Assignment #4: Community Socioeconomic Profile

Planning Analysis:
Assignment #4: Community Socioeconomic Profile

Background

Many planning processes include a socioeconomic profile of the planning area. This assignment is intended to assist your team to better understand the socioeconomic characteristics of the region and your community. Your evaluation should draw on the economic analysis tools we discussed in class as well as the workshop posted here.

The Assignment

Download the spreadsheet that contains the base data from the course website. Use the data to perform the following analysis and answer the following questions.

1. Using percentages and growth rates, summarize key trends in employment by sector between 1990 and 2000 for the U.S., Oregon, and Eugene-Springfield. Specifically, calculate the percentage of employment for each sector for 1990 and 2000, the change in share of employment, and the change (in number and percent) between 1990 and 2000. What do the results tell you?

2. Calculate location quotients that compare the Eugene-Springfield MSA to the United States for all sectors for 1990 and 2000. What do the results tell you?

3. Calculate Population/Employment ratios for all sectors in the base data for the U.S., Oregon, and Eugene-Springfield for the year 2000. What do the results tell you?

4. Complete a shift-share analysis for the manufacturing sector in Eugene-Springfield for the period between 1990 and 2000. What do the results tell you?

5. Develop a market area map of Albany using Rielly’s Model of Retail Gravitation using the data provided in the base data workbook. Estimate the trade area population of Albany.

You should write your response as a memorandum to the Principal Planner of your community.

The assignment is due Friday, November 21.