Reports and Studies
Go directly to: Periodic Reports | Studies and Presentations
This page includes links to documents developed by the Institute, which can be broadly categorized as Periodic Reports and Studies (including presentations). Our intent is to inform the larger community of the Institute's activities.
Beginning with the first quarter of 2012, RERI is issuing the Lee County Business Climate Survey Report. This quarterly report is a result of a new partnership between The Horizon Council and Florida Gulf Coast University. The Horizon Council is a public-private board established in 1991 to advise the Lee County Board of Commissioners on economic development issues.
The Report summarizes the results of the Executive Business Climate Survey. It provides a view of the local economy, based on responses from senior executives of companies from a broad range of industries across the county.
In addition to this quarterly report, RERI continues to issue a monthly report: Regional Economic Indicators, which analyzes a wide range of economic data from the 5-county region of Southwest Florida. It also includes National economic data of interest. The monthly Indicators report has been issued since early 2007.
Also, the Institute has been commissioned to do several specialized economic studies; summary reports of those studies are linked here.
Documents are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF), indicated by 
Each document will open in a new window, from where it can be viewed and / or printed.
See information at the bottom of this page regarding software required to view and print these documents.
Periodic Reports:
(Earlier Reports can be found on the Archive page)
Our Quarterly Report
Lee County Business Climate Survey Report, First Quarter 2013 (26 pages)
Our Monthly Report:
Regional Economic Indicators, March 2013. (25 pages)
Dr. Jackson's comments at the release of the report on March 28, 2013:
It is my pleasure to provide you with the March 2013 Southwest Florida Regional Economic Indicator Report released by the Regional Economic Research Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Southwest Florida economy continues its recovery from the housing bubble and financial market problems that pushed the region and nation into recession in 2007. Southwest Florida taxable sales increased by five percent from December 2011 to December 2012; similar gains were reported over the last four months. Passenger traffic at Southwest Florida International airport in January 2013 was up seven percent from January 2012. Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties issued a total of 349 single-family home permits in February, 81 percent more than February 2012. February 2013 sales of Lee, Collier, and Charlotte existing single-family homes dipped by five percent compared to February 2012, but were 13-percent higher than the prior month of January 2013. Tourism Tax Revenues for Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties increased 10 percent from January 2012 to January 2013.
Seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates continued to show improvement. Specifically, the region's unemployment rate declined to 8.0 percent in January 2013 from 9.5 percent a year earlier. County details can be found beginning on page 16.
The revised estimate for the national real GDP growth was released on March 28, 2013, with a 0.4 percent growth rate for the fourth quarter 2012 real GDP compared to 3.1 percent for the third quarter. The fourth quarter deceleration reflected weather-related disruptions and lower private inventory investment, government spending, and exports. I expect to see continued slow growth next quarter. Real personal consumption expenditures for the fourth quarter were more positive, growing at 1.8 percent compared to 1.6 percent in the third quarter.
The national unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 7.7 percent in February 2013. This constituted a drop of 0.6 percentage points from February 2012. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) is 4.8 million or 40.2 percent of all unemployed.
The February Bureau of Labor Statistics Establishment Survey showed that national nonfarm payroll employment increased by 236,000, a larger increase than January's 119,000. The February employment increases included 73,000 in professional and business services, 48,000 in construction, 24,000 in retail, 24,000 in education and health services, 24,000 in leisure and hospitality, 20,000 in information, 14,000 in manufacturing, 7,000 in financial activities and 6,000 in wholesale trade. In contrast, national employment fell by 10,000 in government.
The national consumer price index increased by 2.0 percent between February 2012 and February 2013. The change was primarily driven by medical care which increased by 3.9 percent and transportation cost increases of 3.1 percent. Core inflation (all items less food and energy) increased by 2.0 percent.
Earlier issues of the Regional Economic Indicators are linked from the Archive page.
Studies and Presentations:
Three Major Employers in SW Florida: Identification of Critical Position / Skill Gaps
April 5, 2013 (96 pages)
Workforce Now is a regional research initiative to identify current and future talent requirements for the five counties of Southwest Florida. As part of this initiative, three major employers in Southwest Florida were interviewed to better understand their critical employment gaps and help identify skill sets needed for those positions. This report is a summary of the information gained from a survey and interviews of those employers.
The Status of Women in Southwest Florida
August 1, 2012 (160 pages)
This study, commissioned by The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida, analyzes the 2010 Census information and other Florida agency data to better understand population, diversity, employment, income, achievement, autonomy, health, and well-being of women in Southwest Florida.
Benchmark Assessment for the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
February 10, 2012 (144 pages)
This study includes benchmark analysis of similar facilities (organizational structure, staffing, attendance, and other factors). As well, the study includes interviews with select local leaders and an economic impact analysis.
The Economic Community Impact - Academic Year 2009-2010
July 25, 2011 (18 pages)
This study is an economic impact analysis of the University, estimating the direct and indirect economic impact of the University on the Southwest Florida region. It is an update of earlier studies done for Academic Years 2007-2008 and 2005-2006.
Florida's New Economic Reality: The State of the State
February 11, 2010 (46 pages)
This is a presentation made by Dr. Jackson to the Florida Philanthropic Network, a statewide association of grantmakers working to strengthen philanthropy through research, education and public policy. The presentation reviewed economic trends at the National, Regional, and State levels.
Visit the Website of the Florida Philanthropic Network
External Environmental Scan
November 16, 2009 (55 pages)
This study of the environment external to FGCU was done as an input to the university's strategic planning process. It includes an economic outlook, occupation and industry trends, regional economic development and workforce studies, population and demographic trends, educational attainment levels, educational degrees granted, and a review of regional educational institutions.
