Headwaters Economics
  • Research
    • Economic Development
    • Equity
    • Natural Hazards
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Public Lands
    • Tax Policy
  • Community Assistance
  • Tools
  • About
    • Our ImpactPage about Headwaters Economics’ impact, projects, and services
    • Our Team
  • Contact
Search

Trends & Performance

  • Protected Federal Lands in Non-Metro West Increase Per Capita Income

    Protected Federal Lands in Non-Metro West Increase Per Capita Income

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    Headwaters Economics research and accompanying interactive map show the amount of per capita income explained by protected federal lands for each county in the non-metropolitan western U.S. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This report finds that the West’s popular national parks, monuments, wilderness areas and other public lands offer its growing high-tech and services industries a competitive advantage. Read more

  • West Is Best Reports: News Release

    West Is Best Reports: News Release

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    News release for report that shows how the western United States is outperforming the rest of the country and the role protected federal lands in providing western states a competitive economic advantage. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Washington Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Washington Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This fact sheet summarizes Washington’s recent economic growth and the role of protected public lands in supporting faster job creation and higher per-capita income. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote New Mexico Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote New Mexico Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This New Mexico fact sheet summarizes the state’s recent economic growth and the role protected public lands play in supporting faster job creation and higher per-capita income. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Nevada Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Nevada Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    During the past decade Nevada and the West outperformed the nation, and the competitive advantage offered by its protected lands supported job growth and higher per-capita incomes. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Montana Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Montana Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    Montana’s recent economic growth and the role of protected public lands in supporting employment creation and higher per-capita income are explored in this report. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Idaho Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Idaho Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    Helped by its high quality of life and protected public lands, Idaho’s economy and population grew rapidly in the past decade. The majority of growth coming from health care and administrative services. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Colorado Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Colorado Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    Colorado’s rate of population, employment, and real personal income growth has outpaced the nation and this fact sheet looks at the role of protected public lands in supporting jobs and higher incomes. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote California Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote California Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This California report is part of a series that analyzes how and why the West is outperforming the nation, and the competitive advantage offered by its protected lands. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Arizona Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Arizona Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This fact sheet summarizes Arizona’s recent economic growth and the role of protected public lands in supporting faster job creation and higher per-capita income. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Oregon Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Oregon Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    The great majority of Oregon’s net new jobs are from services industries, many of them high-paying. This report looks at the state’s economy and the role of protected public lands. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Wyoming Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Wyoming Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    Wyoming is an economic leader and protected public lands help the state grow and diversify its economy. Read more

  • West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Utah Jobs and Higher Incomes

    West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Utah Jobs and Higher Incomes

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    Utah has been a national leader in economic growth during the past decade. This report looks at the state’s economy and the role of protected public lands. Read more

  • Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front

    Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front

    Chris Mehl

    This report analyzes the Front’s land, people, and economy, how the region has changed in important ways during the past several decades, and the potential impact of the proposed Rocky Mountain Heritage Act on the Front. Read more

  • Western Counties and the Recession

    Western Counties and the Recession

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This study provides a number of lessons as the West slowly recovers from the recent recession about why some local economies performed better than others. Read more

  • Colorado’s Economy and the Role of Federal Protected Lands

    Colorado’s Economy and the Role of Federal Protected Lands

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    This report summarizes Colorado’s economy and the role of federal protected lands, including how the state has performed, and Colorado’s ability to attract people, investment, and businesses. Read more

  • New Mexico’s Economy and the Role of Federal Protected Lands

    New Mexico’s Economy and the Role of Federal Protected Lands

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    An analysis of New Mexico’s economy and how federal protected lands impact economic performance. Read more

  • Economists Urge President Obama to Protect Federal Public Lands

    Economists Urge President Obama to Protect Federal Public Lands

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    More than 100 economists and academics urged President Obama to create and invest in new federal protected lands such as national parks, wilderness, and monuments. Read more

  • Missoula County Homes at Risk in Flood and Wildfire Areas

    Missoula County Homes at Risk in Flood and Wildfire Areas

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    These two slideshows and related information use Missoula County and Western Montana to show how many homes have been built in flood and wildfire hazard areas, which are vulnerable to larger and more frequent floods and fires. Read more

«Previous Page
1 2 3 4
Next Page»

Independent Nonpartisan Research

Contact

© 2025 Headwaters Economics, all rights reserved


  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Research
    • Economic Development
    • Equity
    • Natural Hazards
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Public Lands
    • Tax Policy
  • Community Assistance
  • Analysis Tools
  • About Us
  • Contact
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube