University of Arkansas

Walton College

The Sam M. Walton College of Business

Center for Business & Economic Research


Located in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the Center provides applied economic and business research to federal, state, and local government, as well as to businesses currently operating or those that desire to operate in the state of Arkansas. The Center further works to improve the economic opportunities of all Arkansans by conducting policy research in the public interest.

The Quarterly Business Analysis program builds networks of leaders from business, academic and governmental sectors in the region while addressing business highlights of the previous quarter, key economic trends and projections and immediate and long-term issues facing the regional and state economy.


 

Business Forecast Luncheon
January 30, 2020

2019 BF program

Each year, the Center for Business & Economic Research hosts the Business Forecast Luncheon, bringing together national and international experts to discuss the economic outlook for Arkansas, the nation and the world. Business Forecast 2019 was a great success, with over 1200 registered.

The 26th Annual Business Forecast Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in the World Trade Center District in Rogers. For questions or other registration options, please call 479-575-4151. Networking with complimentary coffee and light pastries begin at 10:30 a.m. We hope to see you there for an informative event.

 

BF Speakers 2019

 

Moderator Claiborne Deming is chairman of the board of Murphy Oil Corporation. Previously, he served as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Deming also serves on the board of directors of Murphy Oil, USA and previously served on the board of directors of the Entergy Corporation. He was a member of the Arkansas State Board of Education from September 1999 to June 2002.

Global Forecaster Manuel Balmaseda is chief economist at CEMEX, a leading global building materials corporation. Previously he served as chief economist for Spain and Europe at BBVA, chief economist for Capital Markets at BBV, professor of economics at CEMFI and visiting researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. He is also vice-president of NABE (National Association of Business Economics).

Domestic Forecaster Constance Hunter is the chief economist for KPMG LLP. She has extensive experience analyzing how economic developments and inflection points affect asset prices and businesses, specializing in identifying linkages between developed and emerging markets and para-digm shifts brought about by disruptive technologies and mega trends.

Regional Forecaster Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, will provide the usual state and local economic forecast at the luncheon.

Detailed biographies of the speakers are on the Business Forecast page.

Registration will open soon for 2020

 Individual tickets are $85 each with the option to purchase a table of ten for $850.00. Pre-registration is required. The deadline for registration is January 25, 2019. Reservations can be made by registering online or by calling 479-575-4151. For sponsorships opportunities,  please call our office or complete the Business Forecast Sponsor Packet. Additional sponsorship information can be found at our Business Forecast Sponsor Page.


2019 State of the Region ReportState of Northwest Arkansas Region Report Release, Quarterly Business Analysis Set for November 5

 

The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in collaboration with the Northwest Arkansas Council, released the eighth yearly State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report on Nov. 5. The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report, first published in 2011, was shared at a luncheon, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors Event Center at 314 N. Goad Springs Road in Lowell. Highlights from Mervin Jebaraj, Center for Business and Economic Research, director, were presented.

Registration is closed. Event filled to capacity


Speakers included Greg Pogue, of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas which is a "think-and-do tank" that explores factors promoting economic development and creating programs to promote good business practices around the world, and economist Mervin Jebaraj, director of the university's Center for Business and Economic Research.

Greg Pogue and his team at the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas spent more than a year studying entrepreneurship in Northwest Arkansas. Pogue shared his final report, called "Innovate Again, Innovate Here,". His Northwest Arkansas research and assessment was funded by the Walton Family Foundation.
Economist Mervin Jebaraj, director of the university's Center for Business and Economic Research outlined the economic highlights in the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report as well as economic data and statistics from the Center for Business and Economic Research's Quarterly Business Analysis.

The cost for the program and luncheon was $45. Preregistration is required, and the deadline is Friday, Nov. 1. Reservations can be made at the link below or by calling 479-575-4151. Attendees can arrive at 10:45 a.m. for networking.

Mervin Jebaraj

Gregory P. Pogue
Deputy Executive Director
Senior Research Scientist
The University of Texas at Austin

   Greg Pogue

Mervin Jebaraj
Director
University of Arkansas
Center for Business and Economic Research


 

Business Forecast Luncheon
February 1, 2019

2019 BF program
The 25th Annual Business Forecast Luncheon was held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2019 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in the World Trade Center District in Rogers. To register, please visit the Business Forecast webpage or follow the registration links below. For questions or other registration options, please call 479-575-4151. We hope to see you on Friday, February 1st for an informative event.

 

BF Speakers 2019

 

Moderator Steve Gibbs is senior vice president, chief accounting officer and controller at Tyson Foods, Inc. Steve is responsible for leading, coordinating and directing Corporate Finance and Accounting to provide complete, accurate, timely and actionable financial information that contributes to the achievement of business and strategic objectives.

International Forecaster  Carolyn Evans, is head economist and senior data scientist at Intel Corporation. Prior to joining Intel, Carolyn held the positions of Associate Professor of Economics at Santa Clara University, Senior Economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Senior Staff Economist for International Trade on the President's Council of Economic Advisers, and Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Domestic Forecaster Ross DeVol is a Fellow at the Walton Family Foundation and is currently transitioning to lead the new Core Economic Institute (a think and do tank) improving economic performance in the center of the United States. The Institute will pursue its mission through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented convening and impactful policy recommendations.

Regional Forecaster Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, will provide the usual state and local economic forecast at the luncheon.

Detailed biographies of the speakers are on the Business Forecast page.

Thank you for your support of our Business Forecast 2019

 Individual tickets are $85 each with the option to purchase a table of ten for $850.00. Pre-registration is required. The deadline for registration is January 25, 2019. Reservations can be made by registering online or by calling 479-575-4151. For sponsorships opportunities,  please call our office or complete the Business Forecast Sponsor Packet. Additional sponsorship information can be found at our Business Forecast Sponsor Page.


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New & Noteworthy

State of Northwest Arkansas Region, Business Analysis Set for Nov. 5

State of Northwest Arkansas Region, Business Analysis Set for Nov. 5

Speakers include Greg Pogue of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas, and Walton economist Mervin Jebaraj. The luncheon event is hosted at the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors Event Center, 314 N. Goad Springs Road in Lowell.

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Jebaraj Selected For Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Advisory Council

Jebaraj Selected For Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Advisory Council

Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, is one of six new members appointed to the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

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Quarterly Business Analysis Luncheon Set for May 16 in Fayetteville

Quarterly Business Analysis Luncheon Set for May 16 in Fayetteville

Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Walton College, will present the regular Quarterly Business Analysis on Thursday, May 16.

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