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Research: Competitive Wisconsin Project
Competitive Wisconsin Inc. initiated the Competitive Wisconsin Project. The project assesses Wisconsin's economy and its performance compared to that of its neighbors and of competing economic regions.
A group of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Association provided research and ideas. Their work evolved during a series of seminars with the staff of Competitive Wisconsin Inc. during the summer of 2006. Faculty from the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the Economics and the Political Science departments and the Business School participated in the discussions.
Competitive Wisconsin contracted with the Wisconsin Alumni Association to conduct a survey.
Professor John Karl Scholz of the Economics Department and Donald Nichols of the Economics Department, the La Follette School and the Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy authored several studies available on this site.
The Chancellor's Office of the University of Wisconsin-Madison provided some funding for the faculty studies, and it organized the group of faculty who participated in the study. In addition to professors Nichols and Scholz, professors Andrew Reschovsky, Stephen Malpezzi and Ken Goldstein participated in the discussions, as did Michael Knetter, dean of the School of Business.
William McCoshen headed the Competitive Wisconsin's staff, which included Tony Langenohl and consultant Richard Chandler. Overall direction was provided by Chancellor John Wiley and by Mark Cullen, then president of Competitive Wisconsin Inc.
The Gap in Employment of High-Income Professionals in Wisconsin
A shortfall in employment of high-income professionals in Wisconsin does exist, analysis by economist and public affairs scholar Donald A. Nichols shows. He attributes this to the absence of a mega city with a large financial and business services sector.
Migration To and From Wisconsin
Wisconsin exports more college graduates than it imports, with a net 7,000 people with bachelor's degrees leaving, authors Yeri Lopez, La Follette School of Public Affairs, and John Karl Scholz, Economics Department, find. More educated people leave Wisconsin for Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul than leave Illinois or Minnesota for Milwaukee.
Competitive Wisconsin-Wisconsin Alumni Association Survey
The results of this survey, which Competitive Wisconsin commissioned the alumni association to carry out, provides a general understanding of which factors influence University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni ages 22-45 in choosing to live where they do. The results also illuminate the reasons why people elect to stay or leave Wisconsin after they graduate and why those who leave decide to return. Presentation slides
Choosing the Right Pond: What are Appropriate Comparison Cities for Wisconsin's Metropolitan Areas?
Using per-capita income, authors Yeri Lopez, La Follette School of Public Affairs, and John Karl Scholz, Economics Department, rank Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Appleton/Fox River Valley against their 10 closes comparison metropolitan statistical areas. They find that Milwaukee and Madison are similar to or slightly better than similar areas, while the other two are doing very well economically.
Living Costs and Taxes in Wisconsin
Economist and public affairs scholar Donald A. Nichols takes on the task of looking at how the cost of living, including taxes, affects migration to Wisconsin, especially the decisions of young, highly educated people to relocate in the Badger State.
Perspectives on Economic Development from Site Selection Magazine
Yeri Lopez, La Follette School of Public Affairs, and John Karl Scholz, Economics Department, find that a Wisconsin presence is missing from an influential magazine that professionals consult when they consider locations for their businesses. The authors categorize themes in the journal's advertisements and measure their prevalence.
Wisconsin's Border Counties
Given the tendency of some people to live in Wisconsin and commute to the Twin Cities or Chicago metropolitan areas, economist and public affairs scholar Donald A. Nichols has some suggestions for what Wisconsin border communities can do to attract and retain these commuters.
Getting mileage out of proximity, January 6, 2007, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel