Economic Development

2 researchers across 2 institutions

2 Researchers
2 Institutions
0 Grant PIs
1 High Impact

Research in economic development examines the processes and policies that foster sustainable growth and improve living standards. Scholars investigate factors influencing job creation, industry competitiveness, and regional prosperity, employing quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze market dynamics, labor force trends, and the impact of public investment. This area encompasses studies on entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, international trade, and the economic effects of technological change.

This work holds particular relevance for Arkansas, addressing the economic vitality of diverse sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. Research explores strategies for rural economic diversification, the impact of infrastructure development on regional economies, and the economic implications of natural resource management. Understanding demographic shifts and their influence on the state's workforce and consumer markets is also a key focus, aiming to inform policies that promote inclusive growth across Arkansas.

The field draws on and contributes to related areas including decision-making and behavioral economics, public health research, and environmental justice mapping. Engagement spans multiple institutions within the state, fostering a broad base of expertise on economic challenges and opportunities.

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Top Researchers

Name Institution h-index Citations Career Stage Badges
Stephen A. O’Connell University of Central Arkansas 24 2,637 High Impact
Jannatul Shefa University of Arkansas 5 124
Decision-Making And Behavioral Economics 2 Environmental Justice Mapping 1 Food Security And Health In Diverse Populations 1 Health Disparities And Outcomes 1 Race, History, And American Society 1 Research And Education 1 Public Health Research 1 Sars-Cov-2 And Covid-19 Research 1 Environmental Science Research 1 Materials Science Research 1 Meta-Analysis And Systematic Reviews 1 Machine Learning Applications 1

Strategic Outlook

Global signals from OpenAlex for this research area: where the field is growing, how concentrated leadership is, and where Arkansas sits relative to the world's top-100 institutions. Descriptive only — surfaced as input to the conversation about where to place bets, not a recommendation. Signal confidence: LOW

Global trajectory
6,494 works in 2026
+4.2% CAGR 2018–2026
Leadership concentration
2.1% held by global top 5 institutions
Fragmented HHI 4
Arkansas position
Arkansas not in global top 100
No AR institution among the top-100 contributors to this topic over the 2018–2026 window.

Top US institutions in this area

  1. 1 National Bureau of Economic Research 543
  2. 2 University of Chicago 401
  3. 3 World Bank 336
  4. 4 Harvard University Press 336
  5. 5 University of California, Berkeley 336
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