Bay Area Council Economic Institute - analyses on key issues affecting the Bay Area economy

Bay Area Council Economic Institute publications are grouped in two categories below:

Economic Analyses on key issues affecting the Bay Area economy.
The Forum Reports, a series of regional issues discussions with the Bay Area Economic Forum Board of Directors.

Links to PDF versions of the reports are listed chronologically, newest reports first.

Economic Analyses

Bay Area Economic Forecast 2008–2009

This abstract report, jointly produced with Beacon Economics, includes sub-regional forecasts for the South Bay/Silicon Valley, San Francisco/San Mateo/North Bay, and Oakland/East Bay areas, along with an overall Bay Area Outlook.
—November 2008 (PDF: 36 pages, 2.1 MB)*
California High-Speed Rail: Economic Benefits and Impacts in the San Francisco Bay Area

The proposed California high-speed rail project has been designed to provide fast, efficient transportation between California’s major urban centers, linking Los Angeles and San Francisco through the rapidly-growing Central Valley.
—October 2008 (PDF: 44 pages, 2.3 MB)*
International Trade and the Bay Area Economy: Regional Interests and Global Outlook 2008
—September 2008 (PDF: 68 pages, 1.8 MB)*
The Innovation Driven Economic Development Model: A Practical Guide for the Regional Innovation Broker

Prepared as part of a collaboration in which the Economic Institute and BASIC are participants, this report describes an innovation-driven economic development model based on the new realities of globalization and the changing nature of the innovation process.
—September 2008: Full Report (PDF: 64 pages, 1.9 MB)*
—September 2008: Executive Summary (PDF: 17 pages, 498 KB)*
Sustaining the Bay Area’s Competitiveness in a Globalizing World

Every two years, with support from McKinsey & Company, the Economic Institute produces the Bay Area Economic Profile report. First published in 1996, the series profiles the performance of the regional economy against other major metropolitan economies in the United States and globally, discusses trends and sources of structural change, and assesses strengths and weaknesses that impact regional economic performance.

