THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH

The Office of Economic Research, an auxiliary agency of the Department of Economics at California State University, Long Beach, was founded in 1990 for the purpose of providing regional economic studies of interest to the academic, government and business communities.

The office publishes the annual CSULB Economic Forecast for Southern California and its Counties, which includes forecasts for employment by sector, personal income, retail sales and building activity for the five county region (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties), as well as separate forecasts for each county. The forecast is produced using an econometric model of the region developed and maintained by the Office of Economic Research.

Faculty associated with the Office of Economic Research also conduct research funded by grants, contracts or other fee-for-service arrangements. In the past, CSULB researchers have produced economic impact studies for local businesses, have evaluated the effectiveness of government employment programs, and have assisted local governments in setting appropriate prices for water usage.

Economic Impact Studies
CSULB economists are specialists in applying input-output analysis to determine the impact of a new development on the region's economy. Economic impacts can be measured in terms of dollars of new expenditures generated in the economy or in terms of the number of new jobs that a development will create.

Economic Forecasts
CSULB economists can adapt the regional model developed by the Office of Economic Research to generate specialized forecasts. For example, the model can be adapted to include different county groupings or to forecast over a longer time frame.

Sub-County Economic Databases
Detailed employment data are published by the state only at the county level. However, CSULB economists have developed a methodology for estimating the level and sectoral breakdown of employment for a sub-county region or city.

Electric Utility Analysis
CSULB economists have provided local utilities with assistance in integrated resource planning, demand-side management, financial planning, resource supply assessment, rate design and restructuring.

Other Projects
Additional types of projects that CSULB economists have worked on range from business plan reviews to studies of the potential impact of new policies to litigation support.

The CSULB Office of Economic Research
- Selected Publications & Presentations

Serials
Economic Forecast for Southern California and Its Counties published annually.

Presentations
Long Beach
Rosecrans Corridor Project
Santa Monica Forecast of the South Bay, October 2003

Reports
"Overcoming Labor Market Challenges in the U.S.A"
"Performance Measures of Goods Movement in California: Regional Implications," A Report to the Southern California Association of Governments
"Estimates of Export-Related Employment for Southern California"
"Labor Market Dynamics During a Period of Structural Change:California in the Early 1990s"
"Economic Impact of Sporting Events"
"Economic Impact of Transwest Park on Long Beach and Southern California"
"Economic Impact of Proposed Multi-Purpose Motorsports Facility on Long Beach and Southern California"
"An Evaluation of the First Year of the Long Beach Enterprise Zone"
"Recommendations for Revisions to Water Rates" (Los Angeles Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee)
"Assuring Our Future Water Supply: A Consensus Approach to Water Rates" (Los Angeles Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee)

Faculty associates of the Office of Economic
Research have provided consulting services to
the following organizations:

The World Bank

Southbay Economic Partnership

The Cities of Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Signal Hill

and many private sector corporations

Last Modified : Monday, 03-Apr-2006 11:05:03 PDT 07/21/04