Nathan Watson, a 2016 graduate of the Clinton School of Public Service, partnered with the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation on his final Capstone project.
In an effort to better understand the return Arkansans experience when their tax dollars are invested in highway projects, Watson and the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation worked together to measure the economic impact of highway spending in Arkansas.
Watson analyzed data including sales tax, industry reports, and employment statistics.
Watson’s 2016 report found that $1.4B in highway spending contributed $2.5 billion to the state’s GDP – a 75% return on investment – and generated an economic boost of $1.75 for every dollar spent on highway construction and maintenance.
Highway spending in Arkansas also added more than 15,000 jobs to the state’s labor pool, generating $665 million in labor income.
This impact assessment helped inform the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation as they created a strategic plan to leverage Arkansas’s transportation systems for economic growth.
The Clinton School Impact Minute is a recurring segment with Little Rock Public Radio, highlighting the Clinton School’s field service impact.
Since 2004, Clinton School students have completed nearly 700 field service projects with more than 300 organizations in Arkansas alone, creating immediate and long-term impact for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies across the state.
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