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NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
ECONOMY
Experts say University has allowed Lawrence to weather the recession better than other cities
BY MEGAN RUPP
mrupp@kansan.com
College towns traditionally provide a sense of community and entertainment, but the benefits of a central university go beyond the bounds of campus activities and events.
While many American cities have seen population decreases because of economic fluctuations in the past decade, college towns have endured the recession relatively well. In Lawrence, the University was able to insulate the local economy and unemployment rate, providing a source of population growth. From 2000 to 2006, Lawrence experienced an average annual population increase of 1.8 percent and a 1.1 percent increase from 2006 to 2009, according to 2010 Census data.
"The University acts as a stabilizing force that in a sense buffers it from the economic environment outside the local economy itself" said Art Hall, director of the Center for Applied Economics in the School of Business.
Kern said that the University represented about 17.5 percent of all the employment in Lawrence. Because the University employs about 10,000 people out of the city's workforce
Hall said universities were important to college towns because they were such large institutions in relatively small places. He said they did not have the same effect in larger cities with more diverse economies.
"While a budget crisis might mean layoffs, which hurt the employees and the community, the University will not simply close."
JILL JESS Associate director for University news and media relations
Tom Kern, president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, said that was true, in part, because the University was such a large employer in the community.
of a little less than 60,000,a significant percentage of local employment remains stable despite recessionary influence.
but they still remain fairly stable;" Kern said.
"During recession times, universities may see some decreases in their state budgets and employment,
State budget cuts in 2009 eliminated about 150 jobs for the Lawrence campus, said Jill Jess, associate director for news and media relations for the University.
"While a budget crisis might mean layoffs, which hurt the employees and the community, the University will not simply close," Jess said.
Despite the recent University layoffs, the overall unemployment rate in Lawrence is comparatively low. Kern said that unemployment rates for most college towns were generally lower than the overall state average. This may contribute to the population growth Lawrence underwent over the past 10 years.
"In a time of recession, you typically see economic decrease as people leave to find more employment," Kern said. "So for us to see that kind of increase, I think was a surprise to everyone."
BYTHE NUMBERS
1. 8 percent Annual population increase Lawrence experienced from 2000 to 2006
1. 1 percent Annual population increase Lawrence experienced from 2006 to 2009
17. 5 percent Amount of Lawrence work force employed by the University
150 jobs Number of campus jobs at the University that state budget cuts eliminated in 2009
NATIONAL
UMKC professor derides planned lawsuit over Ariz. immigration law
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA — A professor and Kansas politician who helped draft Arizona's tough new law on immigration says a Justice Department lawsuit against it is unnecessary and troubling.
Kris Kobach, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, predicted Tuesday that the lawsuit would fail.
He is consulting with Arizonas governor as her state defends the law, which requires state and local police to question and possibly arrest illegal
Kobach lives outside Kansas City, Kan., and is running for Kansas secretary of state.
immigrants during the enforcement of other laws.
He noted groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union already have challenged the law.
Kobach said the challenge from the Justice Department, announced Tuesday, is designed only to stir up the Obama administration's political base.
hawkchalk.com