Local labor markets are also of interest to the Institute as useful laboratories for testing theories about labor market effects of national policies. As states are given more latitude in designing and implementing social programs, the outcomes of their programs offer valuable insight into the effectiveness of a wide range of policies.

• Senior staff/experts
• Published articles/chapters
• Working papers
• Testimony
• Technical reports and other related documents
• Articles appearing in the Institute's newsletter Employment Research
• Books from Upjohn Press
• West Michigan economy
• Grants in progress
• Links

• Randall W. Eberts, President
• Timothy J. Bartik, Senior Economist
• George A. Erickcek, Senior Regional Analyst

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• "The Local Economic Impact of “Eds & Meds”: How Policies to Expand Universities and Hospitals Affect Metropolitan Economies." Timothy J. Bartik and Georgre Erickcek. Brookings Metropolitan Economy Initiative, Number 7, 2008.
• “Solving the Problems of Economic Development Incentives.” Timothy J. Bartik. Growth and Change 36(2): 139-166, 2005.
• "Economic Development." Timothy J. Bartik. In Management Policies in Local Government Finance, 5th ed., J. Richard Aronson and Eli Schwartz, eds. Washington, DC: International City/County Management Association, pp. 355-390, 2004.
• "Evaluating the Impacts of Local Economic Development Policies On Local Economic Outcomes: What Has Been Done and What is Doable?" Timothy J. Bartik. In Evaluating Local Economic and Employment Development: How to Assess What Works among Programmes and Policies. Paris: OECD, pp. 113-141, 2004.
• "Thinking about Local Living Wage Requirements." Timothy J. Bartik. Urban Affairs Review 40(2): 269-299, 2004.
• "The Role of Public Policy in Skills Development of Black Workers in the 21st Century." Timothy J. Bartik and Kevin Hollenbeck. In Building Skills for Black Workers: Preparing for the Future Labor Market, Cecilia Conrad, ed. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Dallas: University Press of America, pp. 127-148, 2004.
• "Group Wage Curves." Timothy J. Bartik. Partial results from this paper are incorporated into Appendix 9 of Jobs for the Poor: Can Labor Demand Policies Help?, by Timothy J. Bartik. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2001.
• "Spillover Effects of Welfare Reforms in State Labor Markets." Timothy J Bartik. Journal of Regional Science 42(4): 667-701, 2002.
• "Can Economic Development Programs Be Evaluated?" Timothy J. Bartik and Richard D. Bingham. In Dilemmas of Urban Economic Development: Issues in Theory and Practice, R. Bingham and R. Mier, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, pp. 246-277, 1997.
• "Strategies for Economic Development." Timothy J. Bartik. In Management Policies in Local Government Finance, 4th ed., J.R. Aronson and E. Schwartz, eds. Washington, DC: International City/County Management Association, pp. 287-312, 1996.
• "The Distributional Effects of Local Labor Demand and Industrial Mix: Estimates Using Panel Data." Timothy J. Bartik. Journal of Urban Economics 40(2): 150-178, 1996.
• "The Effects of Metropolitan Job Growth on the Size Distribution of Family Income." Timothy J. Bartik. Journal of Regional Science 34(4): 483-502, 1994.
• "Federal Policy Towards State and Local Economic Development in the 1990s." Timothy J. Bartik. In Research in Urban Economics: Structuring Direct Aid: People versus Places, vol. 9, R. Ebel and R. Norton, eds. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, pp. 161-178, 1993.
• "Maximum Score Estimates of the Determinants of Residential Mobility: Implications for the Value of Residential Attachment and Neighborhood Amenities." Timothy J. Bartik, J.S. Butler, and Jin Tan Liu. Journal of Urban Economics 32(2): 233-256, 1992.

