Media
Foreign Firms Creating More New Jobs in Tennessee Than Domestic Companies
(WMOT, June 1, 2015)
The Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University says foreign firms brought more than 6,300 new jobs to the state last year, up from about 4,600 new positions in 2013.
Summer Jobs Mean More Than Paychecks
(Daily News Journal, May 23, 2015)
From 2011-2013, the unemployment rate for teens in Tennessee fell to 25.1 percent from 27.6 percent. The decline, even slight, signals the broader economy is recovering from the recession, said Murat Arik, interim director of MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center.
Companies Promise 1,600+ Jobs in Rutherford County
(Daily News Journal, May 30, 2015)
According to the report from the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU, 16 foreign-owned operations announced the addition of 6,327 jobs in 2014, up from 4,607 in 2013, said Steven G. Livingston, author of the report.
Tennessee's Immigrant Population Approaches 5 Percent
(WMOT, May 22, 2015)
Middle Tennessee State University economist Steven Livingston studies international trade for the Business and Economic Research Center. He says there are now 300,000 legal immigrants living and working in Tennessee.
BERC: Jobless Rate Drops along with Hours Worked
(Daily News Journal, May 7, 2015)
March's economy showed both drops and spikes in most of the right placjoes, according to the monthly statistics released by the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University.
Johnson City MSA Shows Strongest Area Job Sector Growth Trend; Sectors Ranked by Rotal March Jobs
(Kingsport Today Core Data, April 28, 2015)S
Snapshot of the Tri-Cities labor market comes from heat charts compliments of MTSU's Bureau of Economic Research Center.
Kingsport-Bristol Leads Tennessee in March Sales Tax Collection Declines
(ingsport Today Core Data, April 26, 2015)
Kingsport-Bristol was a state leader again this month in sales tax collection comparisons as reported by MTSU's Bureau of Economic Research Center. Mar
Exporting Businesses Add 90,672 Jobs in Tennessee, Georgia in Past 5 Years
(Daily News Journal, April 8, 2015)
Dr. Steve Livingston, a professor of political science at Middle Tennessee State University who studies global trade as editor of Global Commerce magazine, said Tennessee's growing automotive industry, which now employs one of every three manufacturing workers, is helping to grow Tennessee exports even though the biggest car makers were imported into the U.S. from Japan and Germany.
BERC: Tennessee Economy Holds Steady
(Daily News Journal, April 8, 2015)
In February, Tennessee permits for single-family home construction declined following a strong January performance, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was virtually unchanged, and the unemployment rate dipped slightly, according to monthly economic indicators compiled by the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU.
More Tri-Cities Nonfarm Jobs; Charts Track Growth by Sector
(Kingsport Today, April 2, 2015)
MTSU's Bureau of Economic Research Center employment heat charts show Tri-Cities nonfarm jobs up in February.
Rutherford County Still Shows Rapid Population Growth
(Daily News Journal, April 1, 2015)
The difference among all of the high-growing counties is small enough to not be consequential, said Murat Arik, the interim director of the Business & Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University.
BERC: Economic Indicators Show Mixed Bag
(Daily News Journal, March 28, 2015)
In February, Tennessee's initial unemployment claims rose while state sales tax collections fell, according the monthly economic indicators released by the Business & Economic Research Center at MTSU.
Smyrna Awaits 1,000 New Manufacturing Jobs
(Tennessean, March 18, 2015)
Murat Arik, interim director of the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University, said Nissan's supplier park adds another layer to the region's strong auto sector. "It's going to actually strengthen the supply chain and that's going to be valuable," he said. "By bringing some of the supply chain components here, they're reducing the risks associated with any disruptions to production. Along the way, it reduces the costs of production of their vehicles."
Tri-Cities Sales Tax Collections Post Another Increase
(Kingsport Today, March 18, 2015)
According to MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center, here's how last month's year-to-year seasonally adjusted collections looked in the region.
How Long Before Brentwood Is Built Out?
(Tennessee Ledger, March 17, 2015)
"Brentwood's story is one of a kind in the region," said Murat Arik, Middle Tennessee State University associate director of business and economics. "It's a beautiful place, it has immense resources, extremely close proximity to Nashville and the presence of major economic activity. It's a great place to grow, but it must be a smart growth."
Smyrna Awaits 1,000 New Manufacturing Jobs
(Tennessean, March 16, 2015)
"Over the years, we've seen dramatically increased growth in terms of population and the manufacturing base here. All of those things attract new businesses to the area," said Murat Arik, interim director of the Business and Economic Research Center at Murfreesboro's Middle Tennessee State University.
