In this white paper, we have gathered thoughts on how policymakers, economic developmentprofessionals, and other stakeholders can organize around economic continuity and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as communities are still dealing with the immediate health impacts, businesses are...

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created a new place-based economic development tool to induce economic activity in identified low-income census tracts throughout the US. In response, the State of Oregon established 86 Opportunity Zones (OZs) at the direction of Governor Kate Brown (Business...

Oregon has one of the higher adult vaccination rates in the US (just over 70% of adults 18+). This accomplishment is not to be scoffed at. Yet 20 percent of Oregonians have no plans to vaccinate, thus more work is needed. On June 30, Gov. Brown lifted almost all restrictions put in place at the...

Key takeaways from our report: Counties with tourism-based economies were hit hardest. Rural and frontier counties experienced lower rates of unemployment. Most workers who lost jobs are looking for employment. More than 77 percent of Oregonians who were unemployed in June 2020 were looking for...

The economic impacts of the pandemic were swift and deep.Economic effects have been felt unequally across the economy, with many sectors thriving during the pandemic while others—particularly leisure and hospitality—experiencing widespread job losses.In 2019, Oregon had 1,954,200 jobs – a...

This is the first in a multi-part series of white papers published by the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research & Engagement (IPRE). In this white paper, we contrast the guidelines for phased reopening set out by the Oregon state government and a proposed approach based on...

The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers in Oregon were swift and deep. Economic impacts have been felt unequally across the economy, with many sectors thriving during the pandemic while others— particularly leisure and hospitality—experiencing widespread job losses.Our...

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated stay-at-home orders led to skyrocketing unemployment and other health and social impacts. The impacts have been felt unequally across the economy, with many sectors thriving during the pandemic while others— particularly leisure and...