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• The Employment and Fiscal Effects of Michigan’s MEGA Tax Credit Program, Timothy J. Bartik and George Erickcek (10-164), 2010. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• What Should Michigan Be Doing to Promote Long-Run Economic Development?, Timothy J. Bartik (09-160), 2009. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   |   Presentation ]
• What Should EDA Fund? Developing a Model for Pre-Assessment of Economic Development Investments, Brad R. Watts, George A. Erickcek, Jacob Duritsky, Kevin O’Brien, Claudette Robey, and Jim Robey (09-155), 2009.
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Estimated State and Local Fiscal Effects of the Nurse Family Partnership Program, Timothy J. Bartik (09-152), 2009.
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Distributional Effects of Early Childhood Programs and Business Incentives and Their Implications for Policy, Timothy J. Bartik (09-151), 2009.
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• How Policymakers Should Deal with the Delayed Benefits of Early Childhood Programs, Timothy J. Bartik (09-150), 2009.
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• How Do the Effects of Local Growth on Employment Rates Vary With Initial Labor Market Conditions, Timothy J. Bartik (09-148), 2009.
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Economic Development Benefits of Preschool Expansion in Kalamazoo County, Timothy J. Bartik (09-147), 2009.
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• What Proportion of Children Stay in the Same Location as Adults, and How Does This Vary Across Location and Groups?, Timothy J. Bartik (09-145), 2009 [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• The Revitalization of Older Industrial Cities: A Review Essay of Retooling for Growth, Timothy J. Bartik (08-143), 2008. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Higher Education, the Health Care Industry, and Metropolitan Regional Economic Development: What Can “Eds & Meds” Do for the Economic Fortunes of a Metro Area’s Residents?, Timothy J. Bartik and George Erickcek
  [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A shorter version of this paper titled “The Local Economic Impact of “Eds & Meds”: How Policies to Expand Universities and Hospitals Affect Metropolitan Economies” appears as Brookings Metropolitan Economy Initiative, Number 7, 2008.
• Dashboard Indicators for the Northeast Ohio Economy: Prepared for the Fund for Our Economic Future, Randall Eberts, George Erickcek, and Jack Kleinhenz (Working paper # 06-05, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland). [  Full Text   ]
• Increasing the Economic Development Benefits of Higher Education in Michigan, Timothy J. Bartik (WP04-106), 2004. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Small Cities Blues: Looking for Growth Factors in Small and Medium-Sized Cities, George A. Erickcek and Hannah McKinney (WP04-100), 2004. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Incentive Solutions, Timothy J. Bartik (WP04-99), 2004. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper titled “Solving the Problems of Economic Development Incentives” appears in Growth and Change 36(2): 139-166, 2005.
• Thoughts on American Manufacturing Decline and Revitalization, Timothy J. Bartik (WP03-96), 2003. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Local Economic Development Policies, Timothy J. Bartik (WP03-91), 2003. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published as "Economic Development" in J.Richard Aronson and Eli Schwartz, eds., Management Policies in Local Government Finance (5th ed.). Washington, DC: International City/County Management Association, pp. 355-390, 2004.
• Evaluating the Impacts of Local Economic Development Policies On Local Economic Outcomes: What Has Been Done and What is Doable?, Timothy J. Bartik (WP03-89), 2002. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in Evaluating Local Economic and Employment Development: How to Assess What Works among Programmes and Policies. Paris: OECD, pp. 113-141, 2004.
• Instrumental Variable Estimates of the Labor Market Spillover Effects of Welfare Reform, Timothy J. Bartik (WP02-078), 2002. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Thinking about Local Living Wage Requirements, Timothy J. Bartik (WP02-076), 2002. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in Urban Affairs Review 40(2): 269-299, 2004.
• The Role of Partnerships in Economic Development and Labor Markets in the United States, Randall W. Eberts and George A. Erickcek (WP02-075), 2002. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Solving the Many Problems with Inner City Jobs, Timothy J. Bartik (WP00-066), 2000. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• The Role of Public Policy in Skills Development of Black Workers in the 21st Century, Timothy J. Bartik and Kevin Hollenbeck (WP00-064), 2000. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in Cecilia Conrad, ed. Building Skills for Black Workers: Preparing for the Future Labor Market, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Dallas: University Press of America, pp. 127-148, 2004.
• Group Wage Curves, Timothy J. Bartik (WP00-063), 2000. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: Partial results from this paper are incorporated into Appendix 9 of Jobs for the Poor: Can Labor Demand Policies Help?, by Timothy J. Bartik. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2001.
• A Note on Commutes and the Spatial Mismatch Hypothesis, Kelly J. DeRango (WP00-059), 2000. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Aggregate Effects in Local Labor Markets of Supply and Demand Shocks, Timothy J. Bartik (WP99-057), 1999. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published as "Spillover Effects of Welfare Reforms in State Labor Markets" in Journal of Regional Science 42(4): 667-701, 2002.
• The Labor Supply Effects of Welfare Reform, Timothy J. Bartik, 1998. [  Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Short-Term Employment Persistence for Welfare Recipients: The "Effects" of Wages, Industry, Occupation and Firm Size, Timothy J. Bartik (WP97-046), 1997. [  Abstract   |   Full Text  ]
• Economic Development Strategies, Timothy J. Bartik (WP95-033), 1995.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published as "Strategies for Economic Development" in J.R. Aronson and E. Schwartz, eds., Management Policies in Local Government Finance (4th ed.). Washington, DC: International City/County Management Association, pp. 287-312, 1996.
• Urban Labor Markets, Randall W. Eberts (WP95-032), 1995.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• Can Economic Development Programs Be Evaluated?, Timothy J. Bartik and Richard D. Bingham (WP95-029), 1995.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in R. Bingham and R. Mier, eds., Dilemmas of Urban Economic Development: Issues in Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1997, pp. 246-277.
• What Should the Federal Government Be Doing About Urban Economic Development?, Timothy J. Bartik (WP94-025), 1994.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ]
• The Effects of Local Labor Demand on Individual Labor Market Outcomes for Different Demographic Groups and the Poor, Timothy J. Bartik (WP93-023), 1993.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published as "The Distributional Effects of Local Labor Demand and Industrial Mix: Estimates Using Panel Data" in Journal of Urban Economics 40(2): 150-178, 1996.
• Federal Policy Towards State and Local Economic Development in the 1990s, Timothy J. Bartik (WP93-017), 1993.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in R. Ebel and R. Norton, eds. Reserach in Urban Economics (Volume 9): Structuring Direct Aid: People versus Places. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1993, pp. 161-178.
• The Effects of Metropolitan Job Growth on the Size Distribution of Family Income, Timothy J. Bartik (WP91-006), 1991.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in Journal of Regional Science, Vol. 34, No. 4 (November 1994), pp. 483-502.
• Maximum Score Estimates of the Determinants of Residential Mobility: Implications for the Value of Residential Attachment and Neighborhood Amenities, Timothy J. Bartik, J.S. Butler and Jin Tan Liu (WP90-001), 1990.
  [   Abstract   |   Full Text   ] NOTE: A revised version of this paper was published in Journal of Urban Economics 32(2): 233-256, 1992.

