Authors

Brad Keller

Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

1997

College/Unit

Regional Research Institute

Document Number

RESEARCH PAPER 9710

Department/Program/Center

Regional Research Institute

Abstract

This research sought empirical evidence that the policies of celebrated governors of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Arkansas led to increases in employment in their state. The counties of those states were matched with counties from other states based on variables thought to affect economic growth. Differences between the matched pairs were then examined in seventeen major sectors. Little regional support was found for the conclusion that the policies stimulated the counties’ economies. The Pennsylvania counties lagged behind the match counties before the policies went into effect and continued to do so afterward. Massachusetts counties experienced relative growth in transportation and public utilities for a decade and manufacturing for three years. Finally, Arkansas demonstrated relative employment growth for a few years in farming and services, but it had done so previously for farming.

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