The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) represents Ball State University as an authority for high-quality research and analysis on a variety of issues relevant to the state and nation. Our work is widely read by policy makers, industry experts, business leaders, economic developers, community planners, and the general public.

We appear in local and national news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. CBER is also respected by our academic peers; our work has garnered several honors through the years.

View some highlights covering our impact since 2008.

News Highlights

We May Not Know When Automation Will Take Over, but the Anxiety Is Already Here
Slate | April 30, 2018

The Future of America’s Economy Looks a Lot Like Elkhart, Indiana
The Wall Street Journal | April 13, 2018

How ‘trade’ became a dirty word
The Washington Post | March 12, 2018

The False Promises of Worker Retraining
The Atlantic | Jan. 8, 2018

Death of the American Trucker
Rolling Stone | Jan. 2, 2018

News Highlights

Indiana ranks low in quality of life, says a new study from Ball State
WIBC Indianapolis 93.1 FM | Oct. 7, 2015

Mounds Lake Reservoir Project
No Limits – WFYI Indianapolis 90.1 FM | Sept. 3, 2015

Texas, Ohio Among States to Receive “A” Grade for Logistics in Ball State Study
The Wall Street Journal | June 22, 2015

We Don't Need to Attract Jobs, We Need to Attract People
TED x Ball State University | June 9, 2015

Fixed-route bus systems may help companies retain workers
US Centre Blog on American Politics and Policy – London School of Economics and Political Science | May 15, 2015

Three Views on State’s Challenges, Opportunities
BizVoice – Indiana Chamber of Commerce | Jan./Feb. 2015

Recognition

CBER Data Center | AUBER Award for Excellence in Publications, Websites
Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 14, 2014

News Highlights

Foreign Investment Increasing in Indiana
Indiana Public Media | Oct. 7, 2014

NY's manufacturing cannot keep up with the country
New York Post | July 27, 2014

Report gives Virginia grade D in manufacturing
The Virginian-Pilot | June 19, 2014

No STEM Shortage in Indiana, a Report Says
Careers Blog – Science | June 4, 2014

Indiana's per capita income ranks 38th among states
Indianapolis Star | March 26, 2014

State Of The Union Speech Brings Out Pros And Cons Of Raising Minimum Wage
Fox News Latino | Jan. 28, 2014

Recognition

CBER | Champion for Workforce Excellence
Conexus Indiana | Dec. 10, 2013

Manufacturing and Logistics Report (interactive website) | UEDA Summit Award of Excellence Finalist, Excellence in Research and Analysis
University Economic Development Association | Oct. 30, 2013

News Highlights

Md. manufacturing job losses outstrip most of US
Baltimore Sun | Nov. 17, 2013

Trade Unions: New labor, alt-labor
The Economist | Sept. 14, 2013

Ball State Study Shows Indiana Personal Income Lags Nation
Indiana Public Media | Aug. 27, 2013

Indiana's average personal income equals that of US - in 1996
Indianapolis Star | Aug. 23, 2013

JC Penney woes may persist as Best Buy rebounds
Los Angeles Times | May 10, 2013

Sunday booze restrictions remain stringent in Indiana
USA Today | Jan. 20, 2013

Walmart's Veteran Hiring Plan Draws Praise, Skepticism
Huffington Post | Jan. 15, 2013

Recognition

Community Asset Inventory and Rankings | UEDA Summit Award of Excellence Finalist, Excellence in Research and Analysis
University Economic Development Association | Oct. 24, 2012

Indiana Toll Road Economic Development Corridor Initiative | UEDA Summit Award of Excellence Finalist, Excellence in Research and Analysis
University Economic Development Association | Oct. 24, 2012

News Highlights

Teachers, other government workers become growing face of union fights
NBC News | Dec. 19, 2012

Right-to-Work Set to Ripple Across the Country
CNBC | Dec. 12, 2012

Canada should not adopt US-style anti-union laws
Toronto – The Globe and Mail | Dec. 11, 2012

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday
Forbes | Nov. 21, 2012

Ind. created 12% of nation's April jobs
WANE-TV Fort Wayne CBS 15 | May 21, 2012

Ball State Study Questions Growth of Special Districts
WIBC Indianapolis 93.1 FM | April 19, 2012

Recent Ball State study assesses all 92 Indiana counties
WFIE-TV Evansville NBC 14 | April 5, 2012

Study grades, ranks communities
WTHI-TV Terre Haute FOX 10 | April 5, 2012

Study: Indiana Toll Road corridor primed for economic development
WSBT-TV South Bend CBS 22 | March 14, 2012

High turnover affects home health care quality
USA Today | Feb. 15, 2012

Indiana becomes 23rd 'right-to-work' state
WBEZ Chicago 91.5 FM | Feb. 1, 2012

Recognition

CBER | Outstanding Conference Host
Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 11, 2011

Brownfield Grant Writer's Tool | UEDA Summit Award of Excellence Finalist, Excellence in Research and Analysis
University Economic Development Association | Oct. 11, 2011

Brownfield Grant Writer's Tool | IEDC Honorable Mention, Special Purpose Website
International Economic Development Council | Sept. 21, 2011

