Foundations of Economic Development Research I: Introduction to Data Sources

This course provides economic developers and researchers with an introduction to key data sources, research methods, and tools to support state and regional economic development strategies. Course exercises demonstrate and reinforce the basic analytical skills needed to address real-world questions that policymakers and practitioners encounter.

Course Objectives:

  • Understand the role of data (and the types of data available) in driving economic development decision-making.
  • Determine how you will organize the data you collect.
  • Use key public and commercial statistical data as a foundation for state, regional, and local economic development research.
  • Classify data using classification codes–federal statistical standards for grouping similar data.
  • Apply fundamental regional data analysis techniques.
  • Use publicly available labor market analysis datasets and tools.
  • Gain familiarity with the process and available datasets for conducting competitive market intelligence research.
  • Use U.S. Census Bureau tools to conduct Longitudinal Employment Household Dynamics (LEHD) research for your region.
  • Deliver research findings in an effective manner.

If you have questions about this course or experience any technical issues, please e-mail elearning@c2er.org.


Foundations of Economic Development Research II: Introduction to Regional Analysis Methods

This course provides novice community and economic development researchers with an introduction to key data sources, tools, and research methods used to support state and regional economic development strategies.

Prerequisite:

  • Knowledge: If you have not taken Part 1 of this program, we recommend that course as an introduction to the data sources that are essential to economic development research. 
  • Skills: Some experience with Excel formulas and functions is strongly recommended. 

Purpose: The purpose of this course is to help economic development researchers use their data knowledge and analytic skills to identify economic opportunities in their region and guide decision-making in their organization.

Format: Course topics are presented as a series of expert-led videos, each approximately five minutes in length--followed by various types of practice/application modules.  References, "cheat sheets," and recommendations for further study are also provided throughout the course.

Course Context:

Part 1 of this training program provided the following:

  • In-depth guidance to publicly available data sources, such as those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, among others.
  • An overview of key proprietary data sources that belong in every economic development researcher's toolset.
  • Examples and exercises to build familiarity with various data sources.
  • Instruction in grading the quality and "fit" of potential data sources, to address the specific questions posed by an organization (or its clients and customers).

Course Objectives:

In this course, Part 2 of Foundations of Economic Development Research, we introduce you to the important theories, concepts, and analytic techniques that underpin today’s economic development research field. 

This methods-focused course will show you how to analyze your region’s critical economic foundations, through the following approaches and techniques:

  • Using economic base theory to develop an economic profile of your region.
  • Identifying your region's unique strengths and opportunities through such techniques as Location Quotient Analysis, Trend Analysis, and Shift-Share Analysis.
  • Assessing regional economic specialization and exploring its implications.
  • Measuring economic & fiscal impacts.
  • Positioning your region to attract, expand, and retain employers/businesses:
    • Conducting competitive market intelligence research.
    • Determining what factors drive business location decisions.
  • Conducting labor market analysis.
  • Measuring the scope and scale of your region’s industry clusters--and mapping their composition and inter-relationships.