Montana’s Economy at a Glance
byEach Montana community has its own unique economy. Take a look at the largest communities in the state, as we summarize their recent economic trends.
Homebuilding in Montana’s Hot Markets
byHave builders and developers responded to higher home prices by expanding their supply of housing through new construction?
Fueling Energy Independence
byMontanans use more energy per capita than consumers in most other states and we spend more per person on energy overall.
Facing the Challenge of Affordable Housing
byAs we work toward solutions in Montana, high housing costs are emerging as a significant public policy issue.
Mining, Taxes and Jobs in Montana
byWhat would the economy of the state of Montana look like if the eight largest hard rock mines did not exist?
What Happened to Montana’s Forestry Jobs?
byTimber harvests are the major cause of declining employment and labor earnings in Montana’s forest industry.
Entrepreneurship in Montana
byMontana has more entrepreneurs per capita than any other state and a business survival rate that ranks in the top 10.
The Rise of Short-Term Rentals
byWhile Montana is facing an affordable housing crisis, it’s also seen a surge in short-term rentals, limiting options for year-round residents.
The State of Montana Forestry
byThe U.S. Forest Service hopes to improve forest health and reduce wildfires with increased timber harvests. How will that effect Montana?
The Succession Crisis of Baby Boomer Businesses
byA crisis is brewing in Montana and across the country for retiring business owners in their 60s and 70s – who will take over their businesses?
The Future of Colstrip
byWhat will be the economic impact of the early retirement of Units 3 and 4 of the coal-fired Colstrip Electric Generating Station?
Synchronized Global Expansion
byGlobal economic conditions are important for Montana businesses because many operate in the world market.
Buying Genuine Montana
byThere are a variety of products that bear the Made in Montana mark and it seems to be cropping up everywhere. But what does it mean to be Made in Montana?
Struggling to Get Paid Time Off
byTwenty-five years ago, the Family and Medical Leave Act was passed to help working families, but today the law is no longer adequate.
Medicaid Expansion a Huge Success
byMedicaid expansion in Montana generates several thousand additional jobs and several hundred million dollars in additional income.
New Heights for High-Tech
byMontana’s high-tech companies generated a record $1.7 billion in revenue in 2017 and are growing nine times faster than other sectors of the economy.
Bitcoin in Montana
byBitcoin has been all over the news lately thanks to its meteoric rise last year. So, what is Bitcoin and what are its implications for Montanans?
Tackling Montana’s Workforce Shortage
byIf you travel across the state and talk with Montana’s employers, you will hear frequent complaints about their difficulty finding workers.
2018 Economic Roundtable
byWe asked speakers from the 2018 Economic Outlook Seminar to share their insights on the prospects for some key sectors of the state economy.
Recovering from the Mountain Pine Beetle
byBeginning in the late 1990s, the pine forests of Montana began to experience the largest mountain pine beetle outbreak in recorded history.
Arts Equal Big Business
byIt’s no secret that Missoula has a vibrant arts and entertainment industry. Art shows, music concerts and movie festivals fill the city every weekend.
Poverty with a View
byBuying a house in Montana can be hard. A recent Gallup study found 45 percent of Montanans were dissatisfied with the availability of good affordable housing.
LGBTQ Youth in Montana
byMontana’s sexual minority youth have it rough. Despite enormous strides in acceptance and understanding there’s still much work to be done.
Montana’s Revenue Woes
byThere has always been a lot of confusion in discussions about tax revenues in Helena. More accurately, there is confusion when these discussions circulate outside the political…
Wildfire Emissions in Montana
byDepression era bank robber Willie Sutton’s reasoning for why he robbed banks was summed up in a famous quote, “Because that’s where the money…
Recreating the American Prairie
byFor many, the first image of Montana is a vast mountainous landscape with pristine forests and rivers, replete with charismatic wildlife…
World Economic Outlook
byThere are a number of reasons why worldwide economic conditions are important to us in Montana. First of all, a large part of the…
Don’t Tie Me Down
byThe way Montanans regulate seat belt use can be confusing. It is illegal in Montana for an adult to ride in a car or truck without wearing a seat belt…
Enrollment Trends: The University of Montana (Retrospective 1978)
byDuring the past year, most Montanans became aware of the controversy concerning enrollment declines at the University of Montana…
Sexual Deviance in the House of Representatives (Retrospective 1971)
byAs my father’s eye caught the title of this essay, he looked disapprovingly at me. “How did you know?” he queried. I knew because I was the deviant…
Poverty in Montana (Retrospective 1965)
byWe have been hearing a great deal about poverty in the midst of plenty these days. For most Montanans – and for most Americans – the idea of poverty…
Heritage Tourism: Montana’s Hottest Travel Trend (Retrospective 1998)
byFort Benton used to be a sleepy farm town that was going downhill fast, according to a prominent local business woman. Now, thanks to Shep…
Gambling: Montana Style (Retrospective 1998)
byMontana’s current legal gambling environment has evolved from a long tradition, dating back to the free-wheeling mining and logging…
Missoula’s Affordable Housing Crisis
byMissoula is a great place to live for many reasons – the natural beauty and wealth of available activities are two aspects that have…
Barriers to Women’s Entrepreneurship
byHave you ever had an idea that you thought might make a good business? How far did you pursue that idea? Did you evaluate…
How Montanans Get Their News
byReading the morning newspaper or watching the evening news on television is becoming a bygone habit. Over the past decade, the internet has evolved…
Montana’s Gender Pay Gap
byAs early as 1791, American women were identified as a potential cheap labor force. That stigma is still playing out today despite the fact…
2017 Economic Round Table
byThis year, the Bureau of Business and Economic Research traveled to nine cities across Montana to deliver its annual assessment of economic activity in…
High Tech Boom
byA 2016 report by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, based on a survey of 200 Montana High…
The High Wage Jobs Puzzle
byWhen evaluating a region’s economy, the first question to ask is, “Do people want to live there?” If people want to live there, then…
Montana’s Crowded Parks
byDid you “Find Your Park” in 2016 to help celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service? This was the theme throughout the…
Traveler Spending in Montana
byWhen asked what souvenirs were the best to sell in a store, a blogger responded by saying, “Tourists buy any and all crap. That’s…
One Beer at a Time
byFor years, northwestern Missoula was a declining industrial district with shuttered warehouses and empty industrial areas, lacking places to drink and socialize. Then in…
Picking the Right College
byDeciding where to attend college can be one of life’s pivotal decisions – one that can largely shape a student’s future. Every year, high…
The Economic Impact of the Bakken
byThe American energy boom began with improvements in technology. Advances in geophysics, nanotechnology, engineering and production management led to the shale-energy revolution and a…
The Economic Contribution of Grizzly Athletics
byIntercollegiate athletics play a major role in colleges and universities, individual communities and American culture. At the individual level, participation in intercollegiate athletics by…
Montana Lagging in Child Well-Being
byDuring the past few years, Montana families and children have experienced a range of positive developments. Montana children overall are doing better than they…
2020 Census Goes Digital
byEvery 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau completes a survey of the population. If you participated in 2010, you likely remember filling out a…
Curse of the College Town
byCollege towns evoke images of brick buildings surrounded by expansive lawns and large old houses on wide, leafy streets. Look at any of the…
What in the World is Going On?
byThe world is buzzing with the news of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. Despite the talk and speculation, experts just don’t…