I am Haakan Thorsgard, a recent graduate from UMD. I was an intern at the BBER from June 2020 until my graduation earlier this month.
Through my time at the BBER I had the opportunity to work with a number of different projects that gave me a unique insight into the economy of St. Louis county and the city of Duluth. Because of what I have learned about Duluth I now have a much deeper connection to the city because I know some of the smaller details about what makes Duluth tick. Having the opportunity to learn about the economy in the place you live is something I would highly recommend and, if you're a student at UMD, Monica Haynes and the BBER have resources to help you do that.
My first encounter with the BBER was through the Applied Regional Economics course that Monica Haynes, BBER Director, taught in spring 2020. In this course we learned about the economies of specific towns and counties across the state and about various data sources, such as the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) data tools and the United States Census Bureau datasets. Using these sources, we, as a class, collected information about our assigned region (e.g. average wages, employment levels, educational attainment). We also used the IMPLAN software to model the economic impacts of various economic events. Economic impact analysis is a way for an economist to trace spending through an economy and measure the totals effects.
Using these tools I was able to see the city I was researching through a completely different lens. Rather than seeing it just as an area with restaurants, shops, and people, I was able to see how these resources were intertwined with the local economy. I could see how local housing affected employment, how employment affected income, how income affected education and so on and so on. Having a deeper understanding of the economy of an area gives you the ability to see the smaller inner workings of that area and brings about a deeper appreciation for the area. Understanding what makes your town function and being educated on what your town does well is a very important skill. After learning about the economy of Duluth, I have found myself able to speak on matters involving the city more clearly and with more authority because I am more knowledgeable about a variety of different aspects at the heart of our bustling community.