Thank You To Our Partners | University of Nebraska–Lincoln Bureau of Business Research
During this month of Thanksgiving, we take some extra time to share our gratitude for all of our partners — individuals and communities of place and practice. Thank you for all you do to bring forward the research and hands-on work for thriving rural communities of the future.
The Rural Futures Institute (RFI) at the University of Nebraska understands that to truly make a statewide, regional, national and international impact for current and future residents of rural communities, we must partner with the boldest, action-oriented thought leaders and achievers around the world.
Today, we especially thank the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Bureau of Business Research.
The Bureau of Business Research (BBR) is an applied economic and business research entity of the College of Business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It provides relevant information and insightful data on economic conditions, in Nebraska, the Great Plain, and the nation as a general service to individuals and businesses in the state. The BBR also provides economists with practical opportunities to conduct applied economic research and trains students of economics and business in the conduct of applied research on timely economic and business topics.
Nebraska Thriving Index
We were proud to announce this week that through a collaboration with the Bureau of Business Research and additional University of Nebraska partners, we will launch the Nebraska Thriving Index in May 2019.
RFI-Supported Research
Catalyzing the Role of Micropolitan America in the Future of Rural America
This project helped micropolitan areas identify opportunities and formulate research-driven plans for their future success in order to support rural economies. It developed a prototype in Nebraska with national applicability and actionability. As a result of this project, the University of Nebraska leads the nation in articulating the role of micropolitan areas and helping them capitalize on their unique opportunities for regional innovation and rural development.
There were four primary project outcomes related to the calculation of wealth indicators:
- Nebraska micropolitan areas differ substantially according to measures of physical, human, intellectual, financial, social and cultural wealth
- Wealth indicators are feasible to integrate into discussions of community strengths and weaknesses as part of community engagement and strategic planning efforts; changes in wealth indicators can be used as benchmarks to measure progress
- Micropolitan areas have a broad interest in the standard of living and quality of life, in addition to traditional development goals such as job creation; micropolitan communities have an underlying interest in tracking broad measures of wealth
- Micropolitan areas appear to be large enough to enjoy advantages for and success in industrial and economic production, but not large enough to have similar advantages for consumption and quality of life
RFI Faculty Fellow, Eric Thompson
Dr. Thompson’s research about the Midwest and national economy examines competitive factors affecting state and local economic growth, the role of agriculture in the economy, and the economics of infrastructure. Thompson holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a former president of the Association for University Business and Economic Research. He directs the widely known Bureau of Business Research (BBR), teaches graduate-level courses and conducts rural economic research. His monthly BBR podcasts and research blogs are keenly watched by rural development practitioners and investors throughout Nebraska.
Get to know Eric via his RFI Fellow introductory video!
Thank you, Bureau of Business Research, for your constant innovation and ambition to deliver tools and information to decision makers across our state and beyond.
