Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research


The Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research is a research unit of the W. P. Carey School of Business, specializing in applied economic and demographic research with a geographic emphasis on Arizona and the metropolitan Phoenix area. The Center conducts research projects under sponsorship of private businesses, non-profit organizations, government entities, and other ASU units. In particular, the Center administers both the Productivity and Prosperity Project: An Analysis of Economic Competitiveness (P3) and the Office of the University Economist. These ongoing initiatives began in 2005 and are sponsored by university president Michael M. Crow.

Formerly known as the Center for Business Research, the Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research, along with the Economic Outlook Center, was created in 1986 from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, which dates back to the 1950s.

P3: The Productivity and Prosperity Project

The Productivity and Prosperity Project: An Analysis of Economic Competitiveness (P3) is an ongoing initiative begun in 2005, sponsored by Arizona State University president Michael M. Crow. P3 analyses incorporate literature reviews, existing empirical evidence, and economic and econometric analyses.

Enhancing productivity is the primary means of attaining economic prosperity. Productive individuals and businesses are the most competitive and prosperous. Competitive regions attract and retain these productive workers and businesses, resulting in strong economic growth and high standards of living. An overarching objective of P3’s work is to examine competitiveness from the perspective of an individual, a business, a region, and a country.

For an introduction to P3, see The Productivity and Prosperity Project: An Analysis of Economic Competitiveness, October 2005
An introduction to the concepts of productivity, prosperity and competitiveness and to the research agenda of P3.

P3 Research Reports:

NEW! University Research and Local Economic Development, August 2006
A review of studies that examine the extent to which university research contributes to economic growth and development.

High-Wage Jobs, May 2006
An offshoot of the work on job quality, this report examines high-wage jobs in the United States, Arizona, and other states.

Universities in the U.S. National Innovation System, March 2006
A review of research and development efforts in the United States, including the role played by universities.

Job Quality in All States, March 2006 (click here for the initial job quality reports from 2005)
An update of the initial analysis of job quality conducted in 2005, which presented a new way to calculate job quality nationally and by state.

Educational Attainment in Arizona Compared to All States, November 2005
A summary of educational attainment nationally and by state, with a particular focus on those active in the labor force.

Higher Education Enrollment and Finance in Arizona Compared to All States, October 2005
An analysis of public support for higher education nationally and by state.

The Value of Higher Education: Individual and Societal Benefits, October 2005
An in-depth look at the benefits to individuals, the economies where educated individuals work and live, and society in general of enhanced educational attainment.

Five Reasons to Skip College: A Reply, May 2006
A response to an article at Forbes.com that questioned the value of higher education.

Office of the University Economist

The Office of the University Economist responds to strategic and tactical needs of the Office of the President and the university as a whole related to the role of the university in economic development. Focusing on economic development and the university’s role as an economic driver, the University Economist publishes reports in academic and popular press. By actively engaging key constituencies, the University Economist helps frame the debate in leading public discussions on the knowledge economy.

University Economist Reports:

NEW! The Contribution of Arizona State University to the Arizona Economy, Fiscal Year 2005, May 2006
An assessment of the contribution of ASU to the Arizona economy, based on its employment and spending and also on other benefits, particularly the productivity and earnings of its graduates.

Tuition, Appropriations and Constitutional Mandates in Arizona, February 2006
An examination of university tuition levels and public support for universities by state, with consideration of constitutional requirements for tuition to be as nearly free as possible and for appropriations to be made for the maintenance and improvement of public educational institutions.

Economic and Demographic Information

The Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research produces economic and demographic information, organized as follows:

Data: Links to sources of Arizona data.

Reports: Ranging from short articles to lengthy reports, some are accompanied by spreadsheets of the data used in the preparation of the report.

Publications: AZB/Arizona Business was published monthly through 2004; the May 2000 through December 2004 issues are available online. Since the end of 2004, the content of this publication is included in the reports section of this website.