Publications | The Perryman Group
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The Potential Economic Benefits of Statewide Competition in the Florida Electric Power Market
Report Published on December 28, 2017

The Perryman Group was recently asked to examine the potential economic benefits of statewide competition in the Florida electric power market. Outcomes in other areas which have increased competition (fully adjusted for Florida economic and demographic patterns) were used as a basis for estimating the potential benefits.

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The Potential Impact of Social Legislation on Business Activity: A Case Study of Actions Which Could Adversely Affect Tourism in the San Antonio Area and Texas
Report Published on April 18, 2017

Travel and tourism is an important source of economic activity. Every year, millions of visitors to Texas spend billions of dollars in the state. In 2015, the number of person-stays was estimated to exceed 250 million and had been growing steadily for several years. Hundreds of thousands of individuals across Texas are employed in travel-related industries.

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An Assessment of the Economic Implications of Redesigning the Foster Care System in Selected Counties and the State of Texas
Report Published on April 22, 2016

More than 16,000 Texas children are presently in foster care. This crucial safety net for thousands of the state's most vulnerable residents has experienced challenges in recent years and is in the process of evolving in an innovative manner to better meet the needs of the affected young people at a critical juncture in their lives. While the primary consideration in any conversation related to transforming the foster care system must always be the well-being of the children and families who are affected, improvements also involve quantifiable economic benefits in the form of reduced social costs and increased earnings and productivity. Analyzing these economic benefits can help inform discussion of future strategic plans, particularly given the reality of tight budgets for social services.

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Texas Needs the Workers!: An Analysis of the Economic and Fiscal Impact of Undocumented Workers
Report Published on January 29, 2016

The issues surrounding immigration are complicated (particularly in the case of the undocumented segment), but there is one incontrovertible fact: Texas needs the workers!

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Catalyst!: The Role of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in the North Central Texas Regional Economy
Report Published on November 30, 2015

For more than 40 years, DFW Airport has been providing air passenger and cargo service to the vibrant economies of Dallas, Fort Worth, and the other cities in the North Central Texas Region. In addition to this essential role, the Airport is also an important source of jobs and economic activity for the area and beyond.

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...and Justice for All: The Potential Economic Benefits of Improving the Judicial Infrastructure in the Eastern District of Texas
Report Published on July 30, 2015

No modern economy can prosper without a strong system of courts to protect public safety, secure property rights, enforce contracts, and resolve disputes. In fact, an effective judiciary lies at the heart of the very foundations of Western civilization. Even so, many states and locales face poorly funded courts, while the Federal courts have been hampered in recent years both by the inability of Congress to fill vacancies in a timely manner and by the failure to expand the number of judgeships as economic and demographic growth demand. There is perhaps no place where this situation is more acute than the Eastern District of Texas.

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The Potential Economic and Fiscal Impacts of a Jail Diversion Program and Restoration Center for Mental Health and Related Disorders in Baton Rouge
Report Published on April 10, 2015

Local jails are typically poorly equipped to deal with mental illness and related issues. Nonetheless, individuals with mental disorders are all too often incarcerated simply due to a lack of other options. Not only do these persons fail to receive needed and adequate treatment, but are also more likely to have various complications both when in custody and after release. At the same time, incarceration is costly for communities. In response to these concerns, programs have emerged across the country which seek to offer more appropriate options for both persons suffering from mental disorders and communities attempting to provide necessary services with scarce resources.

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The Economic Importance of Texas' Coastal Counties: An Analysis of the Dependence of Texas and its Regions on Business Operations in the Tier 1 Windstorm Insurance Coverage Area
Report Published on January 18, 2015

In 2015, The Perryman Group prepared a study to assist the efforts to reform the windstorm insurance system which focused on the possibilities of major storms along the Gulf Coast. While the analysis obviously does not reflect the unique and unprecedented effects of Hurricane Harvey, it does provide some useful insights. Given the significance of this historic storm and its role in the economy in the coming months, we wanted to share these insights.

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Suffer the Little Children: An Assessment of the Economic Cost of Child Maltreatment
Report Published on November 13, 2014

In addition to the very real and often lifelong effects on the individuals involved, child maltreatment also imposes substantial economic costs which can be quantified in a comprehensive manner. When properly measured, child maltreatment drains literally trillions of dollars in long-term business activity.

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Hunger: Economic Perspectives ‑ Sustainable Solutions
Report Published on November 06, 2014

Even beyond the obvious physical and mental costs of food insecurity and the incalculable toll on the stability and dignity of families across the United States, there is also a tremendous economic cost. Health care needs of people who are food insecure are higher due to increased incidence and severity of disease. Health outcomes are also worse, reducing productivity and lifetime earnings. In addition, education expenses are higher, with a greater need for intervention such as special education. Achievement levels (and, hence, lifetime earnings) are negatively affected. These costs multiply as they work their way through the business complex and are largely borne by the whole of society. The Perryman Group estimates that hunger costs the US economy $461.9 billion in total expenditures and $221.9 billion in gross product each year as well as nearly 2.5 million permanent jobs on an ongoing basis.