News Highlights

State's economy still stuck in neutral
Indianapolis Business Journal | Dec. 24, 2011

Fed must act now to boost economy, Evans says
Chicago Tribune | Dec. 5, 2011

Fed's Evans Says It's 'Imperative' to Escape Liquidity Trap
Bloomberg BusinessWeek | Dec. 5, 2011

Black Friday backlash: Early openings a blessing and a curse
CNN Money | Nov. 18, 2011

Even when town mergers make sense, voters fight
FOX News | Sept. 18, 2011

Nearby states also push gambling
The Boston Globe | Sept. 12, 2011

Midwestern states stumble with foreclosures and job losses
Los Angeles Times | Aug. 23, 2011

New casinos in Illinois could sink boats in Indiana
Chicago Tribune | June 2, 2011

Catastrophe Economics
CNBC | May 24, 2011

Economist Estimates Impact if Super Bowl is Canceled
WIBC Indianapolis 93.1 FM | March 14, 2011

Here's How We Get to Energy Independence
CNBC | Feb. 25, 2011

Pouring gas on an economic recovery
The Buzz – CNN Money | Jan. 21, 2011

Recognition

American Journal of Business | AUBER Award for Excellence in Publications, Print Magazines
Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 19, 2010

CBER | Certificate of Appreciation
US Army Corps of Engineers | Aug. 17, 2010

The CBER staff members received certificates of appreciation from the US Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division for our disaster impact study, Preliminary Damage Estimates for Pakistani Flood Events, 2010.

"Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research is commended for its exceptional efforts in producing a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for the flood damage in Pakistan on 13-15 August 2010. The center's extraordinary efforts resulted in this ROM being available two days ahead of schedule. This report is being seen at the highest levels of the military and state department and may have international level impact. Your team's collective efforts reflect great effort on the team, Ball State University and the United States of America." – Joseph A. Goetz, Colonel, Engineer, Acting Commander

Judy Lane | Distinguished Hoosier Award
Judy Lane, associate director of CBER, received the Distinguished Hoosier Award at her retirement reception on June 29, 2010. State Senator Sue Errington presented the award on behalf of Governor Mitch Daniels.

News Highlights

After the Pakistan Deluge, Blackouts Spread
The New York Times | Oct. 13, 2010

Indiana jobless rate continues slow rise for 2010
Forbes | Aug. 20, 2010

Indiana jobless rate continues slow rise for 2010
ABC News | Aug. 20, 2010

Indiana jobless rate edges up to 9.8 percent
CNBC | March 26, 2010

Property Tax Caps Boost Economy
FOX Business Network | March 3, 2010

Did Minimum Wage Hike Hurt Economy?
FOX Business Network | Feb. 8, 2010

Recognition

Local Government Reform in Indiana | AUBER Award for Excellence in Publications, Contract/Technical Reports | Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 20, 2009

Indiana County Profiles | AUBER Award for Excellence in Publications, Websites | Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 20, 2009

CBER 2008 Open House Event Campaign | AUBER Award for Excellence in Publications, Promotional Materials | Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 20, 2009

News Highlights

Recession fears have Americans staying put
United Press International | Dec. 12, 2009

Researcher: 'Clunkers' program boosted auto sales
The Associated Press | Nov. 12, 2009

Economists predict better 2010 but east central Indiana forecast not as bright
Indiana Economic Digest | Nov. 11, 2009

Faced with Walmart and History, Retailers Can't Avoid Deep Holiday Discounts
BNET | Nov. 5, 2009

The Michigan Example
The Wall Street Journal | Sept. 4, 2009

Study finds racino projects create low-paying jobs
Baltimore Sun | Aug. 4, 2009 <h4>

Study finds no increased economic development in city-county mergers
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | July 30, 2009

Staggering Statistics Scream for Domestic Policy Changes
Blog – Mackinac Center for Public Policy | July 20, 2009

Why S.F. needs the 49ers
The San Francisco Chronicle | July 16, 2009

Making the Best of Staying Put
The Wall Street Journal | June 19, 2009

6 States Hitting Residents with Big Tax Hikes
The Wall Street Journal | June 16, 2009

Indianapolis impresses NFL execs
ESPN | June 9, 2009

Recession forces couples to split for work
Minnesota Public Radio | May 13, 2009

Fort Wayne home sales suffer with GM plant worries
USA Today and ABC News | May 12, 2009

Piecemeal Recovery Fills Void in a Former G.M. Town
The New York Times | Mar. 5, 2009

As Economy Stalls, Fewer New Yorkers Moving Out of State
The New York Times | Jan. 19, 2009

Recognition

2008 State of the Industry Report – Manufacturing and Logistics in Indiana | AUBER Award for Excellence in Publications, Electronic Publications | Association for University Business and Economic Research | Oct. 2008

News Highlights

BSU Report on Manufacturing, Logistics Receives National Award
Inside Indiana Business | Oct. 31, 2008

Search for work can be full-time job
Indianapolis Star | Sept. 1, 2008

$4 gas may help rural towns as shoppers stay local
The Associated Press | July 9, 2008

USDA mulls all options on Midwest flood aid
Reuters | June 18, 2008

Floods tie commerce in knots
Chicago Tribune | June 18, 2008