Journal Article
Regional Spotlight: Labor Market Disparities
Flora, Paul R. (2021-07-06)
The data show that Black workers are overrepresented in the lowest-paying occupations. Paul Flora examines what big business can do to help a region address this inequality.
Economic Insights , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , Pages 18-23

Journal Article
Regional Spotlight: Smart Growth for Regions of All Sizes
Flora, Paul R. (2019-04)
Pittsburgh?s population has shrunk by 400,000 since 1969, making it the poster child for urban shrinkage. So why is it doing so well? Sometimes, smaller really is better.
Regional Spotlight , Issue Q2 , Pages 8-14

Journal Article
Regional Spotlight: Poverty in Philadelphia, and Beyond
Flora, Paul R. (2021-12-02)
The focus on poverty within the city of Philadelphia misses the bigger picture—and the state’s role.
Regional Spotlight , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , Pages 16-22

Journal Article
Regional spotlight: what's holding back homebuilding?
Flora, Paul R. (2015-04)
The construction industry, often the first to resume hiring after an economic downturn, still hasn't recovered from the Great Recession. Paul Flora examines the forces that have held back this sector in our region and around the country.
Business Review , Issue Q2 , Pages 17-21

Journal Article
Regional Spotlight Measuring State Employment
Flora, Paul R. (2022-11-10)
We introduce our new quarterly Early Benchmarks of monthly state employment estimates.
Regional Spotlight

Journal Article
Regional Spotlight: Poverty in Philadelphia, and Beyond
Flora, Paul R. (2021-12-02)
The focus on poverty within the city of Philadelphia misses the bigger picture—and the state’s role.
Economic Insights , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , Pages 16-22

Journal Article
Regions defined and dissected
Flora, Paul R. (2015-10)
In 2013, the federal government confirmed what every kid from Waynesboro, PA, had understood 50 years earlier ? that Franklin County was inextricably tied to the Washington?Baltimore region. Forsaking the Phillies and Pirates, Little Leaguers from south-central Pennsylvania traveled instead to watch Frank Robinson in the Orioles? outfield. In the fall, local families jeered the Eagles and Steelers, and cheered as Johnny Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to victories. Good-paying jobs beckoned and TV signals emanated from over the Blue Ridge mountains and inside the dual beltways.
Regional Spotlight , Issue Q4 , Pages 1-7

Briefing
Why Were Pennsylvania’s Initial UI Claims so High?
Michaels, Ryan; Flora, Paul R. (2020-06-01)
As initial unemployment insurance (UI) claims exploded across the country early in the COVID-19 crisis, one fact stood out: Pennsylvania’s initial UI claims were exceptionally high. For the week ending March 21, Pennsylvania led all states with 378,908 initial UI claims.
Research Brief

Journal Article
Budget gaps and balanced-budget proposals in Third District states
Flora, Paul R. (2010-06)
Research Rap Special Report , Issue Jun

Journal Article
Use of rainy day funds in Third District states
Flora, Paul R. (2011-01)
Rainy day fund is the popular name for special reserve funds employed by all but three states (Arkansas, Kansas, and Montana) to provide a more flexible response to emergencies and/or cyclical fiscal extremes. This is the primary policy tool designed specifically to help states address fiscal stresses generated by recessions. By transferring a portion of budget surpluses to their rainy day funds during years of strong economic growth and rising revenues, states can reduce the need to raise taxes and cut services during years of weak growth and declining revenues.
Research Rap Special Report , Issue Jan