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PageThe Center for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) was established in 1985 as an extension of the College of Business and Economics (CBE), Western Washington University. The Center is staffed by a half-time director who is a faculty member of the College and student assistants. The director is Dr. David E. Merrifield of the Economics Department. In addition, the Center is served by an advisory board made up of CBE faculty.
The Center assists the College and the University in meeting part of its responsibilities as a regional university by providing a focus for economic and business research activities. Research projects may be carried out within the Center as resources become available or by appropriate CBE faculty members within their fields of interest. Among other groups, CEBR works with CBE's Small Business Development Center and the Center for Canadian Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. There are also opportunities for students to participate in the Center's research activities.
A primary mission of CEBR is to establish CBE as a business conditions analysis, forecasting, and resource center for Washington State/British Columbia and the northwest Washington regions. The Center takes particular interest in the economic interaction of the Pacific Northwest States and the Western Canada region. Other research regarding trade issues is also underway and additional efforts will follow with the installation of the two distinguished chair positions in CBE. The chair positions are based around business and economic concerns of the U.S. and Canada, and other international trade issues.
As resources for the Center increase, its efforts will include more interdisciplinary studies. Anticipated examples are: the interpretation of financial, marketing, management, decision sciences, computer software and other business trends, and how specific issues in these fields may affect Washington State, regional business, and economic activity.
Current CEBR Activities
* Econometric model building and dissemination of regional forecasts.
* Economic data base management for local, state, regional (including Alberta and British
Columbia), national, and international economic activity.
* Construction and dissemination of an index of economic indicators for the local economy.
* Continued study of business cycles in Washington State, British Columbia and Alberta.
* Economics Editor and overall coordination of the Northwest
Journal of Business and Economics.
CEBR is a member of the Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER).
CEBR acknowledges the generous support of the Builders Alliance Company in Bellingham.
This page last updated on 06/02/00