Conference Takes on Brain Gain, Drain and Higher Education in Erie

Dr. James Kurre, associate professor of economics at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will release the findings of "Brain Gain and Brain Drain from Erie's Local Colleges" at this year's Economic Research Institute of Erie (E.R.I.E.) Conference.

The conference, titled "Brain Gain and Brain Drain: The Importance of Higher Education and Erie's Creative Class," will be held Monday, July 25, beginning at 8 a.m. in the Samuel P. "Pat" Black III Conference Center, located on the first floor of the Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center at Penn State Behrend.

This is the institute's ninth conference dedicated to the economic health of the Erie region. It is open to the public and historically has drawn support from the region’s top government officials, senior level executives and others interested in Erie's future. Parking will be available in the deck adjacent to Burke Center and in the Junker Center lot on campus.

Kurre, director of E.R.I.E. and conference organizer, conducted the study using 10 years of data (2000-2009) on 17,000 graduates of Penn State Behrend, Gannon University and Edinboro University—students' hometowns, where they are now, and how those geographical choices relate to their educational and demographic characteristics. Results compare graduates' majors, GPA, gender and race, offering a snapshot of which demographics are more likely to stay or leave.

Kurre will also present his current state of the Erie economy and an overview of higher education in the Erie area.

Featured speaker Dr. Jaison Abel, a senior economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will discuss how higher education and human capital impact a region’s economic development. 

Erie Vital Signs to Sponsor Keynote Speaker

This year's keynote speaker is Steven Pedigo, director of research for Creative Class Group. His lunchtime presentation "Why Place Matters for Erie" is sponsored by Erie Vital Signs. Pedigo will discuss the concept of a creative class—the diverse mix of people and occupations in a particular area—and how that creative class impacts the local economy, with an emphasis on the importance of higher education. 

Erie Vital Signs is a collaboration of the Erie Community Foundation, the Nonprofit Partnership, United Way of Erie County and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. Brain gain is one of eight key indicators that Erie Vital Signs plans to monitor in the next decade.

New to this year's conference are voluntary, afternoon breakout sessions that will discuss Erie and Creative Class Group's concept of the Four T's—talent, technology, tolerance and territorial assets. These sessions will offer an opportunity to talk about Erie's circumstances relative to brain gain, brain drain and higher education, and how the community can address them.

For more information or to register, call 814-898-7149 or visit ERIEdata.org. Those registering by Friday, July 15, can take advantage of early bird conference rates: $129 for a standard registration or $65 for nonprofit, government and economic development officials. After July 15, conference rates increase to $149 and $75, respectively. Attendees who buy two registrations will receive a third free.

Registration includes conference materials, the latest edition of the E.R.I.E. Guide to the Erie Economy, plus breakfast and lunch.

The Economic Research Institute of Erie (E.R.I.E.) is an applied research unit of the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend. E.R.I.E. collects, analyzes, interprets and disseminates data, information and forecasts for the regional economy, helping to place Erie's economic situation within the context of the larger national and international picture. E.R.I.E. also serves as a resource for local leaders and media, offering impartial access to and evaluation of economic data.