Reflecting on 1 October: Using Research to Inform Public Policy and Heal our Community

On October 1, 2017, Las Vegas joined a growing list of cities in the United States home to a mass shooting, including Blacksburg, Virginia; Newtown, Connecticut; San Bernardino, California; Orlando, Florida; Columbine, Colorado; Fort Hood, Texas; Parkland and Jacksonville, Florida and other locations. In the weeks following the tragedy, the nation and the Las Vegas community, including UNLV, responded with tributes to the victims, short- and long-term memorials to those killed and wounded, and calls to investigate the circumstances that led to this tragic event and to find ways to prevent future atrocities. Following the one-year anniversary of the 1 October tragedy, researchers from UNLV and the Brookings Institution continue to explore the impact of 1 October through a variety of approaches. From quantitative exploration, to qualitative analysis, and from oral histories, to social media data collection, the presentations in this community forum explore Las Vegas’s response and offer scholarly research to contribute to better public policy and understanding. Brookings Mountain West, in partnership with UNLV University Libraries, offered Reflecting on 1 October: Using Research to Inform Public Policy & Heal Our Community, a community forum featuring four research presentations, each centered on the 1 October tragedy in Las Vegas. Following the presentations, featured contributors from UNLV and the Brookings Institution responded to questions posed by the moderator

Housing - Las Vegas and the Middle Class

Brookings Mountain West presents an event focusing on housing as part of “Las Vegas and the Middle Class,” a major project exploring public policy initiatives designed to improve the quality of life of the middle class in Las Vegas and to increase the number of people rising to join its ranks. Through independent, non-partisan analysis and policy development, we seek to advance public understanding of the challenges facing the middle class in Las Vegas, as well as barriers to upward mobility. This event features presentations that examine Las Vegas as a model for understanding issues critical to the growth of the middle class. Following the presentations, a panel discussion will allow the speakers to reflect upon the current state and future of the middle class in Las Vegas

Nevada Surface Transportation

This fact sheet examines how Federal funding is allocated between Nevada counties, while also comparing to other Mountain West states. Elements of major bridge, freeway, and bypass projects in northern and southern Nevada are also compared to show the discrepancies between major infrastructure project funding within the state

Mountain Monitor-3rd Quarter 2009

Nationwide, the recession is technically over. Or at least that is the view of most economists. They note that real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) finally expanded in the third quarter of 2009, growing at a 2.8 percent annual rate after four consecutive quarters of contraction. They point to a significant slowing of job losses in November, rising housing prices, and a slight downtick in unemployment as other positive signs. Their conclusion: Economic recovery is at last underway. And yet, the pace of renewal seems tentative and its geography patchy. Most notably, the aggregate national story of recovery and expansion overlooks the fact that just as the American economy varies from region to region, and metropolitan area to metropolitan area, so does the recovery. Consider, for example, the economic landscape of the Intermountain West and its metros, as depicted in this inaugural edition of the Mountain Monitor—a companion product to Brookings’ national MetroMonitor and a production of the new Brookings Mountain West initiative, a partnership between Brookings and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Drawing on data covering the third quarter of 2009 (ending in September), the new Monitor documents that no multistate region has been hit harder by the last year’s economic crisis than the six-state Intermountain zone. Across the region, the deflation of a massive housing “bubble,” widespread job losses, and the onset of a significant public-sector fiscal crisis have wreaked havoc on many communities. In many Intermountain region locations, the sheer abruptness of the shift from hyper-growth early in the decade to a severe contraction in the last year has spawned a sense of almost existential whiplash. As the findings below highlight, even within the region the effects of the recession and recovery have not been uniformly felt. Phoenix, Boise, and Las Vegas, for example, remained three of the most troubled metropolitan areas in the entire nation in the third quarter, with all residing in the weakest quintile of metros on a combined measure of overall economic performance. Still, metros like Colorado Springs, Albuquerque, and Denver have only been moderately affected by the recession and seem poised to renew their upward trajectory as the pace of recovery quickens. The upshot: While the Intermountain West is an increasingly distinct region in national affairs, it remains disparate—a still-loosely linked network of individual metropolitan economies, some of which remain mired in recession and many of which are clearly recovering. Which is the point of the Mountain Monitor. Designed to serve as a barometer of the health of the Intermountain West’s metropolitan economies, this Western monitor looks beneath the single account of the national statistics to draw into clear light the diverse metropolitan landscape of America’s New Heartland as originally highlighted in the Brookings report “Mountain Megas.” In this fashion, the Mountain Monitor aims to distinguish the particular contours of the Great Recession and its aftermath in the Mountain region from those elsewhere, and so contribute to the region’s growing self-understanding. To that end, we examine data on employment, unemployment, output, home prices, and foreclosure rates for the region’s 10 large metropolitan areas, the nation’s 100 largest metros, and 17 smaller metros dispersed around the Intermountain region

