This course develops skills in the use of a variety of analytic techniques used in professional practice of urban, regional, and community-based economic development planning. Emphasis is placed on choosing the appropriate technique to obtain the needed information for decision making, evaluating the validity, accuracy, and reliability of analytic results, and interpreting the meaning of the analytic results for broader policy and planning purposes. After successful completion of the course, students should be able to use these techniques for professional planning applications, as well as to critically evaluate the use of these tools by others, such as consultants.

Course requirements include a set of problems keyed to the lecture material, a final exam, and participation in class discussions and student presentations. The problems serve as hands-on learning exercises using actual data for particular local economies. Class sessions combine lecture/demonstration and discussion. Topics covered include:

• Assessing local economic data
• Regional input-output model
• Indicators of local economic health and sustainability
• Economic impact analysis
• Constructing an index of local economic health
• Fiscal impact analysis
• Income accounts and community income flow analysis
• Local labor market analysis
• Analyzing sectoral composition and change
• Regional economic forecasting
• Economic base multiplier
• Industry targeting analysis