Reports and Studies
Special reports published by the IBRC are listed in reverse chronological order below.
Agriculture's Bounty: The Economic Contribution of Agriculture
May 2013
This report tells the tale of Indiana’s agriculture production trends, the changing dynamics of the agriculture industry and its economic impact.
Mind the Gap: Identifying Opportunities for Export Expansion in Indiana
Sep 2012
In order to address the question of how to expand exports even more, we investigated which industries may be under-exporting and identified over a thousand small and medium-sized enterprises that may benefit from policies and programs to encourage companies to export.
A Look at the Indiana Housing Market in 2011
Sep 2012
This report, prepared for the Indiana Association of REALTORS, explores Indiana's market conditions, demographic fundamentals and the impact of housing in the broader economy.
Major Unemployment: How Academic Programs of Study Affect Hoosier Unemployment Patterns
Aug 2012
This research brief explores the potential effect of academic majors on unemployment dynamics (the risks of becoming unemployed and the likely duration of unemployment). It found that graduates' choice of academic major can greatly influence the probability of becoming unemployed during a severe economic downturn.
Global Positioning: Indiana's 2011 Export Data and Trends
July 2012
This report details the goods and agricultural commodities that Indiana produces and sells overseas, and includes a brief section highlighting export activity to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Capturing the Flag: Foreign Direct Investment in Indiana
May 2012
This report analyzes recent historical data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis on FDI trends nationally, in the Midwest and Indiana, as well as "real-time" FDI announcements made between 2009 and 2011.
Cultivating Trade: The Economic Impact of Indiana's Agricultural Exports
Apr 2012
This report details the economic benefits of agricultural exports on the Indiana economy. It first provides a profile of the state’s agricultural production and export trends, followed by the results of an economic impact analysis that captures the broad economic effects of agricultural exports.
How Education Pays: The Work Outcomes of Indiana's Postsecondary Graduates
Nov 2011
This report documents how postsecondary education affects work and income outcomes. It attempts to answer several questions: What are the work outcomes of all postsecondary graduates from Indiana’s public colleges and universities one year and five years following graduation? In what industries are graduates employed? How do these employment patterns vary by degree level, gender, race and time?
Benchmarking Kokomo
Nov 2011
The Kokomo, IN, region has witnessed significant changes in its economic composition over the past 10 years. In preparation for a major initiative to foster regional transformation, Indiana University Kokomo (IUK) commissioned this study examining these changes to provide context and stimulate discussion among the region’s leaders and the public.
A Look Inside the 2011 Bloomington Economy
Nov 2011
This report provides a useful tool for those wanting to understand the key characteristics of the Bloomington economy. This study examines local demographic, housing, education, employment and income trends, placing them within the context of similar communities around the nation and state.
The Importance of Being Educated: Wage Benefits for Indiana's Adult Students
Oct 2011
This report looks at the wage gains attained by adult students at Indiana's two-year institutions for various levels of educational pursuit and educational attainment.
A Look at the Indiana Housing Market in 2010
Oct 2011
This report, prepared for the Indiana Association of REALTORS, explores Indiana's market conditions, demographic fundamentals and the impact of housing in the broader economy.
Building National Security: The Economic Impact of Indiana's Defense Industry
Oct 2011
This report reveals that, even though the national economy has struggled throughout the last decade, the State of Indiana has quietly established itself as an environment where defense-related companies are thriving.
Navigating Change: Exploring New Career Pathways in an Evolving Labor Market
Oct 2011
Given restructuring in the auto industry, many displaced workers need help to find suitable alternative jobs. The research documented in this report provides a new technique to find occupations that require similar skills and an easily understandable measure to communicate the estimated time needed to transition between occupations. The two-step pathway cluster and skills gap analyses developed in this study offer valuable guidance to displaced workers charting pathways to new career opportunities.
Orange County Benchmarking and Target Industry Analysis: Spotlight on a Changing Region
Sept 2011
This study follows up on the last major benchmarking analysis of Orange County’s economy five years ago. In the interim, the county has experienced major improvements to the French Lick Resort, the West Baden Springs Hotel and numerous other businesses marking a significant resurgence in the Valley area.