Southwest Florida Regional Business Incubator Planning Study
August 27, 2009 (220 pages)
This report is a strategic planning study for a regional business incubator network for Southwest Florida. The basic purpose of this research is to identify best practices, regional issues and characteristics, and recommend a development plan for a regional business incubator system for Southwest Florida.
The Economic Community Impact - Academic Year 2007-2008
October 14, 2008 (17 pages)
This study is an economic impact analysis of the University, estimating the direct and indirect economic impact of the University on the Southwest Florida region. It is an update of an earlier study done for Academic Year 2005-2006.
Changing Economic Times (40 pages),
presented September 11, 2008 to the Real Estate Market Trends Conference in Charlotte County. The presentation included national and local economic trends as well as Federal Reserve System forecasts for 2008 - 2010.
Traded Business Clusters Study - Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties
June 9, 2008 (61 pages)
This document is an important update to an earlier study which provided available regional cluster information for the years 2001 and 2004. (The earlier study is available here; it was issued June 19, 2006 and discusses methodology in more detail.)
Data is now available for 2006 and this update provides a summary of the cluster analysis using 2006 employment, average wage, and number of establishments by cluster definition. This is a continuing regional collaboration between the University and the Economic Development Organizations in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties.
Changing Economic Times
April 8, 2008 (38 pages)
This was a presentation by Dr. Jackson at Market Pulse, an event sponsored by the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bonita Springs-Estero Association of Realtors. It is a comprehensive review of economic trends, both nationally and in Southwest Florida.
An Economic Property Tax Review of Ten Selected Florida Counties,
December 12, 2007 (135 pages)
This report is the second part of a research project sponsored by the Florida Association of Realtors that focuses on ten select counties. [The report on the first part of the project is available here; it was issued on August 10, 2007.] The research is designed to provide a better understanding of the real property tax system by analyzing various property owner-groups. The tax information analyzed is for Bay, Citrus, Dade, Flagler, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Leon, Okaloosa, Orange, and Palm Beach Counties. Also provided in the report are:
Review and Analysis of the new property tax constitutional amendment as it applies to the ten counties; and
Forecasts of property tax exemptions and portability for each of the counties.
Southwest Florida Executive Business Climate Survey, Fall 2007 (13 pages)
This report is based on a survey conducted by RERI for the Chamber of Southwest Florida. The survey solicited executive responses from a mix of large and small firms over a cross-section of businesses in Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties. The firms serve local, regional, national, and international markets.
The survey measured the level of optimism regarding the regional economy, with specific questions focusing on the housing market, property tax legislation, business trends, labor market, and other issues of current interest.
Chamber of SW Florida website
Florida's Property Tax Reform Legislation: An Economic Review,
August 10, 2007 (60 pages)
This is the initial report of an economic study sponsored by the Florida Association of Realtors and includes:
- A historical overview of Florida’s property values and taxes;
- A description of new property tax legislation and proposed constitutional amendment;
- A summary of economic studies and analysis;
- Simulations of taxes owed under the Super Homestead and Save Our Homes; and
- Potential issues and concerns.
Florida Association of Realtors website
The Economic Community Impact - Academic Year 2005-2006,
June 18, 2007 (17 pages)
This study is an economic impact analysis of the University to mark its tenth year of operation. It estimates the direct and indirect economic impact of the University on the Southwest Florida region and its five-county service area.
Southwest Florida Health Care Industry Study, March 2007. (219 pages)
This study:
- is regional in scope, covering thirteen Health Care sectors in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties;
- defines and analyzes the economic impact of the Health Care industry on the Region, including employment, output values, value added/produced, and labor income; and
- identifies issues and needs of the various Health Care sectors in the areas of growth, facilities, workforce, training, and any regulatory concerns.
Immokalee Master Plan Study, November 2006. (75 pages)
This is a stand-alone economic analysis study of Immokalee, Florida, conducted for the RMPK Group, an urban planning and design firm in Sarasota, Florida. It focused on population, employment, and development issues.
RMPK website
Traded Business Clusters Study - Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties
June 19, 2006. (96 pages)
This document represents an important collaboration between the University and the
Economic Development Organizations in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties.
Industry Clusters are geographic concentrations of business suppliers, producers, service
providers, and associated institutions. This research study focuses on Traded Industry Clusters
in the Southwest Florida counties of Charlotte, Collier, and Lee. Traded industry clusters compete for national and international market share and export a large part of their product or service outside the local regional economy.
Links to Economic Development Organization websites:
Charlotte | Lee | Collier
Portability Study, January 2006. (120 pages)
This is a summary report of an economic study of the proposed "Save Our Homes" portability amendment to the Florida Constitution. The study was done under contract to the Florida Association of Realtors, and included:
- A review of the literature, including major studies done on California’s Proposition 13 (and others), also related portability laws;
- Economic Analysis of a Florida portability bill, HJR 33, including a range of
changes to portability and their likely economic impact; and
- A comprehensive analysis of the impact of portability on 10 representative Florida Counties.
Florida Association of Realtors website
Burroughs Home Study, November 2005. (66 pages)
This is a summary report of an economic benchmarking study of the
Burroughs Home in Fort Myers, Florida. The primary elements of the study were:
- Economic Benchmark Analysis;
- Comparative Benchmark Analysis;
- Key Informants Interviews; and
- Community Economic Impact
top of page
PDF Documents on This Site
In order to view (and print, if desired) PDF documents, Adobe® Reader® is required. This is a free program; to download it, click on the image below.
