Resource industries like oil and fishing are characterized by boom-and-bust cycles – there are “good years” and “bad years.” In communities that are highly connected to a particular resource, these economic shocks are foregrounded in the public attention. But how well does news coverage of the shocks reflect the actual health of the economy?
What happens in D.C. doesn’t stay in D.C. — it directly affects Alaska’s economy.
Join us for a fast-paced and fascinating Economic Forum that dives into the outsized impact of shifting federal dollars on Alaska’s economy. From workforce and infrastructure to natural resources and supply chains, hear from the experts tracking how federal spending affects every corner of the state. Whether you’re in the public sector, private industry, or simply passionate about Alaska’s future — this is the event for you.
Very different policies led to a reduction in state government in Kansas than what is driving a reduction in state government in Alaska, according to ISER Director Ralph Townsend in an interview for Alaska Public Media. But that doesn’t mean Alaska will be spared the economic impacts.
Matt Reimer is the lead author of the Outstanding Article Award in Marine Resource Economics for 2017.
Check out the article "Fisheries Production: Management Institutions, Spatial Choice, and the Quest for Policy Invariance."
To help Alaskans better understand the big budget problems the state government faces, the new Balancing-Alaska's-Budget Game will be introduced at a free public forum September 19 at UAA's Wendy Williamson Auditorium. The forum, Alaska's Fiscal and Economic Future, is presented by Alaska Common Ground and ISER and will examine fiscal and economic issues in a number of ways. A group of Alaskans will discuss and defend their own budget proposals, and audience members will have the chance to vote on those proposals. There will also be a debate between two Alaskans with different visions of Alaska's likely economic future, and a panel of policymakers will discuss factors influencing future decisions and how the public can have more of a say in those decisions.
The game will provide a new way for Alaskans to think about budget issues. Using a spinning wheel, giant scales, and blocks, game players will try to balance what we spend with how we pay for it. Please join us at this interesting and innovative forum.
What: A free public forum, Alaska's Fiscal and Economic Future
Where: UAA's Wendy Williamson Auditorium
When: Saturday September 19, 9 to 4.
Download a program (PDF, 535KB). For more information, go to akcommonground.org.
The fall in oil prices has led to growing concern among Alaskans about the state's fiscal situation. To help Alaskans better understand this critical issue, Gunnar Knapp, ISER's director and a professor of economics, has been making a presentation to organizations around Alaska.
Download the full presentation (pdf, 1.7MB) or a summary (pdf, 467.7KB), The Most Important Things to Understand About Alaska's Fiscal Situation, by Gunnar Knapp. The presentation will be updated over time. If you have questions, get in touch with Gunnar Knapp at 907-786-7717 or Gunnar.Knapp@uaa.alaska.edu.
ISER publications are solely the work of individual authors and should be attributed to them, not to ISER, the University of Alaska Anchorage, or the research sponsors.