Growth

Publications related to growth of the Arizona population and economy

What Matters - The Maturing of Greater Phoenix: Fourth in the Series of Indicators of Our Quality of Life; 2004 Edition

Morrison Institute for Public Policy began asking Greater Phoenix leaders and residents that question in 1996. The first edition of What Matters in Greater Phoenix: Indicators of Our Quality of Life appeared in 1997. The publication’s unique combination of public perceptions and statistical data began to define and measure for the first time that often-used but elusive concept, "quality of life." The original and two subsequent reports were recognized locally and nationally for their incisive presentation of public opinions and basic data. This edition of What Matters builds upon that tradition. As with past volumes, this report both updates statistics and perceptions and adds new features. Thus, readers may look at quality of life based on how residents feel or on the trend lines revealed in the numbers. What Matters reports what people think about Greater Phoenix, how they view their own lives, and whether they believe the region is on the right or wrong track. The sections are presented in the order of importance assigned to them by the survey rankings (i.e., Education appears first, Public Safety and Crime second, etc.).

Perfect Pitch: Considerations for a Dedicated Funding Source for Arts & Culture

Convinced by a compelling business case that showed how arts and culture contributes to a strong knowledge economy, the Maricopa Regional Arts and Culture Task Force called for a region-wide commitment to arts and culture development. The 30 elected, business, arts, and philanthropic leaders also agreed that, given the current financial limitations of the region’s arts and culture sector, a new era of achievement would require a "well-rounded system of funding and support through public, private, and philanthropic means." Without this, the potential for arts and culture to help ensure "a high skill, high innovation economy in a great, livable place" would go unfulfilled. Given the economic imperatives, size of the arts and culture sector, and various election results, creating a "well-rounded system of funding and support" for arts and culture in metro Phoenix would seem to be realistic. Yet, for all of these and other pluses, the task force’s members realized that their successors would have to have "perfect pitch" on any proposal for a dedicated funding source for arts and culture.

Seeds of Prosperity - Public Investment in Science and Technology Research: A Study of the Economic Potential of Proposition 301 at Arizona State University and a New Model for Assessing its Long-Term Value

The primary purpose of this report is to put the economic contributions of Arizona State University’s TRIF research into context. It does not cover other uses of Proposition 301 monies at ASU -- such as funds allocated for capital projects at ASU East and West -- nor does it provide a cost-benefit analysis of all 301 dollars allocated to ASU. Instead, this report provides data on FY 2002 results for the first-year initiatives and presents a blueprint for long-term evaluation that augments the Arizona Board of Regents’ oversight process.

2011: To Learn and Earn: Arizonans' Experiences Competing in the Race for Good Jobs FINAL REPORT

July 2011 / This final report concludes a two-year study commissioned by the Arizona Minority Education Policy Analysis Center and conducted by Morrison Institute. "To Learn and Earn: Arizonans’ Experiences Competing in the Race for Good Jobs" is the second in a two-part series that examines the intrinsic relationship between education guidance and college readiness with workforce development, recruitment and retention.

2011: Fact Sheet: TELs: Recommendations for a More Stable Budget

April 13, 2011 / Recommendations regarding "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" (TABOR), a specific type of tax and expenditure limits (TELs) that are limits in either law or a state’s constitution that restrict the growth of government revenue, expenditures or both.

The Cookbook - Doing Multivariate Analysis of Residential Single-Family Water Conservation Programs

This book is designed to be a "cookbook" for water evaluators who would like to be able to do a good job evaluating their water programs for decision-making, but who don't know a lot about statistics.

Growth and the Future of Greater Phoenix: Quantity, Quality, or Both?

The Phoenix metropolitan area is known worldwide for the rapid and continuous expansion of its population, economy, and development of desert land. Even during recessionary periods, it has continued to grow. Leaders in other metropolitan areas envy this achievement and the many benefits it has created for Valley residents. But some members of our region, both leaders and lay people alike, consider the Valley’s phenomenal growth to be a mixed blessing. Indeed, they would say we are plagued by success. The purpose of this brief paper is to create a framework for discussion of how our region’s future growth can embody quality. It is not intended to be a comprehensive Morrison Institute for Public Policy treatment of the myriad issues of urban growth. Because of this paper’s brevity, some important details about growth are not included. Fortunately, detailed studies of the Valley’s growth have been done before (e.g., by Gruen Associates/Maricopa Association of Governments in 1975 and the Morrison Institute in 1988). Instead, this paper identifies key concepts and suggests questions to be used as a point of departure for steering a future course.

