Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy, Beacon Economics to publish research series on California economic policy
MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy (SPP) has a history of promoting “viewpoint diversity,” which encourages thoughtful and productive civil discourse. As an extension of this commitment, the school is launching a series of research projects titled Alternative Viewpoints on California Policy in partnership with the respected California-based economic research firm Beacon Economics LLC.
Through this collaboration, Beacon Economics’ team and SPP academic researchers and graduate students will explore vital California policy issues and debates from a different perspective in the hopes of driving balanced policy and political debates in the state. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide policymakers and the public with a greater range of policy options.
“Californians say cost of living, and related economic challenges are the reasons why they are leaving (or considering leaving) the Golden State. At the same time, most of the discussion about policy solutions appears geared toward greater government regulation and taxation,” said Pete Peterson, Braun Family Dean’s Chair and Dean of the School of Public Policy. “Through this partnership with Beacon Economics, our faculty and graduate students will have access to first-class data that provides real-world insights into these realities. By publishing this ongoing research, we hope to spark conversations that lead to changes benefitting our state.”
Chris Thornberg, Beacon’s CEO, noted his interest in forming this academic collaboration: “California is one of the world’s largest, wealthiest, and most innovative economies, and yet it seems to be stumbling badly. I believe the problem is that the narratives that drive policy choices here in California have not kept up with our rapidly changing economic realities. As a result our state is being held back from achieving its full potential. The goal of this research series is to look at current important state and local issues from a different angle, whether by using new data sets, taking a fresh approach to looking at an issue, or simply clarifying that some of the conventional wisdoms in our economy are neither conventional nor wise.”
Research topics will range from real estate regulations to labor laws to economic development and tax structure – and could be region-specific, centering on the state’s major metropolitan areas. The premise of the series is to respond to popular policy research with different perspectives that ask different questions of available data sources. Through its relationship with Beacon Economics, SPP will promote the new series through existing media channels and host them on a dedicated website.
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About Beacon Economics, LLC
Beacon Economics, LLC is a non-partisan, independent research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and objectively-based economic analysis that enables its clients to make informed decisions about investment, growth, revenue, and policy. The company is based in Los Angeles and is certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) within the state of California. Learn more at www.BeaconEcon.com
About Pepperdine University School of Public Policy
The School of Public Policy (SPP) is built on a distinctive philosophy of nurturing public leaders to use tools of analysis and policy design to effect real change. Grounded in understanding policy's moral and distinctly American elements, SPP prepares graduates for careers as leaders by offering a master’s degree in public policy and three joint-degree programs. The school’s Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership promotes citizen participation in governance through major conferences, trainings, seminars, and published research. Follow SPP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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