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Oliver Scott Goldsmith

Professor of Economics

Phone: (907) 786-5414
Fax: (907) 786-7739
E-Mail:afosg2@uaa.alaska.edu
Map to my office

I have been a public policy researcher at the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) of the University of Alaska Anchorage since 1975 and became Institute Director in 2001. ISER is within the College of Business and Public Policy where I have a joint appointment in the Department of Economics. My primary research interests are in these areas:

Regional Economic Analysis. I am responsible for the operation, maintenance,and updating of several models frequently used to analyze various aspects of the Alaska economy--an econometric model, an economic base model, and an input-output model. Financial support for the construction and maintenance of these models has come from the National Science Foundation, the State of Alaska, the US Department of Interior, and others.

Alaska Fiscal Analysis. I conduct policy oriented research on the particular fiscal problems of an economy dependent upon the petroleum industry. Much of this work has appeared in the Fiscal Policy Paper series published by ISER since 1992.

Energy and Natural Resources. I conduct analyses of Alaska energy demand, resource valuation studies, and studies of the oil and other energy supply industries

I am active in professional service to the community. Right now I am a member of the Outer Continental Shelf Scientific Committee of the Minerals Management Service Advisory Board and an advisor to the Alaska Fiscal Policy Council.

• Publications
• Presentations
• Current Funded Research
• ISER Alaska Economic database

Short Resume

Previous Positions

• Associate Professor, ISER, 1980-1985
  
• Assistant Professor, ISER, 1975-1980
  
• Staff Economist, NIKA Corporation, 1975
  
• Research Assistant, Environmental Defense Fund, 1973
  
• Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin 1973
  
• US Peace Corps Volunteer, Sarawak, Malaysia, 1967-1969
  


Selected Publications

• "Reflections on the Surplus Economy and the Alaska Permanent Fund" in Alberta's Volatile Government Revenues; ed. L.S. Wilson, Institute of Public Economics, University of Alberta, 2002
• "Fiscal and Socioeconomic Impact of Marginal Oil Field Development in Alaska: Does It Pay Its Own Way?", Journal of Energy Finance and Development, Vol. 2, Number 1 (1997).
  
• "Implications of Oil Supply Uncertainty on a Small Oil-Producing Regional Economy, "OPEC Review, Winter 1992.
  
• "Safe Landing: A Fiscal Strategy for the 1990s," Fiscal Policy Papers No. 7, ISER, 1992.
  
• Regions and Resources: Strategies for Development, with Kresge et al., MIT Press, 1984.
  
• "Market Allocation of Exhaustive Resources,"Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 82, Number 5, (1974).


Research Activities

• Rural Alaska economic structure
• Long economic cycles and sustainability in natural resource dependent economies.
• Policy considerations in comparisons of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and a state personal income tax.
• Updating the Alaska Input-Output model.

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ISER Alaska Economic Database

Table 1. Employment by Industry --annual average	Table 11. Business Indicators
Table 2. Employment by Sector -- annual average	Table 12. Natural Resources
Table 3. Alaska Gross Product -- mill $	Table 13. State General Fund -- mill $
Table 4. Gross State Product -- mill real $	Table 14. State Finances: All Funds -- mill $
Table 5. Earnings per Job -- annual average	Table 15. State Assets and Debt -- mill $
Table 6. Earnings per Job -- real $	Table 16. Fiscal Indicators
Table 7. Wages and Salaries -- mill $	Table 17. Local Govt Finances -- mill $
Table 8. Personal Income -- mill $	Table 18. Basic Industry
Table 9. Population and Labor Force -- thousands
Table 10. Price Indices

 

Current Funded Research

Port of Anchorage Benefit-Cost Analysis ISER researchers will assist the Port of Anchorage in preparation of a benefit-cost analysis for inclusion in their grant application for project funding under the U.S. Department of Transportation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Study of the Economics of a Propane Facility. Funding agency: Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority.

Investing in Alaska's Economy. Researchers will review and analyze alternative economic development strategies in light of Alaska's unique economic structure and emerging global economy, identify strong and weak points in each economic development strategy or path suggested or advocated for Alaska. Funding agency: University of Alaska Foundation, Northrim Bank.

Economic Analysis of Future Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Researchers will assist agency in preparing an economic analysis of future offshore oil and gas development in Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and N Aleutian Basin. Researchers will also develop scenarios for use in manpower models and the MAP model; update and calibrate MAP model. Funding agency: Northern Economics/Shell

Economic Analysis of Southwest Alaska's Critical Habitats: Dr. Goldsmith will perform a technical review of certain elements of the economic analysis provided by Industrial Economics, Inc. to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service–methodology, assumptions, data, logic, and reasonableness of oil and gas portion of the economic analysis as well as provide guidance regarding available data and methods for the economic analysis. Funding agency: Industrial Economics, Inc.

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