The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that the south is rising again in Delaware. Due to more restrictive land use regulations in New Castle County (NCC) and the migration of retirees into Sussex County, the past 20 years has seen NCC’s share of the state’s population fall from 67% to 60% as Sussex’s share rose from 17% to 22%. These population changes have shifted the locus of economic action in the state.   There are important qualifications to the

The return to the pre-recession peak level of jobs in Delaware will be a slow process.

Retail trade in northern Delaware seems to be in a funk. Between 2007 and 2014 total inflation-adjusted retail sales in New Castle County decreased 11%. Retail trade employment is down by over 7% and the total number of retail trade establishments has dropped by almost 11%.   What explains this?     First, households are still retrenching from the four decade consumer debt binge that culminated in 2008. The ratio of household debt to wage and salary income has dropped from 2.

No other organization in Delaware does what we do at the Caesar Rodney Institute: provide in-depth, non-partisan analyses of public policy issues and advocate in Dover for better policies_OLD related to economics, the state budget, energy issues and education policy. Every day CRI makes a difference in Delaware. You can help by investing in the CRI policy Center that focuses on the issues of most concern to you.  CRI is a 501(c)(3) , so your contribution is tax deductible to

How will the new fee levied on glass containers affect Delawares gross receipts revenue?

March 28, 2013  I appreciate Delaware Director of Economic Development (DEDO) Alan Levins recent response in the News Journal to my assessment of the condition and immediate future of the Delaware economy ("Writer Misrepresents Delawares Economic Health" March 15, News Journal). I believe readers would benefit from my response. First, Alan is correct that when dealing with change the starting point chosen can make a substantial difference. While Delaware lost jobs between Jan

The sales tax in Pennsylvania is a hefty 6%, while because of the gross receipts tax, the perception is that the sales tax in Delaware is zero. How much of an impact does this have on retail trade in Delaware?   The chart within the full article compares retail sales per $1,000 of residential personal income in New Castle County (NCC) to that of Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania combined. The results are exactly what one would expect. Residential personal income i

What is the Delaware Department of Education Trying to Hide? By Tanya Hettler, PhD Center for Education Policy November 27, 2024 (Updated)   The Department of Education (DOE), school districts, school boards, and the state teachers' union are hiding information from the public that should be available to everyone. The following are a list of some areas in which Delawareans are kept in the dark.   Poor Academic Performance The most significant lack of transparency involves the

Sussex Co. Council Stops Offshore Wind Cables DNREC's $2 Million Deal and Environmental Concerns Spark Public Outcry   By David T. Stevenson Center for Energy & Environmental Policy December 18, 2024 (updated 12/19/2024) (Pictured: Screenshot of the livestream from the Sussex Council Meeting) On December 17 th , four of five members of the Sussex County Council voted to deny the conditional use permit, putting the brakes on the offshore wind project and delivering an early C

Delaware ‘Green Policies’ Have Failed and Become Dangerous Why Affordable and Reliable Energy Should Matter to Everyone   By David T. Stevenson Center for Energy & Environmental Policy January 24, 2025 Delaware's Climate Action Plan sets ambitious goals: cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. While progress has been made--with emissions already reduced by 43% in 2022--these achievements mask deeper issues. The reality is that Delawar