Conference schedule

The Intermountain West region, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, is the new swing region in American politics. Many national observers and commentators have only a superficial understanding of the profound economic, political, and social changes that continue to reshape this region. Brookings Mountain West is pleased to offer a collection of contemporary research papers on recent demographic trends that alter this region and its politics. These studies, including a public opinion survey that explores attitudes on state and national politics, alternative energy, education, deficits, health care, immigration, and other topics illuminate the political landscape of this region on the eve of the 2010 elections and in advance of the 2012 presidential race

Panelist biographies

The Intermountain West region, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, is the new swing region in American politics. Many national observers and commentators have only a superficial understanding of the profound economic, political, and social changes that continue to reshape this region. Brookings Mountain West is pleased to offer a collection of contemporary research papers on recent demographic trends that alter this region and its politics. These studies, including a public opinion survey that explores attitudes on state and national politics, alternative energy, education, deficits, health care, immigration, and other topics illuminate the political landscape of this region on the eve of the 2010 elections and in advance of the 2012 presidential race

The Great Debate 2019 - Brookings v. UNLV Debate Team

Brookings Mountain West, in partnership with the UNLV Debate Team, was proud to host the inaugural UNLV - Brookings Institution event, “The Great Debate.” Representatives from the nationally ranked UNLV Debate Team engaged colleagues from the Brookings Institution in a battle of ideas and policy positions destined to be remembered as one of the great intellectual forums of the 21st century. Featured speakers participated in a modified format of intercollegiate debate rules that allowed teams and individual members the opportunity to craft their arguments and responses in an open and respectful exchange of information to persuade, inform, and entertain audience members. • The UNLV Debate team of Ember Smith/Jeffrey Horn adopted the affirmative position on this topic and presented arguments for why the U.S. should adopt single-payer national health insurance. • The Brookings Institution team of John Hudak/Richard Reeves adopted the negative position on this topic and presented arguments for why the U.S. should not adopt single-payer national health insurance. Through a series of brief statements and responses, team members attempted to demonstrate superior knowledge of the topic and ability to analyze and dissect their opponent’s statements. The 2019 contenders in “The Great Debate” are well qualified to represent their respective institutions with distinction, possessing demonstrated expertise in public speaking, policy research, and debate forums

2014 and 2015 National Science Foundation (NSF) Rankings by Total R&D expenditures ($ Million)

This Fact Sheet provides data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that compares UNLV and UNR (combined) research funding to individual research universities across the nation

The Brookings Mountain West Initiative Announcement at UNLV

On Sept. 8, 2009 UNLV and The Brookings Institution announced a significant joint initiative that will address infrastructure, public policy and quality of life challenges in Las Vegas and the mountain west states

Nevada Economic Development and Public Policy 2022-2026: A Sustainable Future for All Nevadans

This report evaluates economic development efforts in the State of Nevada since the 2011 publication of Unify, Regionalize, Diversify: An Economic Development Agenda for Nevada; assesses demographic and economic trends for Nevada and its regions; examines how state and federal actions since the onset of COVID-19 can position Nevada and its regions to address long-standing economic, educational, and social deficits; and offers policy recommendations to be implemented in the next four years to facilitate a sustainable future for all Nevadans