Cluster Analysis: A New Tool for Understanding the Role of the Inner City in a Regional Economy

This project, as part of Arizona State University's Community Outreach Partnership Center grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, examines the location of industry clusters in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The objective is to find out if there are identifiable concentrations of industry in Phoenix' inner city areas.

2010: Here We Go Again: Redistricting, Politics and Voter Choice

December 2010 / Hoping to improve competitiveness and choice in congressional and statehouse elections, Arizona voters in 2000 approved a constitutional initiative (Proposition 106) that took the districting task out of the hands of state legislators and gave it to a five-member commission known as the Independent Redistricting Commission. This briefing explains the process, politics and problems associated with the selection of commissioners.

APC 1997 - Balancing Acts: Tax Cuts and Public Policy in Arizona

Balancing Act: Tax Cuts and Public Policy in Arizona is a compendium. It includes original articles by Arizona policy practitioners and observers, reprints of pertinent articles by experts beyond Arizona, and a list for further reading. Articles of varying lengths and complexities are purposefully included so as to offer something to readers with different levels of interest in and knowledge of the subject matter.

Forum 411 - Great Expectations: Arizona Teens Speak Up; Ed:1 Issue #4

“Great Expectations: Arizona Teens Speak Up,” the fourth issue of Morrison Institute for Public Policy’s Forum 411 briefing series, offers insights into the state’s 600,000-plus adolescents from professionals who work with them every day and from teens themselves. The success of today’s teens is particularly important because of the aging of society and Arizona’s high “dependency ratio,” or the number of children and seniors in relation to those of working age. Arizona has the nation’s second highest rate. Arizona’s teens have aspirations. The question is whether Arizona will help young people with public policies that address risks, reward achievements, and expand opportunities.

AZ Views - Arizonans Like Their Jobs But Question Their Schools; Vol:1 Issue #2

Jobs and schools are vital components of a healthy Arizona. Based on panelists’ responses, most Arizonans feel that they’re doing well on the employment front, but not so well concerning education.

2012: Arizona SciTech Festival 2012 Evaluation Summary

October 2012 / This publication contains survey results that evaluate the inaugural Arizona SciTech Festival’s impact and help determine how it can be improved next year and thereafter. The surveys totaled 4,619 responses from groups and individuals who attended or participated in the festival’s events.

2012: Let's Talk Water, Series 1, No. 4 'What's being said about Arizona water policy'

June 2012 / Jim Holway, director of Western Lands and Communities, a Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Sonoran Institute joint venture, provides highlights from a statewide water workshop discussion.

2010: Few Arizonans vote, fewer still know who they elected

June 2010 / Despite Arizonans expressing a deep suspicion whether their legislative leaders are representing their best interests, Arizonans’ participation in statewide elections continues to be among the lowest in the nation. This briefing shows just how few Arizonans decide the state's leadership, while at the same time offering helpful links and information related to voter registration and district identification.

2011 APS Informed Perception Project Report FINAL

May 2011 / Final Report of the APS Informed Perception Project, commissioned by APS but conducted by Morrison Institute for Public Policy.

2011: Among the options for FY 2013 budget: A return to balance

May 2011 / This briefing addresses legislators' claims that they had no options but to drastically cut programs in order to balance the state budgets for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 and the upcoming fiscal year 2012. Among potential revenues examined: service tax, user fees and provider assessments.

2011 MI Policy Brief: Illegal immigration is declining, civil debate to rise?

August 2011 / This Morrison Institute Policy Brief examines illegal immigration and the fact illegal crossings and apprehensions are down, giving pause to inflammatory rhetoric and possibly creating a window of opportunity for civil discourse on this especially volatile political issue. Author: Bill Hart, senior policy analyst.

Forum 411 - Road to Recovery: Lessons from Arizona's First Economy; Ed:2 Issue #2

The economic underpinnings in Arizona of housing, employment, and financial services have collapsed, as they have almost everywhere else around the nation, albeit deeper here than in most other states. How will we recover?

2012: Arizona's Emerging Latino Vote

August 2012 / "Arizona's Emerging Latino Vote" uses demographics and other data to project a change in Arizona's political landscape due to the younger Latino population coming of voter age. With Latinos largely voting Democratic, Arizona could possibly change from a "red state" to a "blue state" by 2030, according to the report.