Global Positioning: Indiana's Exports and Foreign Direct Investment
Sept 2011
This international report presents data and trends for Indiana exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) activity in the state and explore the extent of Indiana’s global engagement. Additionally, in this year’s report, there is a focus on trade and investment linkages between the European Union and Indiana.
Indiana's Life Sciences Industry: 2002-2010: Tracking Progress and Charting the Course for Continued SuccessThis BioCrossroads report, developed in a partnership with the IBRC, assesses where Indiana stands nationally in the life sciences industry as of December 2010 and documents progress the state has made in this dynamic industry.
Green Jobs in Indiana: Employment Prospects in the Green Economy
July 2011
Many economists, workforce analysts and policymakers across the nation assert that the burgeoning green economy may provide new job opportunities, but traditional sources of information on industries and occupations are not specific enough to accurately measure the number of green jobs in the economy. Indiana conducted a statewide green jobs survey to provide a benchmark for the number and characteristics of green jobs in the state.
Driving Workforce Change: Regional Impact and Implications of Auto Industry Transformation to a Green EconomyThis report explores how the auto industry is evolving, the impacts that is having on automakers and the supply chain, and alternative career pathways for the displaced workforce.
The Economic Impact of Kosciusko County's Orthopedics Industry
April 2011
Kosciusko County’s orthopedic industry cluster makes a significant contribution to the regional and state economy. This report outlines the contributions this industry makes in terms of economic output, employment and government revenues.
The Economic Contribution of the Department of the Navy Technology Transfer Program (Executive Summary)
October 2010
This is the 2-page executive summary handout from Department of the Navy Technology Transfer Program report.
The Economic Contribution of the Department of the Navy Technology Transfer Program (Full Report)
October 2010
Technology transfer (T2) agreements can have significant economic benefits in the civilian sector, especially for small, entrepreneurial start-up companies that are the backbone for innovation and economic growth.
Crossing the Next Regional Frontier: Information and Analytics Linking Regional Competitiveness to Investment in a Knowledge-Based EconomyThis report developed practical tools and frameworks to help guide economic development strategy and decision making for regions throughout the United States, especially rural regions where strategic support is often lacking. It includes development of the Innovation Index, occupation cluster analysis and guidelines for regional investment.
Richmond Indicators: A Community and Economic Benchmark Report
Oct 2009
The Wayne County Foundation and Indiana University East partnered with the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business to prepare a report on Richmond area community and economic indicators. This report provides a detailed account of the Richmond area by examining local demographic, housing, education, employment and income characteristics. The analysis also compares Richmond’s performance on several key indicators to that of a peer set of similar communities from around the nation and the state.
Indiana's Global Exports: Report for 2009
Aug 2009
This study for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation reports on Indiana export trends and patterns, broken out by destination country and by commodity, comparing Indiana to other states in the process.
Foreign Direct Investment in Indiana: Report for 2009
July 2009
Despite possible warning signs in financial and credit markets in 2007, global foreign direct investment (FDI) hit a record high of $1.8 trillion, according to the United Nations. Many observers, however, expect the global economic crisis will undercut the growth of FDI in 2008 and 2009.
The Economic Impact of Eli Lilly and Company in Indiana
June 2009
Eli Lilly and Company has a significant impact on both the size and the growth rate of the Indiana economy and the Indianapolis-Carmel metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which contains its headquarters and many of its facilities. Lilly has also had a significant impact on direct, indirect and induced employment in the state, ranking as one of Indiana’s largest employers and supporting additional jobs in other firms by a rate of nearly 2-to-1.
IU Impact Study, 2008
May 2009
The IBRC conducted an extensive analysis of the economic benefits of the Indiana University system on the state of Indiana and of IU’s eight campuses on the regions they serve. The resulting reports present IU’s core activities related to education and research as well as the economic benefits of collateral activities such as university spending associated with its core mission or the economic value of, for example, the service-learning that mobilizes students to work for free in the community. The study adopted a rigorous methodology to provide a realistic assessment of the many dimensions of IU’s economic footprint.
