The economists at NorthStar Economics have authored several papers on issues
related to the New Economy and economic
development in Wisconsin and the Midwest. For additional papers by NorthStar
principals and other economic development professionals, please visit our
New Economy Studies page. To download or view the
featured publications, click on the covers below. Most featured publications are
in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, click below to download the software.
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The NEW Economic Opportunity Study, an economic development study of a 16 county area in Northeast Wisconsin, was commissioned by the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, in partnership with the Bay Area Workforce Development Board and other agencies. This report represents Phase III of the study, in which NorthStar Economics, Inc. worked with economic development committees and local stakeholders to create an economic development strategy for the region that utilizes the current strengths in the area while addressing the region’s weaknesses and challenges for the development of a future strong economy. |
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The Economic Impact of the 2004 PGA Championship to the State of Wisconsin reports NorthStar's calculation of the economic impact of the 2004 PGA Championship, which was held at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Principally investigated by NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research Dennis K. Winters, the study measures the impact of the event, including the impact of direct spending by out-of-state spectators, in-state spending by the PGA, and sales tax revenue generated. The report contains data and analysis in support of our conclusion that the event resulted in an economic impact in excess of $76 million. |
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A Strategic Economic Development Plan for the Town of Saratoga, Wyoming was commissioned by the Town of Saratoga, Carbon County, Impact Joint Powers Board. The basic purpose of the plan is to initiate economic development actions that produce year round jobs in Saratoga, Wyoming. The plan can also be useful to the Town of Saratoga applying for state and federal funding for infrastructure, community improvements and specific business projects. |
 Now only $10.00! |
The 2003 NorthStar Guide to Growth
and Venture Capital for Wisconsin compiles
key information for companies seeking risk capital to start or expand a
business in Wisconsin. This volume covers the range of risk capital needed
by fast growing companies. For each type of risk capital, the Guide
provides a basic primer and a directory of the sources for that risk capital
in Wisconsin. The 2005 edition of the Guide will be published
in January. The 2003 edition is now available at a reduced price. |
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Strategies to Increase the Supply of Risk Capital for New Economy Growth in Wisconsin, by NorthStar President David J. Ward and NorthStar Senior Associate James B. Patterson is a white paper that was submitted for Wisconsin Economic Summit IV. The paper highlights the role of risk capital in the New Economy and discusses several alternative risk capital strategies that have the potential to meaningfully boost in-state technology business investment and risk capital availability. |
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Vision 2020: A Model Wisconsin Economy was funded by Mason Wells Private Equity and published by the Wisconsin Technology Council. NorthStar Economics provided the economic research. The document, which was released at Wisconsin Economic Summit III, contains a detailed set of recommendations for achieving a model Wisconsin economy. The Agenda for Change has several guiding principles: Start with technology and the people who understand it; Promote openness, the flow of ideas and diversity; Adopt a global perspective - economic, political, and cultural; Foster creation of international centers of excellence; Organize economic initiatives around local business communities; Use existing local resources before going elsewhere, and Focus on the creation of wealth, not just jobs. |
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NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research Dennis K. Winters was the principal investigator and author of Community Collaboration: A Market Profile of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. In this market profile study, we took the traditional economic impact study a step further and explored the role of the University as an economic partner in the community. The study analyzes the University's economic contribution to the region ($417 million as of 2002), and further illustrates the University's role not only as an economic contributor, but as an economic, social, and cultural anchor as well. |
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NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research Dennis K. Winters was the principal investigator and author of Comparing Economic Development Strategies across Selected Neighboring States, a white paper for Wisconsin Economic Summit II. This paper compares the economic development initiatives of Wisconsin with its neighboring states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota. The paper provides demographic and economic profiles for each state, along with a summary of each state's plan for economic development, which focus on high-technology, high-income jobs as a vehicle for economic growth. |
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NorthStar Vice President / Director of
Research
Dennis K. Winters was the principal investigator and co-author of
Wisconsin's Economy in the Year 2010, along with William A. Strang and John P. Klus.
The study focuses on Wisconsin employment and offers employment projections
for the year 2010 in each of several key industries. This
forecast of Wisconsin's economy and employment trends was published by the
University of Wisconsin School of
Business in 2000. Click on the picture to the left for the
executive summary, or on the button below to purchase a copy of the complete
study. |
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NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research Dennis K. Winters was the principal investigator and author of an economic impact study entitled The University of Wisconsin's Economic Contribution to Wisconsin. William A. Strang consulted on the project, in which we concluded that the UW System contributes nearly $9.5 billion to the Wisconsin economy. |
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Wisconsin High-Tech Opportunities, a study commissioned and published by the Wisconsin Technology Council, provides an essential benchmark and database of Wisconsin's current high-tech economy and identifies high-tech industries that warrant further attention based on the opportunity vector intersections of employment growth, pay levels, and high-tech occupational concentration. NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research Dennis K. Winters was the principal investigator and lead author of the study, along with NorthStar President David J. Ward, NorthStar Vice President / Director of Operations Alan J. Hart, and NorthStar Associate Karyn I. Kriz. |
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NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research Dennis K. Winters was the principal investigator and author of an economic impact study entitled The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Economic Contribution to the Region. William A. Strang consulted on the project, in which we concluded that UW-Madison contributes nearly $4.7 billion to the regional economy. |
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High Income Strategies for the Wisconsin Economy, by NorthStar President David J. Ward, was presented at the first Wisconsin Economic Summit. The paper proposes economic strategies to address the challenges of sustaining employment and job growth as Wisconsin transitions into the New Economy. Specific issues explored include "Catch-Up" strategies, such as the building of a venture capital base, increasing the number of college graduates, and the creation of formal and informal information networks, "Keep-Up" strategies, such as maintaining a high-quality educational system and preserving and enhancing existing business value, and "Leap Frog" strategies, such as building a biotechnology base and reverse investment in Research and Development centers. |
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Sustaining Wisconsin's Economic Prosperity,
by NorthStar Vice President / Director of Research
Dennis K. Winters, was presented at the
first
Wisconsin Economic Summit. The paper explores Wisconsin's transition
from an agricultural and manufacturing state to a state in which the service
sector employs the greatest percentage of the workforce. The paper focuses
on the need to increase the number of high-paying jobs in order for
Wisconsin to thrive in the New Economy. |