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• The Economic and Fiscal Effects of MEGA, Timothy J. Bartik and George Erickcek, 2010.
• Boosting Michigan’s Economy Through Educational Improvements, Timothy J. Bartik, 2009
• Tax Reform in Michigan, Timothy J. Bartik, 2009
• Some Effects of Higher K-12 School Quality on the Michigan Economy, Timothy J. Bartik, 2008.
• Michigan's Business Taxes and Economic Development: Possible Reforms, Timothy J. Bartik, 2006.
• Michigan Economic Development Policies, Timothy J. Bartik and George A. Erickcek, 2003.

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• How a Renewed MEED Program Can Help Solve the Unemployment Problem, Presentation at summit meeting on "The Jobless Pandemic: Prescription for a Cure," Timothy J. Bartik, 2009
• What Works in State Economic Development? Wisconsin Family Impact Seminar #27 - Growing the State Economy: Evidence-Based Policy Options, by Timothy J. Bartik, 2009.
  
  • Briefing Report
  • PowerPoint Presentation
  • Audio of Presentation
• The Economic Development Effects of Early Childhood Programs, by Timothy J. Bartik, 2008.
• Higher Education, the Health Care Industry, and Metropolitan Regional Economic Development: What Can “Eds & Meds” Do for the Economic Fortunes of a Metro Area’s Residents?, by Timothy J. Bartik and George A.Erickcek, 2007.
• Michigan’s Economic Competitiveness and Public Policy, a report prepared for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, by Timothy J. Bartik, George Erickcek, Wei-Jang Huang, and Brad Watts, 2006.
• Taking Preschool Education Seriously as an Economic Development Program, report and briefing by Timothy J. Bartik, 2006.
• Appendices A and B from "Economic Development Policy in Michigan" by Timothy J. Bartik, Peter Eisinger, and George Erickcek. This paper appears as Chapter 14 in the edited volume Michigan at the Millennium, Charles L. Ballard, Paul N. Courant, Douglas C. Drake, Ronald C. Fisher, and Elisabeth R. Gerber, Editors. * Published by Michigan State University Press (East Lansing, 2003).
• An Economic Development Benchmarking System for Rural Michigan, by George A. Erickcek and Brad R. Watts, 2003.
• Displacement and Wage Effects of Welfare Reform, by Timothy J. Bartik, 1999.
• Eight Issues Toward Economic Development Incentives, by Timothy J. Bartik.
• Economic Development and Black Economic Success (Technical report 93-001), Timothy J. Bartik, 1993.

