Spring Speaker Series Underway

ACRE is bringing three outstanding speakers to UCA this spring. Nolan Gray, urban planning PhD student from the University of California in Los Angeles; Dr. Marcus Witcher of Huntingdon College in Mobile, Alabama; and Meg Tuszynski, Director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom, all promise to deliver inspiring and thought provoking presentations.

The Spring Speaker Series kicked off February 7. Nolan Gray’s presentation explored How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix it. Next up is Dr. Witcher’s presentation, Black Entrepreneurship: Building the Foundation for Freedom, originally scheduled for February 2, has been rescheduled to March 16, due to inclement weather.

Meg Tuszynski will close out the Speaker Series with her presentation, “Economic Freedom: What it is and Why it Matters,” April 25.

Mark your calendars for Feb. 7, March 16, and April 25, and don’t miss these three engaging speakers.

Read more about each here.

ACRE’s Top 10 Policy Goals for the 2023 Arkansas Legislative Session

By Jeremy Horpedahl, ACRE Director

The Arkansas General Assembly convenes for the 2023 general session on January 9, 2023. Over the weeks and months that follow, the Legislature will consider bills on a wide variety of issues affecting individuals and businesses in Arkansas. Researchers at ACRE have been hard at work since the last legislative session conducting basic research in our primary policy areas of government transparency, labor market regulations (especially occupational licensing), and fiscal policy (both tax and spending issues).

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ACRE Publications Examine COVID Relief Fund Transparency and Provide a Guide for Local Governments

Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting: How States are Promoting Transparency

by Dr. Mavuto Kalulu

Dr. Kalulu’s policy brief examines how various states are ensuring the transparency of COVID-19 Relief Fund expenditures and draws lessons for Arkansas from the more transparent states. Arkansas received $1.25 billion and it is good governance for the state to report residents on how these funds are allocated and expended. The more transparent states provide more detailed information and provide downloadable data on searchable platforms.

COVID Relief Done Right: A Local Government Transparency Guide for Following the One-Time Influx of Funds by

Joyce O. Ajayi and Ashley Philips

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments have received an influx of funds from the United States Treasury

Department to help pay for unexpected eligible expenses and replace lost revenue. Our latest publication, COVID Relief Done Right, authored by ACRE analyst Joyce O. Ajayi and UCA Associate Professor of Accounting Ashley Philips, provides background on the one-time influx of COVID-19 relief funds in Arkansas and a toolkit for local transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, including a web transparency checklist.

ACRE Director Recognized for Societal Impact

UCA College of Business recently announced the winners of its faculty excellence awards. ACRE Director and UCA Associate Professor of Economics Jeremy Horpedahl was awarded the Societal Impact award, for his impact in the past year in the classroom, through his academic research, and through his engagement with the public (such as media appearances, legislative testimony, and social media writings). Read more…

The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) is an Arkansas focused research center housed in the College of Business at the University of Central Arkansas. ACRE scholars and policy analysts use academic research and original analysis to educate the public on important issues of public policy in Arkansas. Our research focuses on barriers to employment, taxes and spending, targeted incentives, and government transparency. ACRE promotes solutions that respect the personal and economic freedoms of individuals because protecting and expanding these freedoms has a proven record of improving the lives of people around the world and here at home.

Arkansas Center for Research in Economics