses and organizations responding. The e-Solutions Benchmarking and accompanying e-Strategy report from SNG was funded by a grant to the e-North Carolina Authority by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce

Smart Infrastructure in New England: An investment for growth & prosperity

In an era when everything is always moving — when people, products, services, information, and capital have to get from one place  to another within a region or around the world — infrastructure is the enabler. In the 21st century, infrastructure is about connectivity. Bringing together the leading assets and capabilities, in the most efficient way, is the driving strategy that makes an infrastructure “smart” — that makes an infrastructure the accelerator of economic growth and prosperity.

Moving the Needle Forward on Broadband and Economic Development

August and September, in partnership with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Craig Settles conducted a national survey of IEDC members and others affiliated with IEDC. The primary goal was to get a snapshot of how broadband impacts local economic outcomes. A secondary goal was to gather some insights to leveraging broadband as an economic development asset.

Strategies for Economic Improvement in Appalachia’s Distressed Rural Counties

This report provides an understanding of the challenges confronting economic and community development efforts in rural Appalachian communities and explains the ways local governments, agencies, and community organizations plan and respond to challenging issues. The authors of this report examined ten representative case study counties, which were selected using a number of criteria, including economic performance, location, infrastructure investment, and demographic factors.

Economic Impact Estimate: Professional and Technical Services Sector

The economic benefits and return on investment from driving the implementation and utilization of e-solutions are clear and compelling. SNG has calculated two scenarios with different scope for targeting the Professional & Technical Services Sector in Virginia. The ratios of economic impact to investment are quite high — over 26 times return to GDP and over 2.8 times return to taxes.

The Employment Effects of Advances in Internet and Wireless Technology

Continuing investments to upgrade the wireless broadband Internet infrastructure, including the transitions from 2G to 3G wireless technologies, and now from 3G to 4G, had produced cascades of innovation. Based on previous advances, the current transition to 4G technologies is likely to spur significant new job creation and growth which could help the American economy restore gains in incomes and business investment. New econometric analysis set forth in this study shows that the investments and innovation entailed in the transition from 2G to 3G wireless technologies and Internet infrastructure spurred the creation of some 1,585,000 new jobs from April 2007 to June 2011.

After the Stimulus: Broadband and Economic Development

Last year the U.S. broadband stimulus program finished awarding public, private and nonprofit organizations over $7 billion to build new broadband infrastructure, create public computing centers and implement broadband adoption programs. Concurrently, hundreds of millions have come from private and other public sources for broadband. Improving economic development is a driving force behind these investments.