Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending

Delaware state governmental policies have been an unfortunate catalyst for the decline of Delaware’s economy for far too long. For instance…

Over the past 10 years, both the Delaware per capita income and average wage have gone from above the national average to below.

According to the Delaware Department of Labor, employment is projected to grow at only 0.6%.

Since 2009, Delaware has had five recessions compared to one in the nation.

By opposing choice in public education, the State government reinforces a system where two-thirds of Delaware students are not proficient in reading and math. In addition to the ramifications for Delaware’s students and their future employability, as has been widely reported, one of the other most evident outcomes is the number of professionals with school-age children who work in Delaware but choose to reside out of state.

Misguided environmental policies have driven industrial electric rates well above neighboring states’ rates, creating the documented exodus of manufacturing jobs to other states and an impediment to developing new, well-paying manufacturing jobs.

Utilizing publicly available data, voluminous research from respected academic institutions, and federal and state resources, CRI is the only non-profit entity in Delaware that is objectively identifying the regressive outcomes of certain state policies and disseminating those damaging ramifications to not only county and state legislators but also the public.

In partnership with other like-minded organizations, the primary goals of this Center are to develop strategies and alternative policy options that will bring transparency - and changes - to the State’s $9 billion budget process while objectively advocating for regulatory reform.

Center Co-Director Dr. John Stapleford has over 40 years of experience in applied regional economics. He established the University of Delaware’s Bureau of Economic Research and the Delaware Small Business Development Center. Dr. Stapleford has served as a senior economist and associate director for Moody’s Analytics and has executed contracts with most federal and Delaware state agencies.

Co-Director Charlie Copeland has an MBA from Duke University with a focus in Finance and spent over 25 years growing a marketing services business that achieved several global awards for operational excellence. He also spent six years in the Delaware State Senate, serving his last two years as the Senate Minority Leader. Charlie, who focused much of his Senate career on education reform and government accountability, remains a sought-after speaker on issues related to governmental accountability.

A Backdoor Sales Tax? | 11/28/2018

How will the new fee levied on glass containers affect Delawares gross receipts revenue?
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The Sun Also Rises | 11/28/2018

Various signs point to the beginning of the recovery in Delawares economy. The road back, however, is steep. Among the indicators of revival, the monthly change in Delawares leading economic indicator has finally turned positive, joining Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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Casinos in Delaware | 11/28/2018

In 1994 the State of Delaware made a successful bet on legalized gambling. Legislation authorized three horse racing tracks (now racinos) to build casinos for slot machines, which the State designated as video lottery terminals due to constitutional restrictions. Operations began in 1995 and revenue...

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Undocumented immigrants in Delaware | 11/28/2018

CEPA estimates the population of undocumented immigrants in Delaware to be 20,250 as of 2008. This includes 14,880 undocumented immigrants in New Castle County, 2,225 in Kent County and 3,150 in Sussex. These estimates are derived from the latest Bureau of Census data on the foreign born population...

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Mostly Good News! | 11/28/2018

Fridays data release by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Delawares unemployment rate dropping from 9.0% in April to 8.8% in May. This is the second month the First States unemployment rate has declined since hitting the recession peak of 9.2%.
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Should affluent seniors be full taxpaying citizens? | 11/28/2018

Should all households of similar income in Delaware be taxed the same?
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The South rises again? | 11/28/2018

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 popu...

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Morning Bell: Saving the American Dream | 11/28/2018

A Heritage Foundation Special Report

IMPLICATIONS OF THE GRAY WAVE CRASHING INTO DELAWARE | 11/28/2018

The “gray wave” is hitting Delaware as the leading edge of the baby boomers reached 65 in 2010. Born between 1946 and 1964, the baby boomers have a long history of reshaping America. The boomers have sent shock waves through the economy, through state and local government, and through th...

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Ohio Shows the Way on Death Tax Repeal | 11/28/2018

Ohio Gov. John Kasich made good on a major campaign promise by killing the states death tax and eliminating an $8 Billion deficit in the lastest fiscal budget.
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