Sixth in the series, this Economic Profile report is a detailed and data-rich examination of the factors that drive the Bay Area's highly productive economy and make it a global destination for talented people, productive businesses, and innovative research institutions.
—April 2008 (PDF: 47 pages, 3.5 MB)*
Human Capital in the Bay Area: Why an Educated, Flexible Workforce Is Vital to Our Economic Future
Human capital, commonly understood as the collective level of education, skill and experience of a region’s labor force, is one of the most fundamental building blocks of high-value-added economies. This report analyzes indicators of human capital in the Bay Area, and identifies what is distinctive about the Bay Area’s workforce.
—February 2008 (PDF: 68 pages, 730 KB)*
Toward a California Trade and Investment Strategy: Potential Roles for the State in Global Market Development
Prepared at the request of the California Department of Business, Housing and Transportation, this study provides the foundation for a new California international trade and investment strategy delivered to the Legislature in 2008.
—October 2007 (PDF: 100 pages, 906 KB)*
Innovative Energy Solutions from the San Francisco Bay Area: Fueling A Clean Energy Future
The second in the BASIC Science Futures series, this comprehensive first-of-its-kind report on major alternative energy technologies highlights the region’s leadership in contributing to California’s and the nation’s agenda for achieving energy independence and addressing global warming.
—July 2007 (PDF: 92 pages, 986 KB)*
BASIC Innovators Series, Number 2
This second issue in the BASIC Innovators interview series features Nobel Prize winner and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director Steven Chu, one of the most prominent and vocal of all the scientific figures to address the energy crisis.
—Summer 2007 (PDF: 6 pages, 2.4 MB)*
The Economics of Community Choice Aggregation: The Municipalization of Local Power Acquisition and Production
The third in a series dealing with economic issues surrounding the municipalization of electric power systems and the seventh in a series focusing on power market issues in the wake of California’s 2001 electricity crisis.
—June 2007 (PDF: 44 pages, 437 KB)*
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Measures to Reduce the Economic Impacts of a Drought-Induced Water Shortage in the SF Bay Area
Prepared by the Bay Area Economic Forum and Public Financial Management (PFM) for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), this report analyzes the potential economic costs of drought-induced water cutbacks in the Hetch Hetchy system and options for how to mitigate them.
—May 2007 (PDF: 53 pages, 477 KB)*
Bay Area Innovation Network Roundtable: Identifying Emerging Patterns of the Next Wave of Innovation
A report from BASIC on a day-long roundtable symposium convening seminal thinkers representing a broad spectrum of public and private research and development institutes and enterprises to focus on identirying a new and emerging patterns and key drivers for the next wave of innovation.
—April 2007 (PDF: 28 pages, 1 MB)*
Shared Values, Shared Vision: California’s Economic Ties with Canada
California and Canada maintain broad, deep and longstanding commercial ties that grow out of some remarkable similarities. This report discusses the characteristics that have generated considerable cross-border economic activity and have enabled both countries to leverage important comparative advantages.
—March 2007 (PDF: 52 pages, 377 KB)*
Ties That Bind: The San Francisco Bay Area’s Economic Links to Greater China
An examination of The San Francisco Bay Area’s business, economic, educational, historical, and cultural ties to China, documenting the depth and breadth of the region’s engagement with China and the business and other channels that have made the Bay Area the nation’s leading portal for U.S.-China exchange.
—November 2006 (PDF: 168 pages, 2.5 MB)*
BASIC Innovators Series, Number 1
Produced by the Bay Area Science and Innovation Consortium (BASIC), this first issue in the Innovators interview series features Dr. Regis B. Kelly, Executive Director of the California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research (QB3), and Dr. Robert J. T. Morris, Vice President, Assets Innovation, IBM Global Services.
—October 2006 (PDF: 8 pages, 746 KB)*
The Innovation Edge: Meeting the Global Competitive Challenge
A series of essays by nationally recognized thought leaders on business, technology and the global economy, addressing the challenges posed by global competition to U.S. leadership in science and technology, and ultimately to the U.S. economy.
—September 2006 (PDF: 66 pages, 1 MB)*
Investing in California’s Infrastructure:
How to Ensure Value for Money and Protect California’s Competitive Position in the National and Global Economy
—June 2006 (PDF: 76 pages, 997 KB)*
The Innovation Economy: Protecting the Talent Edge
Fifth in a series, this Economic Profile report finds that the Bay Area has transformed itself, emerging from the recent high-tech boom and bust, but cautions that it urgently needs more pathbreaking solutions and investment in education, housing, and infrastructure to secure the foundation for future success.
—February 2006 (PDF: 64 pages, 975 KB)*
Employer Mandates and the Health Care Crisis: Economic Impacts in California and the Bay Area
Study Finds Government Mandates Do Not Achieve Goal of Universal Health Care and Will Likely Cost Low Wage Earners Jobs
—January 2006 (PDF: 18 pages, 224 KB)*
International Trade and the Bay Area Economy: Regional Interests and Global Outlook 2005–2006
—July 2005 (82 pages, 1.7 MB)*
Visas for Higher Education and Scientific Exchanges: Balancing Security and Economic Competitiveness
A discussion about the impact on economic competitiveness of visas and immigration policies implemented since 9/11, particularly as they impact graduate students and scientists coming to this country from overseas.
—April 2005 (PDF: 18 pages, 369 KB)*
One Million Jobs at Risk
The Future of Manufacturing in California
—March 2005 (PDF: 30 pages, 352 KB)*
Economic Impacts of Competitive Air Service at San Francisco International Airport
Growing air traffic at SFO is a positive sign for the recovery of the Bay Area economy.
—November 2004 (PDF: 8 pages 448 KB)*
Lightning Strikes Twice: California Faces the Real Risk of a Second Power Crisis
Taking the Right Steps to Ensure a Powerful Future
—August 2004 (PDF: 28 pages, 418 KB)*
The Future of Bay Area Jobs: The Impact of Offshoring and Other Key Trends
Study Finds Offshoring Less Important Than Other Factors to Job Creation and Destruction in the Bay Area
—July 2004 (PDF: 44 pages, 601 KB)*
Supercenters and the Transformation of the Bay Area Grocery Industry: Issues, Trends, and Impacts
This report on supercenters (large discount stores that include full-scale groceries) analyzes the regional impacts of these facilities, and the factors that local governments and commuities whould take into account when considering their siting.
—January 2004 (PDF: 108 pages, 859 KB)*
Nanotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area:
Dawn of a New Age
First in the BASIC Science Futures series of reports highlighting the local achievements and prospects in newly evolving areas of scientific research that have the potential to stimulate new waves of scientific and commercial success in the Bay Area.
—January 2004 (PDF: 40 pages, 929 KB)*
Downturn and Recovery: Restoring Prosperity
Fourth in a series, this Economic Profile report analyzes economic developments in the Bay Area since the decline in the regional economy and the technology sector that began in 2001, including continuing economic strengths, structural challenges and comparisons to other major regions nationwide.
—January 2004 (PDF: 36 pages, 8.0 MB)*
Meeting the Challenge of Homeland Security, 2nd Edition
—October 2003 (PDF: 146 pages, 736 KB)*

