Reports

These reports provide insight into issues affecting the California economy and investment climate.

Health Care

CFCE Cost Shifting in California Hospitals: What Is the Effect on Private Payers? (June 6, 2007).  The study, prepared by Prof. Daniel P. Kessler of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business for CFCE, finds that government underpayments to hospitals in the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs are a substantial factor in driving up private health care costs, but that the impact on private payers of uncompensated care for the uninsured was minimal.

See here for the press release and here for Prof. Kessler's summary presentation.

Education

CFCE Survey Results Among Business Leaders on Education (March 12, 2007).  The study, undertaken by the Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research firm for CFCE, found that California business leaders place education at the top of their public policy concerns, along side health care.  At the same time, executives gave K-12 schools a "D" grade for their quality of work.  In the first statewide survey of its kind, a representative sample of business executives believe that schools need more funding, but believe even more strongly that reforms should be adopted to meaningfully overhaul how schools are run and pupils educated.

The study was made possible with the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations.

Keeping California's Edge: The Growing Demand for Highly Educated Workers (April, 2006).  This study was prepared by the Applied Research Center of Sacramento State University for the Campaign for College Opportunity.  The study analyses the relationship between higher educated employees and the economic value created by the California economy.  Looking to 2022, the study identifies the largest occupations with high educational demands, analyzes the economic value created by those workers, and identifies the industries with the most at stake in terms of the numbers of highly educated workers and the economic impact of those workers.

Failing our Future:  The Holes in California's School Accountability System and How to Fix Them (January 14, 2007).  This study was prepared jointly by Pacific Research Institute and California Business for Education Excellence.  It reviews California's accountability system, in particular the Academic Performance Index to determine whether it is an accurate or meaningful measurement of school or student performance.  The study finds that it is neither.

Quarterly Economic Report

Employment, Real Estate Slump Keep California Behind National Economy (March, 2008)

State Underperforming U.S. Labor Market, Surviving Housing Market Slowdown (September, 2007)

State Economy, Housing Market Keep Pace with Nation's; Job Growth Crawls Ahead (May, 2007)

Construction, Real Estate Slowdown Keeps California Job Growth Trailing Nation's (March, 2007)

The Economic Advisory Council of the California Chamber of Commerce comprises leading economists from the private and public sectors, and presents a report each quarter to the CalChamber Board of Directors.  The Council is chaired by Nancy Sidhu.

Economic Competitiveness

CFCE 2008 Business Climate Survey (June, 2008). Opinion survey, undertaken by the Greenberg, Quinlan Rosner research firm, of California business executives on the economy, business climate and state issues, including the budget.  CFCE found that the economy, the state budget crisis, and quality of life issues are all weighing heavily on the minds of business owners.  On the other hand, California companies remain optimistic about their ability to weather these challenging economic times and remain competitive in the future.  Full questionnaire.

CFCE California Economic Performance Scorecard (June, 2008).  Groundbreaking study by Forward Observer for CFCE finding that California's economic performance ranks 38th among the fifty states.  Based on rigorous econometric evaluation, the 2008 Scorecard is designed to measure which public policies most influence the economic well-being of the state.  The study found that states with the lowest levels of economic output also have the lowest quality of life, and that California is below average in both economic output and quality of life.

California Competitiveness Project (February, 2004).  Produced by Bain & Company for the California Business Roundtable, this report assesses both the current state and anticipated trajectory of California's competitiveness by integrating in-depth economic analysis with the viewpoints of key corporate decision makers and policy experts.

Environment and Energy

California Climate Change Policy: Is AB 32 a Cost-Effective Approach? (June 16, 2006).  Authored by the American Council for Capital Formation, this study examines the economic impacts of the then-proposed California greenhouse gas reduction legislation (AB 32).

An Economic Evaluation of the California Energy Commission's 2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report and an Alternative Blueprint for California Transportation Fuel Policy, (May 10, 2006).  Prepared by Cornerstone Research under contract from the California Chamber of Commerce, this report evaluates the California Energy Commission's Integrated Energy Policy Report to determine how the report's goals and recommendations affect the adequacy, reliability and affordability of energy supplies to homes and businesses.

Employment and Labor

A Decade of Living Wages: What Have We Learned? (July, 2005).  A report from the Public Policy Institute of California examines ten years of experience with local "living wage" laws and their economic effects.  The PPIC found that living wage laws, on average, boost wages of the lowest wage workers, but also reduce employment among the least skilled.