Mid-state Economist: Tennessee Unemployment Jump No Cause for Concern
(WMOT, January 30, 2015)
Mid-state economist Murat Arik isn't concerned by the uptick. He says Tennessee's economy has created a healthy 70,000 new jobs in the past year. Arik, who heads the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State, does say that the Tennessee labor force has some structural problems that need long-term solutions.
Ice Storm Shuts Down Local Businesses
(Daily News Journal, February 23, 2015)
"Given the scope of the storm, the whole closures, and all, it may not have a lasting impact on the economy," explained Dr. Murat Arik, director of the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU.
December Sales Tax Collections Make Solid Gains in Tri-Cities, Northeast Tennessee
(Kingsport Today, February 1, 2015)
According to MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center report on seasonally adjusted collections, Knoxville led the region with a 6% increase.
Student Debt, Rising Rents Take Bite Out of Real Estate Market
(Tennessee Ledger, January 30, 2015)
Middle Tennessee State University economist David Penn notes that student loan debt is the fastest-growing debt in the nation, edging past mortgage and credit-card debt.
Johnson City Sees Broader Nov. Job Growth than Kingsport-Bristol
(Kingsport Today, January 8, 2015)
Five of Johnson City's 12 labor market sectors were in the green on MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center's November employment growth heat chart.
Tri-Cities Nov. Year-over-Year Sales Tax Collections Gain Leads Northeast Tennessee
According to MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center, seasonally adjusted collections in Kingsport were up 5.4% from November last year.
Strategy for Gauging 'Transformative' TNInvestco Value Yet to Be Determined
(venturenashille.com, December 10, 2014)
Economist Murat Arik, Ph.D., also told VNC he is confident that a deeper assessment of TNInvestco could be executed using proven research methods.
Mid-TN Plan Boosts Universities, Entrepreneurs, Accelerators + Businesses
(venturetennessee.com, December 4, 2014)
Key MT-DRP team members include, in addition to Brewer: TTU Prof. Steve Canfield, Ph.D. (Mech. Eng.); TSU Engineering Dean Keith Hargrove, Ph.D.; and, from MTSU, Prof. Andrienne Friedli, Ph.D. (Chem.), director of the MTSU Center for Advancement of Research and Scholarship; Walter Boles, Ph.D., chair, Engineering Technology; and, Murat Arik, Ph.D., interim director of MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center (BERC), according to the MT-DRP EDA grant application.
MTSU Honors Magazine
(Fall 2014, p. 57)
Honors College alumnus and Board of Visitors member Paul W. Martin Jr. assisted MTSU in developing a business relationship with industrial representatives from Kayseri, Turkey. Turkish representatives are partnering with Meliksah University and MTSU to obtain a grant from the Turkish government to develop switch reluctance motor technology for a patented wheel hub motor created by Dr. Charles Perry.
Kingsport-Bristol Construction Sees Another Month of Growth, Overall Tri-Cities Labor Market Growth Spotty
(Kingsport Today, November 26, 2014)
Construction saw its second straight month of double-digit growth in October when compared to the same month last year. It was also the eight straight month of strong growth for that sector. But that's the only shinning labor sector in this month's heat charts.
The charts are produced by the folks at MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center as a graphically easy way to review the labor market's sectors and how they are performing on a year-over-year metric.
Jobless Rate Drops Again in Rutherford County
(Daily News Journal, November 26, 2014)
Along with the news from the state Department of Labor, Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU released its monthly economic indicators that showed average weekly hours for Tennessee workers fell to 34.8 in October. Hours worked are down 1.4 percent over the year.
Why Do Some Areas Stand Out for the Positive More Than Others?
(WGNS, November 17, 2014)
"This book emerged out of Jones College's extensive involvement in business communities across Middle Tennessee. We wanted to share our experience with academic communities and economic development professionals across the world," Arik said.
MTSU BERC Director Publishes Book on Economic Development
(Daily News Journal, November 14, 2014)
The book, with Arik as author and BERC senior research associate Steve Livingston as a contributor, analyzes business and economic dynamics from an interdisciplinary perspective by incorporating tools and approaches from regional economic development, international business and strategic management literature.
Top 6 States with the Highest Unemployment Rates
(Credit Union Times, October 28, 2014)
"Unemployment is still behind other states, but the outlook is promising, especially when we look at manufacturing," said Murat Arik, interim director of Business and Economic Research for the Jones College of Business at the Middle Tennessee State University in Mufreesboro.
