The Rhode Island Economic Outlook Conference

Rhode Island's economy has been stagnant since 2004 and the current total employment based in Rhode island is lower than that in the late 1980s (Figure 1). The state also ranks low in several surveys on business friendliness, taxes, and regulatory environment. Rhode Island’s economic development strategy has lacked focus. A comprehensive economic growth strategy is needed in Rhode Island.

The purpose of this series of conferences is to allow for an interface among economic researchers, opinion leaders and policy makers from different sectors of Rhode Island to discuss what needs to be done to move Rhode Island forward and prepare an economic agenda for the future. The conferences serve as a forum for experts to discuss Rhode Island's economic problems, namely, how to create jobs, how to make the state more business friendly and how the state needs to fit into the regional economy.  

Figure 1: Total Non-farm Jobs Based in Rhode Island, 1990-2014

Source: New England Economic Partnership, Fall 2010.