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Most of these documents are available in PDF format and can be read using Adobe Acrobat Reader. (Click here to download a free version of Acrobat Reader.)

An Economic Analysis of Locating Oregon’s Custodial Institutions in Marion County and the City of Salem

The Center for Governance and Public Policy Research was asked to conduct an economic analysis of locating Oregon’s custodial institutions within Marion County and the city of Salem.
The hypothesis considered was that these custodial institutions, and the attendant population connected to those institutions, place an undue burden on the budgets, infrastructure and services of local governments and public agencies. Our findings do not support the hypothesis.

[Nathan Isaacs, Than X. Tran, and Fred Thompson, final report October 2008.]

Achieving #1 - Performance Reporting in Oregon
(A Blog by Professor Ken Smith)

In a forthcoming journal article, Willamette University Professor Ken Smith describes the performance of the State of Oregon - leading the nation by a wide margin 25% over 2nd place and almost 40% over 4th place. Both the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) received special distinctions from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). Oregon is the only state in the nation to have earned the award for more than one department - and only one other state agency (in Oklahoma) earned an award. The city of Portland received special distinctions from the AGA three times since 2004. "There clearly is a difference between good "reporting" and good "performance", and Oregon state agencies are leading the nation on the reporting element.

Based on my numerous experiences working with and teaching managers in our CPM program, I know that the quality of performance management is also increasing rapidly, " Smith notes. "These awards are good news and the citizens of our state deserve to be proud of the well-deserved recognition."

Click Here for more information on the upcoming Oregon Performance Measurement Event - July 17, 2008

Betting on the Future with a Cloudy Crystal Ball?
Revenue Forecasting, Financial Theory, and Budgets

Accurately predicting revenue growth is nearly impossible. Predicting the peaks and valleys of the business cycle is even more hopeless. This matters because tax revenues are largely driven by economic growth. Volatile, unpredictable revenue growth causes all sorts of unpleasant responses on the part of governments, most commonly manic-depressive patterns of spending and taxing. Fortunately, modern financial economics gives us a set of tools that can be used to manage volatility. These tools include tax portfolio analyses, hedging and buffering strategies, and, in the context of present-value balance, consumption smoothing based on sustainable spending rules. These tools are based on mean-variance analysis, analysis of covariance, the use of stochastic processes to model movements in financial variables, and optimal control theory to formulate solutions to those processes. This report shows how these tools can be used to inform fiscal decision making. Our focus is on state governments, but the analysis applies to all jurisdictions that face a hard budget constraint and must therefore balance spending increases against revenue growth.

Economic Opportunity in a Volatile Economy: Understanding the Role of Labor Market Intermediaries in Two Regions

A comparative study of the role and impact of labor market interdiearies in the 'old' and 'new' economies of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Silicon Valley in California. Funded by the Ford, Rockefeller and Russell Sage Foundations. [Laura Leete, Manuel Pastor, Laura Dresser, Chris Benner, Annette Bernhardt, Bob Brownstein and Sarah Zimmerman, final report May 2003.]

Workforce Investment Act Service Delivery: The Case of Oregon

This report provides a detailed overview of the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act in Oregon. It was prepared under the auspices of an eight-state network research field study conducted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government (State University of New York-Albany) with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. It will be published in a volume along with the other state case studies by the U.S. Department of Labor. [Laura Leete and Neil Bania, September 2003, Final Version]. Report Appendices. Rockefeller Institute Eight-State Summary Report.

Project on Transportation and Rural Poverty

Project investigating the barriers to access for employment opportunities in rural Oregon. Funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation [Laura Leete, Tom Sanchez, Neil Bania, June 2002.]

Oregon State Case Study of Medicaid Take-Up and Welfare Reform

The Public Policy Research Center recently completed an analysis of factors influencing Medicaid enrollment and outreach at the state level and within Multnomah County as one of 25 states participating in the State Capacity Study being conducted by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York-Albany. [Carol Freedman, Laura Leete, and Maegan Lindsey, September 2001.]

Forecasting Methodologies for Oregon's Medical Assistance Program Caseloads

This report to the Oregon Department of Human Services provides an overview of new methodologies for forecasting caseloads for Oregon's medical assistance programs, including Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan. It includes previously unavailable tabulation of program flows. [Laura Leete and Bruce Gates, April 2001.]

The Internet and Oregon's Future: A Day of Discussion

This report summarizes a forum discussion about the potential influence of the Internet and information technology on the future of work, democracy and public infrastructure in Oregon. [Laura Leete and Olivia Clark - Oregon Governor's Office, January 2001.] Video also available.

Ballot Measure 2: Creating Accountability or Wreaking Havoc?

[Susan Smith Willamette University, College of Law. October 2000.]