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• Evaluation of Regional Collaborations for Economic Development: Lessons from the Employment and Training Administration's WIRED Initiative, Kevin Hollenbeck and Nancy Hewat, 2010
• A Proposal for Early Impact, Persistent, and Cost-Effective Job Creation Policies, Timothy J. Bartik
• How Can a Community Respond to the Economic Downturn?, George A. Erickcek and Brad R. Watts, 2009
• The Kalamazoo Promise as a Model for an American Promise, Timothy J. Bartik and Michelle Miller-Adams, 2009
• Why Universal Preschool Is Really a Labor Market Program, Timothy J. Bartik, 2009
• Building Equitable Communities—A New Role for City Hall, by Kiran Cunningham and Hannah McKinney, 2008.
• "Eds and Meds" and Metropolitan Economic Development, by Timothy J. Bartik and George A. Erickcek, 2008.
• Principles of Labor Market Information, by James Woods and Christopher O'Leary, 2007.
• Better Deals for State and Local Economic Development, by Ann Markusen, 2007.
• Preschool and Economic Development, by Timothy J. Bartik, 2006.
• A Simple Gift? The Impact of the Kalamazoo Promise on Economic Revitalization, by Michelle Miller-Adams, 2006.
• Development of a Regional Economic Dashboard, by Randall W. Eberts, George A. Erickcek, and Jack Kleinhenz, 2006.
• Thinking about the Future of Small Metropolitan Areas, by George A. Erickcek and Hannah McKinney, 2004.
• Thoughts on American Manufacturing Decline and Revitalization, by Timothy J. Bartik, 2003.
• The Effectiveness of State Enterprise Zones, by Alan H. Peters and Peter S. Fisher, 2002.
• Living Wages and Local Governments, by Timothy J. Bartik, 2002.
• "Smart" Economic Development, by George A. Erickcek, 2001.
• Rising Wage Inequality in Urban Labor Markets, by Thomas Hyclak, 2000.
• Employment as a "Solution" to Welfare: Challenges over the Next Ten Years, by Timothy J. Bartik, 2000.
• Will Welfare Reform Cause Displacement?, by Timothy J. Bartik, 1999.
• Industrial Incentives: Competition Among American States and Cities, by Peter S. Fisher and Alan H. Peters, 1998.
• The Role of Small Business: A Tale of Two Cities, by George A. Erickcek, 1997.
• Jobs for Welfare Recipients, by Timothy J. Bartik, 1997.
• Developing Community Economic Outcome Measures, by George A. Erickcek, 1996.
• Economic Development Incentive Wars, by Timothy J. Bartik, 1995.

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• The Power of a Promise: Education and Economic Renewall in Kalamazoo, Michelle Miller-Adams
• Who Really Made Your Car? Restructuring and Geographic Change in the Auto Industry, Thomas Klier and James Rubenstein, 2008 - read the first chapter now.
• Do Community Colleges Respond to Local Needs? Evidence from California, Duand E. Leigh and Andrew M. Gill, 2007 - read the first chapter now.
• Reining in the Competition for Capital, Ann Markusen, Editor, 2007 - read the first chapter now.
• Does "Trickle Down" Work? Economic Development Strategies and Job Chains in Local Labor Markets, Joseph Persky, Daniel Felsenstein, and Virginia Carlson, 2004 - read the first chapter now.
• State Enterprise Zone Programs: Have They Worked?, Alan H. Peters and Peter S. Fisher, 2002 - read the first chapter now.
  
• Start-Up Factories: High-Perfomance Management,Job Quality, and Regional Advantage, Peter B. Doeringer, Christine Evans-Klock, and David G. Terkla, 2002.
  * Co-published with and available from Oxford University Press.
• Jobs for the Poor: Can Labor Demand Policies Help?, Timothy J. Bartik, 2001.
  * Co-published with and available from Russell Sage Foundation.
• The Economics of Sports, William S. Kern,Editor, 2000 - read the first chapter now.
• Rising Wage Inequality: The 1980s Experience in Urban Labor Markets, Thomas Hyclak, 2000 - read the first chapter now.
• Changes in Income Inequality within U.S. Metropolitan Areas, Janice F. Madden, 2000 - read the first chapter now.
• Bidding for Business: The Efficacy of Local Economic Development Incentives in a Metropolitan Area, John E. Anderson and Robert W. Wassmer, 2000 - read the first chapter now.
• Skill-Biased Technological Change: Evidence for a Firm-Level Survey, Donald S. Siegel, 1999 - read the first chapter now.
• Industrial Incentives: Competition Among American States and Cities, Peter S. Fisher and Alan H. Peters, 1998.
• Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Magnitudes and Locaton Choice of New Manufacturing Plants, Jan Ondrich and Michael Wasylenko, 1993.
• Wage and Employment Adjustment in Local Labor Markets, Randall W. Eberts, Joe A. Stone, 1992.
• Wage Flexibility and Unemployment Dynamics in Regional Labor Markets, Thomas Hyclak and Geraint Jones,1992.
• Job Accessibility and the Employment and School Enrollment of Teenagers, Keith R. Ihlanfeldt, 1992.
• Who Benefits from State and Local Economic Development Policies?, Timothy J. Bartik, 1991.
• Plant Closings and Workers Displacemen: The Regional Issues, Marie Howland, 1988.

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• West Michigan Data Center/Business Outlook for West Michigan
• 2000 Census data for Southwest Michigan

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• U.S. Department of Labor
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• National Conference of State Legislatures