On May 1, 2025, Commonwealth North, ISER, and Build Alaska’s Future co-hosted a virtual economic forum featuring ISER economists discussing Alaska’s economic trajectory in light of federal policy changes by the current administration. Titled “How Shifting Federal Dollars Impact Alaska’s Economy,” the event underscored the state’s heavy reliance on federal funds, the growing role of the Alaska Permanent Fund in state revenue, and the challenges posed by ongoing federal policy shifts. After opening remarks by Dr. Scott Goldsmith, former ISER Director and economist, Drs.
Read More
Understanding Alaska and Alaskans is fundamental to shaping the state’s future. In 1961, Alaska’s Second State Legislature acknowledged the importance of this research mission and understood how it would inform policy and critical decisions facing the new state. This led to the creation of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). Since then, ISER research has contributed to just about every public policy topic in the state, including the Arctic, natural resources, education, telecommunications, the Permanent Fund, fisheries, health care and – of course – Alaska’s economy.
Read More
ISER presents a webinar event, "Permanent Fund Dividend: Past, Present and Future," on Wednesday, December 1 from 5:30-7 pm. Please join us for a look at the origins of the PFD program, how it has evolved over time, how it affects Alaskans today and how it may evolve in the future—and how ISER has studied these questions over the past 40 years. Panelists include former ISER directors Scott Goldsmith, Gunnar Knapp and Fran Ulmer, and current ISER researchers Matt Berman, Brett Watson and Mary Kopriva. UA President Pat Pitney will moderate.
Read More
Panelists for ISER's webinar on the Permanent Fund: Past, Present and Future
Read More
Two emeriti ISER directors, Scott Goldsmith and Gunnar Knapp, debated how best to manage the Permanent Fund at a Commonwealth North lunch at the Petroleum Club on November 8, 2019. The specific resolution for the debate was: “Resolved: The Alaska Constitution should be amended to specify that the Permanent Fund should be managed as an endowment, with a limited and sustainable annual distribution.” Under the format of the debate, a coin was flipped at the beginning of the debate to determine which side each debater would defend.
Read More
Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) and Professor of Economics, Dr. Ralph Townsend, will participate in an upcoming debate with ISER’s former director and Professor Emeritus of Economics, Dr. Gunnar Knapp. Moderated by another former director of ISER and Professor Emeritus of Economics, Dr. Scott Goldsmith, the discussion will focus on whether the Permanent Fund Dividend should be constitutionally structured as an endowment and what that would mean to Alaska’s finances and dividend program going forward.
Read More
Scott Goldsmith, Professor Emeritus of Economics at ISER, spoke with Abbey Collins of Alaska Public Radio Network last week about increased construction spending in Alaska, particularly increases in petroleum and national defense spending. These increases, along with spending as a result of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in November, are contributing to what Goldsmith estimates to be about a 10% increase in construction spending over 2018. Goldsmith's estimates of spending by sector are available in the 16th annual construction forecast, prepared for the Associated General Contractors of Alaska.
Read More
Construction spending in Alaska this year will be around $7.2 billion, up 10% from last year. Excluding an estimated $200 million in spending attributable to the 2018 earthquake, spending will be $7 billion, up 8% from last year. The increase is primarily due to an increase in petroleum spending which will grow 13% to $2.7 billion and national defense spending which will also grow 13% to $700 million.
Read More
Alaska economists Neal Fried, Scott Goldsmith, and Mouhcine Guettabi presented their economic forecasts for 2019 at a panel discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at UAA. Their presentations are available for download.
Update: Video now available!
Read More
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
12 noon – 1p.m.
UAA/APU Consortium Library, Lew Haines Conference Room 307
Alaska economists discuss where our economy is headed and the opportunities and risks on the horizon. Bring your questions.
ISER Contact: Pam Cravez, Communications Director, 907-786-5425, pcravez@alaska.edu
12 noon – 1p.m.
UAA/APU Consortium Library, Lew Haines Conference Room 307
Alaska economists discuss where our economy is headed and the opportunities and risks on the horizon. Bring your questions.
ISER Contact: Pam Cravez, Communications Director, 907-786-5425, pcravez@alaska.edu