Product perishability and multistore grocery shopping

Perishability, a largely unconsidered characteristic of consumer goods, is shown to play an important role in planned multistore shopping behavior. We present a model of consumers as cost minimizing inventory managers, who choose between two stores differentiated on location and price, and who purchase perishable and nonperishable goods. We show that the interaction between perishability of goods and price differences of stores can be an important driving force for planned multistore shopping. This rationale leads to a set of propositions. One unexpected result is that as the known price difference on a basket of identical goods increases between two stores, shoppers making store choice decisions on the basis of the basket price are more likely to shop regularly at both stores. We present survey results supporting our model's predictions

Strategic Planning Data Analysis: Ford County

In the following sections, data will first be presented and analyzed in overview fashion for regional and national trends. Following this, data will be reviewed at a more local scale in the following eight areas: population and housing, employment/labor force, education, income and earnings, sectoral performance, tourism, business/financial environment, and quality of life. Throughout the report, local-level materials will be presented relating Ford County's economic performance through the past decade with the State of Kansas and the counties neighboring Ford County. To facilitate comparisons, a "trade area" designation has been used to identify a eight-county grouping surrounding Ford County. These counties are Meade, Gray, Hodgeman, Ness, Edwards, Kiowa, Comanche and Clark. Aggregate totals or averages are labelled "Trade Area" for presentation in graphs. Three other nearby counties with similar economic structures and/or size are also included for data comparisons. These three counties are Finney, Seward and Barton

Report of the Kansas Task Force on Internet Access for Schools and Public Libraries

Broad Internet access for schools and libraries is important for economic competitivity and educational quality. At present in Kansas and the US, availability of Internet access is widespread, but of limited effectiveness. The most important limitation on Internet access is the restricted amount of access time presently available per user. The cost-effective provision of adequate access time per user depends on the use of direct connections rather than dialup modem connections, and it requires the use of area networks and many computers. At high levels of service, computers are the limiting cost. Effective use of the Internet depends on technical support, planning of changes in curriculum and library operations, training of teachers and librarians, and shifting of staff time towards use of the Internet. Kansas generally lags behind Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and the US as a whole, in areas of: (i) statewide planning and provision of Internet-related services (ii) provision of direct dedicated connections to the Internet (iii) provision of area networks, and (iv) numbers of Internet connections per user

KANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY

The current weakness of the Kansas economy is not a temporary phenomenon. Unabated, a continuation of existing trends will result in a relative erosion of the state's economic base and its ability to provide quality services for Kansans. However, the state can influence these trends in a positive direction. This will involve providing support for adaptation and change and the application of science and technology to the existing economic base as well as building upon strengths to develop new industry. Kansas has important strengths and sound economic fundamentals upon which to develop its future. At the same time, there are some barriers to the development of modern technology-based enterprises, to small business entrepreneurship, and to expeditious technology transfer to Kansas industry. The recommendations that follow are designed to remove the impediments and to build upon the strengths. The basic strategy for development should emphasize a balanced approach of supporting the existing economic foundation, including the traditional sectors, as well as fostering growth through the expansion of current and the attraction of new industry. It should involve an integrated state-local community effort. The state should not adopt a strategy for development based on tax incentives, but rather have a tax structure which is consistent with that of competing states with respect to business tax burden. The erosion of the state's economic base will continue unless Kansas makes a large and sustained funding investment over the next decade to support a well designed package of economic development initiatives. This will require a significant investment of state financial resources. Our survey of 700 Kansas business and governmental leaders show overwhelming support for "bold, new initiatives," and their input has considerably influenced the following recommendations

Economic Trends Update: Reno County

The following report is an objective look at several key economic trends occurring in Reno County over the last few decades. The Hutchinson-Reno County area is a community which has seen a declining population and workforce in recent years. Specific data on those and other developments will prove valuable in efforts aimed at boosting Reno County’s growth. This report looks at variables categorized under the following areas: Population, employment, earnings and income, retail trade, agriculture, and education. Throughout the report, Reno County’s performance is compared with the performance of the State of Kansas and other Comparative Counties. It is by no means a comprehensive analysis of economic trends facing Reno County but rather an overview of some key economic and demographic variables

Property Tax Relief Through a Proposed One-Percent Sales Tax in Douglas County and effects of a Countrywide Sales Tax on Taxable Sales

This report investigates two issues related to the adoption of a propose one-percent countywide sales tax: a local property tax relief measure through additional sales tax proceeds (Section I-IV) and the review of literature on the effect of sales tax rate increases on taxable sales (Section V). In order to estimate the reductions to property taxpayers which the proceeds from a countywide sales tax could generate, a forecast of sales tax revenues and property valuations is necessary to calculate the allocation of sales tax proceeds among local units of government and to determine the respective mill levy reductions. While a forecast of sales tax revenues has been straightforward (see IPPBR Report No. 170) , the projection of future property valuations is infeasible due to the structural change in the property tax system in 1989. Generally, a profound structural change prohibits the drawing of conclusions from historical data, no matter which forecasting method is employed. To provide some idea of future growth levels, a forecast was prepared based on time series regression of historical data for property valuations before 1989. However, the forecast has not been used for further calculations. Although property tax hearings are still under way in the community, which will lead to a drop in total property valuation, the initial $327 million in assessed valuation in Douglas County for 1989 has been used as a basis for calculation. The lack of projections for future property valuations required the use of an estimator for 1990. This was derived from the valuation for 1989 plus the assessed value for new construction. The allocation of sales tax proceeds and the calculation of reduced mill levy rates for 1991 have been based on this estimator

KANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY: FINDINGS, STRATEGY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The study was undertaken by the Institute for Public Policy and Business Research at The University of Kansas, in close consultation with Wichita State University, Midwest Research Institute (Kansas City), ASLAN (Washington, D.C.), and Counsel for Community Development (Boston). The main elements of the study are: 1) An identification of key factors affecting state economic development as perceived by Kansas business, state and community leaders, and by non-Kansans. 2) An identification of key factors affecting firm decisions to locate and not to locate in Kansas. 3) A delineation of Kansas economic trends, strengths and weaknesses. 4) An analysis of other states’ incentives and strategies. 5) A target industry analysis of the types of industries best suited to Kansas and its regions, and 6) Recommendations for consideration