Construction Jobs Post Double-Digit Sept. Gains in Kingsport-Bristol MSA
(Kingsport Today, October 22, 2014)
Construction jobs are the Kingsport-Bristol standout in the September employment growth heat carts from MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center.
Kingsport-Bristol Only State MSA with September Sales Tax Collection Decline
(Kingsport Today, October 21, 2014)
Seasonally adjusted sales tax collections in every MSA in the state increased with the exception of Kingsport-Bristol. Year-over-year there were down 2.8%. Compared to August they were down 10.1%. The data comes from MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center.
Haslam Questions High Unemployment Rate Amid Growing Economy
(TNReport, October 11, 2014)
Murat Arik, who's serving as interim director of the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU, said that despite the appearance of success at attracting companies to the state, the performance of the economy is "uneven" across the state, with some parts doing a lot better than others.
Rutherford County Gets Good News on Home Sales
(Daily News Journal, October 9, 2014)
According to monthly economic indicators released by the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU, permits issued for single-family home construction for Tennessee rose to a post-recession high in August, climbing to 1,704 after seasonal adjustments.
Haslam Questions High Jobless Rate in Tennessee
(WMOT, October 7, 2014)
Middle Tennessee State University economist Murat Arik says he hasn't had time to crunch the numbers yet but does have a couple of ideas about where the problem might be. He says many of the companies bringing jobs to Tennessee in recent years transferred existing employees from other states. He also says many Tennesseans simply don't have the job skills companies are looking for.
Tennessee's Economy Continues to Improve
(Daily News Journal, October 7, 2014)
Tennessee's economy continues to travel down recovery road, according to monthly economic indicators released by the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU.
Tennessee Exports Growing, except from Small Business
(Knoxville News Sentinel, October 5, 2014)
If it is from East Tennessee, that product is more than likely automotive or chemical related, said Steven Livingston, who compiles reports on Tennessee exports for Middle Tennessee State University's Business and Economic Research Center. The range of exports could stand to be broader, he said.
Kingsport-Bristol Sees Small August Wage Increase, Johnson City MSA Down
(Kingsport Today, October 4, 2014)
According to MTSU [Business and] Economic Research [Center] the August seasonally adjusted average was 3% better than August last year.
August Sales Tax Collections Increase in 3 of 4 NE Tenn. MSAs
(Kingsport Today, September 25, 2014)
According to MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center adjusted collections were 3.8% higher in the Johnson City MSA, 3.6% higher in the Kingsport-Bristol MSA and 3.8% higher in the Knoxville MSA when compared to Augusts last year.
MTSU Economic Report Says Layoffs Decline
(Daily News Journal, September 11, 2014)
Unemployment claims continue to decline as new layoffs become less of a problem, the MTSU Business & Economic Research Center reported today.
July Jobs: Major Providers, Recovery Winners and Losers; 12-Month Heat Charts
(Daily News Journal, August 25, 2014)
For the past year or so, the midstate has been adding jobs and growing at a rate faster than the national economy. "The Nashville area continues to be the hot spot for Tennessee's economy," said David Penn, director of the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU.
July Jobs: Major Providers, Recovery Winners and Losers; 12-Month Heat Charts
(Kingsport Today, August 25, 2014)
MTSU's employment heat charts are a great way keep tabs labor market performance. It's a color coded map of how each labor sector in performing against the same month of the previous year.
July Sales Tax Collections a Picture of Tri-Cities' Recovery Struggle
(Kingsport Today, August 23, 2014)
Each of the region's four MSAs were negative when compared to June, according to totals compiled at the MTSU Bureau of Economic Research.
Taking Tennessee's Temperature
(Southpoint, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, August 15, 2014)
Middle Tennessee State University's Business and Economic Research Center produces a heat map of Tennessee's employment growth by industry (based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data) that nicely illustrates what we've been hearing from our business contacts: namely, employment in construction, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality has been outpacing growth in other industries.
Young Guns: Agent Sees Real Estate as Calling
(Daily News Journal, August 14, 2014)
Recently released data from the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU show Tennessee's housing market might have finally rebounded.
Midstate's Economy Is State's 'Hot Spot'
(Daily News Journal, August 4, 2014)
For the past year or so, the midstate has been adding jobs and growing at a rate faster than the national economy. "The Nashville area continues to be the hot spot for Tennessee's economy," said David Penn, director of the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU.
Kingsport-Bristol, Johnson City June Sales Tax Collections Show Improvements
(Kingsport Today, July 23, 2014)
According to MTSU's Tracking Tennessee's Economic Recovery, Kingsport-Bristol's seasonally adjusted collections in June were 6% better than last year.
