Consultants paint bleak economic future for AK

According to KUAC-FM (via APRN), business leaders meeting last week in Fairbanks heard the findings of an economic study commissioned by a coalition of Alaska economic development groups (the Alaska Forward Initiative) comparing Alaska to other states. The study looked at things like jobs, income and gross state product, and found that Alaska's future looks bleak, especially since its major industry is expected to decline around 6 or 7 percent per year for the foreseeable future. Alaska Forward Initiative's president said the study indicated that the idea of Alaska as a high-income state is outdated and that one particular indicator shows that the state's economy is very stagnant. A separate study discussed last week in Fairbanks faults the state's lopsided oil-dependent economy, heavy reliance on government spending, and its low proportion of entrepreneurship and value-added industries as some of the state's biggest economic challenges. Listen to or read much more, here, including the depressingly low percentage of products Alaskans use that are produced in-state. Also, if you go, be aware that the audio report contains more information than the text adjunct does.