Regional trends in federal government spending

State governments, congressional delegations, and regional associations regularly examine federal expenditures to see how their state or region is faring in the distribution of federal monies. Although these groups often look at changes in the patterns of annual spending, a long-term perspective reveals how demographic trends and shifting priorities drive year-to-year changes in spending in the states. In this article, Tim Schiller takes that long-term perspective by looking at the decade from 1986 to 1996 and outlining what regional shifts in federal spending took place and whyExpenditures, Public ; Regional economics

Rewiring the system: the changing structure of the electric power industry.

In the United States, significant changes have taken place in the structure of electricity markets. Twenty-three states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, have changed or will be changing their laws to allow consumers to switch electricity suppliers. In some states, millions of consumers have already switched. What brought about the deregulation of an industry previously considered a "natural monopoly"? In "Rewiring the System: The Changing Structure of the Electric Power Industry," Tim Schiller describes the changes in law and the developments in economic theory that have led to the restructuring of energy markets.Electric utilities

State tax revenue in the Third District

Tax revenue estimating ; Taxation

Industry concentration in tri-state metropolitan areas

Industrial location

After the baby boom: population trends and the labor force of the future

Tim Schiller examines how the U.S. and the Third District labor force will change as the baby boomers start to retire in large numbers and women’s participation in the workforce levels off. These and other demographic shifts will affect the supply and demand for workers among different industries and occupations, potentially leading to shortages of workers in areas projected to grow, such as education and health care. Nationally, the average age of the work force will increase, its growth will slow, and its composition will be more diverse, and these factors will likely have a particular impact in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. But the good news is that the Third District, already a center of education and health care, may attract more workers than currently anticipated.Population ; Labor supply

From laboratory to market: the biotechnology industry in the Third District

In "From Laboratory to Market: The Biotechnology Industry in the Third District," Tim Schiller describes major biotechnology products and reviews estimates of the industry's size and scope. He also outlines where the industry is most active in the United States, especially in the Third District states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.Biotechnology ; Federal Reserve District, 3rd

Human capital and higher education: how does our region fare?

The number of people in a given state or region with a college education varies across the nation. States in the Third Federal Reserve District (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware) compare favorably with the nation on measures of college education and the three states as a whole are close to the national average. Despite its average ranking in educational attainment, the area is a premier location for colleges and universities. In “Human Capital and Higher Education: How Does Our Region Fare?” Tim Schiller evaluates the region’s standing with respect to college education by reviewing data on individual and social returns to education, looking at college education as a stimulant to local economic growth, and comparing the tri-state area with the nation as a source of and a destination for college graduates.Education - Economic aspects ; Human capital

Agriculture in the Third District: fertile fields outside the farm belt

Although not part of the nation's agricultural heartland, the three states of the Third Federal Reserve District (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware) nonetheless supply a significant percentage of some commodities. In some parts of the region, agriculture is a significant part of the local economy. In this article, Tim Schiller looks at the contributions the three states make to the nation's agricultural bounty.Agriculture - Forecasting ; Federal Reserve District, 3rd

"What's it worth? Property taxes and assessment practices"

Residential property taxes are both a major source of local government financing and a significant cost of owning a home. Tax limitation measures and relatively moderate gains in house prices during most of the 1990s tended to keep property taxes from rising rapidly in those years. But from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, house prices once again rose sharply. Property taxes followed a similar path, bringing them to greater public attention once again. Now that house prices appear to have shifted to a level or downward trend in most parts of the country, there seems to be increasing concern that real estate valuations for property taxes are not promptly reflecting declining values. In “What’s It Worth? Property Taxes and Assessment Practices,” (256 KB, 10 pages) Tim Schiller focuses on how tax authorities measure value and calculate tax liabilities, the shortcomings of some of these processes, and the remedies that have been, or can be, implemented to make real estate assessment more accurate and equitable.Property tax ; Home ownership ; Revenue

Housing: boom or bubble?

In recent years, the U.S. has seen an extraordinary increase in demand for housing and a rapid rise in house prices. Data show that nationally, the average price of an existing home, adjusted for inflation, rose more than 8 percent in 2004 and 2005, a faster pace than in any previous year. Some people have questioned whether this rapid rise was sustainable, and recent declines in the housing market have made this question more urgent. In "Housing: Boom or Bubble?," Tim Schiller asks whether there was a so-called bubble in house prices or whether fundamental economic factors explain the rapid increase.Housing - Prices