Indiana's Life Science Industries
April 2009
This report, produced for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation aims to provide an overview of Indiana’s position in this field by examining four aspects of the life sciences. The first section presents information on the employment, typical wages and output of Indiana firms engaged in life science industries. The second section offers a different perspective on life science employment by analyzing occupation-level data. The final two sections observe Indiana’s position in the global marketplace with a look at the state’s life science-related foreign exports and the direct investment of foreign companies in Indiana.
The Economic Footprint of Indiana's Community Health Centers
Mar 2009
This report presents the economic footprint of Indiana’s state-supported Community Health Centers (CHCs). The study was commissioned by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the Indiana Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) and conducted by the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. In addition to the economic footprint of CHC spending on goods, services and compensation, the IBRC also estimated the value of non-monetary gifts-in-kind and CHC related volunteer service based on a survey of CHC directors.
The Effect of Regulated Livestock Operations on Property Values in Selected Indiana Counties
Sep 2008
This report presents the findings of a research project designed to answer the question: does proximity to a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) or a confined feeding operation (CFO) affect property values? It was conducted on behalf of the Indiana Soybean Alliance.
Indiana's Global Exports: Report for 2008
July 2008
This study for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation reports on Indiana export trends and patterns, broken out by destination country and by commodity, comparing Indiana to other states in the process.
Foreign Direct Investment in Indiana: Report for 2008
Mar 2008
This report to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation analyzes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in Indiana, the U.S. and the world. FDI in Indiana is examined by sector and by country of origin.
The Economic Impact of Libraries in Indiana
Nov 2007
The Indiana State Library commissioned the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business to measure the economic benefits of Indiana’s public libraries. In contrast to most other studies that have attempted to measure the economic impact of public libraries, this study also focused on the role that public libraries play in supporting business and economic development in their communities
Indiana's Global Exports: Report for 2007
Sept 2007
This study for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation reports on Indiana export trends and patterns, broken out by destination country and by commodity, comparing Indiana to other states in the process.
A Look Inside the Bloomington Economy 2007
June 2007
The IBRC conducts research periodically for the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation profiling the economy of the Bloomington area and benchmarking it against comparable cities in Indiana and around the nation.
Foreign Direct Investment in Indiana: Report for 2007
Feb 2007
This report to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation analyzes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in Indiana, the U.S. and the world. FDI in Indiana is examined by sector and by country of origin.
Unlocking Rural Competitiveness: The Role of Regional Clusters
Jan 2007
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) funded research to develop a model that can be used by America's rural communities. Indiana was chosen as one of only two grantees in the nation. The overall purpose of this new study was to develop a database and methodology to help rural areas in the United States assess their regional economic competitiveness to support growth and development strategies.
Orange County Benchmarking and Target Industry Analysis
April 2006
At the request of the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, the IBRC conducted a study to profile the economy of Orange County, Indiana, and to benchmark its performance against other comparable counties. This study was also designed to identify industries the OCEDP could consider targeting in its development efforts.
Indiana's Global Exports: Report for 2006
Mar 2006
This study for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation reports on Indiana export trends and patterns, broken out by destination country and by commodity, comparing Indiana to other states in the process.
Economic Impact of the New Reid Hospital
Feb 2006
This study estimates the economic impact of the new Reid Hospital on the seven-county region consisting of Wayne, Randolph, Henry, Fayette and Union counties in Indiana; and Darke and Preble counties in Ohio.
Lake County Government Finance Study
Mar 2005
This IBRC study, sponsored by a consortium of private and public entities, was prompted by calls for increased efficiency in all levels of local government, including cities and towns, the county, townships, school systems, libraries and a variety of special taxing units in Lake County. This study provides insight into two key issues: impacts following the 2003 property reassessment and government efficiency. Along with others, this study played a role in the evolution of the Good Government Initiative, which was spearheaded by U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky.
The Bloomington Economy 2004
Dec 2004
The IBRC conducts research periodically for the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation profiling the economy of the Bloomington area and benchmarking it against comparable cities in Indiana and around the nation.
