Alaska

In November 2025, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance briefly introduced a 3% sales tax proposal to the Anchorage Assembly.  ISER researchers examined the implications and outcomes of the proposal, identifying several key conclusions:

ISER Directors Diane Hirshberg (2021-2026), Gunnar Knapp (2013-2016), Steve Colt (2007-2009), Fran Ulmer (2005-2007), and Lee Gorsuch (1976-1994)

The Institute of Social and Economic Research got its start in 1961, just two years after Alaska statehood. ISER has been at the forefront of public policy research ever since. 

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?

ISER faculty have published results from their study of Alaska’s construction workforce. Commissioned by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the report examines Alaska’s workforce in nine priority construction occupations, including laborers, carpenters, electricians, and truck drivers.

ISER is currently looking for a new director, who will coordinate research activities both within the institute and with other institutions and agencies, and will supervise a multi-disciplinary team consisting of 30 people, including faculty, administrative and research staff and student researchers. ISER’s current director, Diane Hirshberg, has announced that she will step down from the director’s role at the end of June 2026. She has been ISER director since 2022.

Dr. Diane Hirshberg will step down as director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) in June 2026. She has led the Institute since October 2021.

CAEPR is currently running a statewide educator survey!

The survey was developed in collaboration with education shareholders. It is a confidential survey that asks educators about their school and work experience, their community, themselves, and their future plans.

In early February, every in-service educator in Alaska received a personalized email survey invitation. We will send reminders to teachers periodically over the next 8 weeks, and develop a report in June.

We are excited to do this in service of schools and communities in our state.

The UAA Institute of Social and Economic research is conducting a National Science Foundation-funded project on how historic snowfall seasons (2022-2024) affected Anchorage businesses, particularly their buildings and roofs. They are conducting brief (5-10 minutes) surveys with Anchorage businesses to gather information about: how businesses perceived roof snow load risks, actions businesses took to address roof snow loads, and obstacles that made it difficult to remove snow from roofs.

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.

AACA Testifies to the Alaska House Transportation Committee

The Executive Director of the AACA, Will Day, collaborated with Troy LaRue, Director of Alaska’s Statewide Aviation Division of the DOT, Dan Knesek from Grant Aviation, and Dr. Mike Jones of UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research. Together, they informed Alaska’s House Transportation Committee about the effects of unreliable AWOS and ASOS systems throughout the state.