Ralph Townsend

Two emeriti ISER directors, Scott Goldsmith and Gunnar Knapp, debated how best to manage the Permanent Fund at a Commonwealth North lunch at the Petroleum Club on November 8, 2019. The specific resolution for the debate was: “Resolved:  The Alaska Constitution should be amended to specify that the Permanent Fund should be managed as an endowment, with a limited and sustainable annual distribution.” Under the format of the debate, a coin was flipped at the beginning of the debate to determine which side each debater would defend.

Not surprisingly, Alaskans remain keenly interested in both the short-term and long-term prospects for the Alaska economy.  ISER continues to give requested presentations on the Alaska economy and the state budget to civic groups.  On October 18, Mouhcine Guettabi and Ralph Townsend participated in a panel entitled “Alaska’s Economy: Facts, Fiction and Figures” at the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention in Fairbanks.

Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) and Professor of Economics, Dr. Ralph Townsend, will participate in an upcoming debate with ISER’s former director and Professor Emeritus of Economics, Dr. Gunnar Knapp. Moderated by another former director of ISER and Professor Emeritus of Economics, Dr. Scott Goldsmith, the discussion will focus on whether the Permanent Fund Dividend should be constitutionally structured as an endowment and what that would mean to Alaska’s finances and dividend program going forward.

Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) and Professor of Economics, Dr. Ralph Townsend, recently presented three invited talks on fisheries management in the United Kingdom. The first, “Lessons from International Experiences in Fisheries Self-governance” at the Future of Inshore Fisheries Conference in London, attracted 150 people from the fishing industry, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations involved in the U.K. inshore fisheries and was motivated, in part, by opportunities for the U.K.

The Alaska Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) held their annual professional development conference, Growing Stronger Together 2019, this week at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage.

Very different policies led to a reduction in state government in Kansas than what is driving a reduction in state government in Alaska, according to ISER Director Ralph Townsend in an interview for Alaska Public Media. But that doesn’t mean Alaska will be spared the economic impacts. 

Ralph Townsend, ISER director, gave presentations on Alaska’s economy and the state budget (PPTX, 701KB) to the Board of Directors of the Alaska Federation of Natives, CIRI’s Tikahtnu Forum and the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce in early May.

ISER Director Ralph Townsend and ISER faculty Diane Hirshberg provided information on school funding and the retention and turnover of teachers in Alaska at the February Alaska Municipal League (AML) Winter Legislative Meeting in Juneau. AML is an organization of cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities representing over 97% of Alaska residents.

Dr. Ralph Townsend, ISER director, will discuss how changes in Alaska’s demographics will impact workforce and health care costs at the annual Northrim Bank Lecture series at Mat-Su College Tuesday, February 12 at 7p.m.  

Using the latest research and data on Alaska demographics, health care costs, and employment, Townsend will provide insights into challenges facing Alaska in the next decades.