June Jobs Heat Charts Show Small Year over Year Gains
(Kingsport Today, July 22, 2014)
The thing to look for on MTSU's job heat charts is the color green. That's the key for job growth. Kingsport-Bristol shows three sectors in growth mode: mining, logging and construction, transportation and utilities, retail trade.
Nashville's Job Growth Is Changing
(Nashville Post, July 10, 2014)
Steven Livingston, a Middle Tennessee State University economist and editor of Global Commerce, noted Tennessee's central location to much of the U.S. Tennessee also is considered low tax and a weak union state, which makes it attractive to a number of countries, he said. "I see it continuing," Livingston said.
News Briefs from around Tennessee at 1:58 a.m. EDT
(Washington Times, June 22, 2014)
Nashville's high ranking isn't surprising, said David Penn, an economics professor at Middle Tennessee State University. "We've blown the top off the recovery for employment growth, we are way past our previous recession peak, and we have been the hot spot in the state for some time," he said. Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/22/news-briefs-from-around-tennessee-at-158-am-edt/#ixzz38VzG0QGP Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
Ola, Guten Tag and Bonjour: Chattanooga Tops in Foreign Jobs in Tennessee, Report Shows
(Chattanooga Times Free Press, June 20, 2014)
Steven Livingston, a Middle Tennessee State University economist and editor of Global Commerce, noted Tennessee's central location to much of the U.S. Tennessee also is considered low tax and a weak union state, which makes it attractive to a number of countries, he said. "I see it continuing," Livingston said.
Is Nashville the Nation's Next $100 Billion City?
(Tennessean, June 20, 2014)
Nashville's high rank is unsurprising, said David Penn, who is an economics professor at Middle Tennessee State University. "We've blown the top off the recovery for employment growth, we are way past our previous recession peak, and we have been the hot spot in the state for some time."
Greater Chattanooga Area Jobless Rate Falls to 6-Year Low and Below U.S. Average
(Chattanooga Times Free Press, May 23, 2014)
"Certainly, the worst of the recession is behind us and we think we're looking at a period of sustained, and even faster, job growth this year," said David Penn, director of the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University. "We had a tough winter this year that held back some growth in the first quarter, but we expect to see faster employment growth for the balance of this year."
Chattanooga Job Growth on the Rebound
(Chattanooga Times Free Press, April 8, 2014)
"Manufacturing jobs are coming back strong in Middle Tennessee, especially in the automotive sector, but we're not necessarily seeing that everywhere in the state," said David Penn, director of the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University.
Johnson City MSA Leads Tri-Cities to a Small Sales Tax Collection Increase in January
(Kingsport Today, March 11, 2014)
According to seasonally adjusted data from MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center, collections in the Tri-Cities area were up 0.7%.
The South's Red-Hot Town
(Time, March 7, 2014)
Nashville and its economy are on fire, sparked by a booming cultural scene, world-class health care, rising universities--and a really good spot on the map.
Tri-Cities Year-over-Year Retail Sales Tax Collections Up in December
(Kingsport Today, February 14, 2014)
According to the Bureau of Economic Research at MTSU seasonally adjusted retail sales tax collections were down when compared to November.
In the News: Faculty Share Info
(MTSU News, February 4, 2014)
Dr. David Penn, director of the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center in the Jones College of Business, shared his insights for an online article on the National Conference of State Legislators website about how lawmakers can help promote job growth. Read the article here.
Where Are the Jobs? Ways Lawmakers Can Promote Conditions for Job Growth
(State Legislators Magazine, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 1, 2014)
"States should focus their efforts on the things that government must do well: infrastructure, education and training, and quality of life," says David Penn, an economist at Middle Tennessee. State University's Jones College of Business. "These factors are more important than monetary incentives."
Nashville-Area Workers, Employers Differ on Raising Minimum Wage
(Tennessean, January 31, 2014)
David Penn, director for the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University, said an increase in the minimum wage is needed to counteract a long-term decline in paychecks, adjusted for inflation.
Nov. Kingsport-Bristol, Johnson City MSA Job Sector Winners and Losers
(Kingsport Today, January 7, 2014)
MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center has filed the last component for the Tri-Cities November jobs story.
Nov. Kingsport-Bristol, Johnson City MSA Job Sector Winners and Losers
(Kingsport Today, January 7, 2014)
MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center has filed the last component for the Tri-Cities November jobs story.
Tri-Cities Retail Sales Tax Collections Lead East Tennessee November Pace
(Kingsport Today, January 4, 2014)