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.

2021 Arkansas Business Forecast
January 29, 2021

2021 Business Forecast Program and Slides

Each year, the Center for Business & Economic Research hosts the Arkansas Business Forecast event, bringing together national and international experts to discuss the economic outlook for Arkansas, the nation and the world. The event typically draws more than 1,200 business and community leaders.

The event was held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Due to the current risk from the pandemic, the event was held virtually via Zoom. For questions please call 479-575-4151 or email cber@walton.uark.edu.

Registration is Closed

Panelists for the luncheon this year are:

Global Forecaster: Catherine Mann, global chief economist at Citibank.

Domestic Forecaster: Mark Palim, vice president and deputy chief economist at Fannie Mae.

State and Regional Forecaster: Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research.

Detailed biographies of the speakers are HERE.

Thank you Arkansas Business Forecast 2021 Sponsors!

We are extremely grateful to our Business Forecast Sponsors.
Please call the Center for Business and Economic Research for additional sponsorship opportunities at 479-575-4151.

2021 Busines Forecast Sponsor Logo

State of Northwest Arkansas Region, Business Analysis Set for Oct. 8

U of A economist joined by Northwest Arkansas Council COO Mike Harvey to discuss economic trends and regional recruitment efforts.

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, will release the ninth yearly State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report on Oct. 8. The slides for the presentation are available here.

The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report, first published in 2011, was shared during a Zoom webinar which is now available to view here.

Mervin Jebaraj, the center's director, will outline the economic highlights in the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report and will report economic data and insights about the impact of COVID-19.

The State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is viewed as one of the best measures of the area's economy, comparing that to peer regions such as Madison, Wis.; Raleigh, N.C.; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.

Northwest Arkansas Council Chief Operating Officer, Mike Harvey, will give an overview of the Council's efforts to attract talent to the region by highlighting quality of life and job opportunities. The Finding NWA program uses social media platforms like LinkedIn to help recruiters identify top talent from places such as San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas and Kansas City for careers at Walmart, Tyson Foods and other companies. Human resources managers at these companies have praised the Finding NWA efforts since its program expanded in June, the council reports.

Karen Roberts, Northwest Arkansas Council 2020-2021 presiding co-chair, will moderate the event. Roberts is executive vice president and general counsel for Walmart. In this role, she oversees the legal department, which is responsible for handling all legal matters affecting the company in its domestic and international markets.

Registration is closed

Download the State of the Region Report here.

State 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.