Socked in As We Head for 2019
Alaska will finish 2018 still in the grips of the statewide employment recession which started in 2015. As our good friends at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development so accurately put it in the December 2018 of Alaska Economic Trends magazine, “The state has registered over-the-year job losses for 37 consecutive months, the longest […]
Markets closed in honor of former President George H. W. Bush
Today the financial markets paid their respects by closing in reverence of former U.S. president and World War II veteran George H. W. Bush, who passed away November 30th at the age of 94. His death comes roughly eight months after that of his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush. In addition to the NYSE […]
Experiencing Gratitude
Thanksgiving Week is upon us which means that almost certainly at some point in the last couple days you stood in a longer than normal line at the grocery store, pondered which recipe might help make your contribution to the Thanksgiving table stand out, and/or experienced stress and anxiety about the beginning of our annual […]
The Opportunity Atlas
Happy October! We’re half way through the month and we’re still frost free (at least here at Chez King). October means falling leaves, declining daylight, pumpkin carving parties, and economists that write about PFDs. Well, this economist is going for three of four on that list. No, this year’s October blog isn’t about the Permanent […]
Girls Empowerment Summit
As I was on my way to help out the newly formed Women’s Empowerment Club at Dimond High School, a friend of mine said, “Why is this still a thing?” I reflected on that and at first blush I might have agreed. I mean more girls go to college than men and there are laws […]
Alaska’s Population Over the Next Decade
Demographics may not quite be destiny, but there’s no doubt that demographic trends create opportunities and challenges for business, communities, and governments. The 65 million children born in the United States during the 1944-1961 “Baby Boom” spurred investments in housing, education, and services that reverberated through the economy for decades. The current and impending retirement […]
Northern by Design
The design of the Anchorage Museum’s new wing connects its collection to the environment it references Museum architecture, when it is successful, influences the presentation and reception of art, quietly influencing the way we appreciate and interpret a painting, a sketch or a contemporary installation. It is best when it embodies its purpose: to allow the […]
Demystifying Innovation
Back in June Michael Catsi, Director of Business Development and Communications for AIDEA, asked me if I would help plan the Innovation Track for the upcoming Accelerate: Alaska event taking place at the Loussac Library on August 29th and 30th. Helping plan the event rapidly turned into “would you be willing to give one of […]
The Dave Thorsness Rowing Challenge
A prospective client came to our office a few weeks ago and as I talked about the APCM team and all the expertise we have within our state the prospect asked: “Why aren’t these people in New York or California with all these qualifications?” It’s a great question. In our hyper connected world where we can electronically access anyone, […]
Alaska’s Economy at Midyear: What do the Data Say?
Sometimes the numbers lead you astray, especially when they up and change. With hundreds of analyses under my belt there have been times when portion of the data haven’t been correct; I would describe the moment you discover that your data isn’t what you thought it was as “dyspeptic”. Sometimes data discrepancies are in your […]