The first edition of this report, covering Highlights of the Bay Area’s Research and Development Capabilities Related to the Critical Mission Areas of the Department of Homeland Security, was issued in November 2002: (PDF: 51 pages, 487 KB)*
California Is Still Coming Up Short on Electricity:
The State’s power sector remains troubled and is at risk of a future supply shortfall
Fourth in a series on energy issues.
—May 2003 (PDF: 32 pages, 305 KB)*
International Trade and the Bay Area Economy: Regional Interests and Global Outlook 2003–2004
—January 2003 (84 pages, 2.4 MB)*
California’s Energy Future: A Framework for an Integrated Power Policy
Third in a series on energy issues.
—November 2002 (PDF: 36 pages, 170 KB)*
The Economics of Electric System Municipalization: Infrastructure Aquisition and its Effect on Consumer Rates
The second in a series dealing with economic issues surrounding the municipalization of electric power systems.
—October 2002 (PDF: 27 pages, 428 KB)*
Hetch Hetchy Water and the Bay Area Economy
—October 2002 (PDF: 60 pages, 2.3 MB)*
After the Bubble: Sustaining Economic Prosperity
Bay Area Economic Profile, Third in a Series
—January 2002 (PDF: 32 pages, 243 KB)*
After the Bubble Appendices to the January 2002 Economic Profile Report
Appendix A:
Economic Performance and Quality of Life Data (PDF: 37 pages, 118 KB)*
Appendix B:
Performance by Industry Cluster (PDF: 43 pages, 174 KB)*
Appendix C:
Definitions, Methodology, and End Notes (PDF: 13 pages, 43 KB)*
Air Transport and the Bay Area Economy —
Crisis in Air Travel: Weathering the Downturn
—January 2002 (PDF: 23 pages, 249 KB)*
California at a Crossroads: Options for the Long-Term Reform of the Power Sector
Second in a series on energy issues.
—October 2001 (PDF: 60 pages, 329 KB)*
The Economics of Electric System Municipalization
The first in a series dealing with economic issues surrounding the municipalization of electric power systems.
—October 2001 (PDF: 40 pages, 194 KB)*
International Trade and the Bay Area: Air Cargo, Technology and the Economy of Silicon Valley
—September 2001 (PDF: 4 pages, 52 KB)*
The Bay Area: A Knowledge Economy Needs Power
A Report on California’s Energy Crisis and Its Impact on the Bay Area Economy
First in a series on energy issues.
—April 2001 (PDF: 84 pages, 450 KB)*
Air Transport and the Bay Area Economy —Phase Two
—November 2000 (PDF: 52 pages, 653 KB)*
Air Transport and the Bay Area Economy —Phase One
—January 2000 (PDF: 57 pages, 596 KB)*
The Bay Area: Winning in the New Global Economy
Bay Area Economic Profile, Second in a Series
—September 1999 (PDF: 76 pages, 586 KB)*

The Forum Reports

Discussions with the Bay Area Economic Forum Board of Directors

Technology Start-Ups and the Dynamics of Silicon Valley
Volume Five, Number One, Winter 2005
Bay Area Economic Forum
Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
Public Policy Institute of California
(PDF: 12 pages, 240 KB)*

Science, Technology and Innovation:
The Bay Area’s Five New Research Centers
Volume Four, Number Two, Winter 2003
Bay Area Economic Forum
Bay Area Science and Innovation Consortium
(PDF: 16 pages, 200 KB)*
Immigrant Entrepreneurs and the Bay Area Economy:
How Human Capital from Asia Places the Bay Area at the Heart of New Global Networks
Volume Four, Number One, Spring 2003
Bay Area Economic Forum
Public Policy Institute of California
(PDF: 16 pages, 295 KB)*
From Boom to Recession: Assessing the Bay Area’s Prospects for Recovery and Growth
Volume Three, Number Two, Fall 2001
Bay Area Economic Forum
(PDF: 12 pages, 217 KB)*
Technology and the Economy: Why the Bay Area Is the Global Technology Leader and How to Keep It That Way
Volume Three, Number One, Spring 2001
City of San Jose
(PDF: 16 pages, 438 KB)*
Managing Growth: Regional Challenges, Regional Solutions?
Volume Two, Number Two, Summer 2000
Port of Oakland
(PDF: 12 pages, 476 KB)*
Housing & the Economy
Volume Two, Number One, Winter 1999–2000
Port of Oakland
(PDF: 12 pages, 137 KB)*
Bay Area Mergers & Aquisitions: Do They Matter?
Volume One, Number Two, February 24, 1999
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
(PDF: 12 pages, 172 KB)*
Global Financial Turmoil: Implications for the Bay Area
Volume One, Number One, October 7, 1998
Stanford University
(PDF: 12 pages, 179 KB)*

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