Fiscal forecasting

From a pecuniary paradox to a semiconductor surge, experts in academia and Congress provided invaluable insights at the 28th Annual Indiana Economic Outlook presented by the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER).

Speaking at the event were Michael J. Hicks, PhD., Distinguished Professor of Economics at Ball State and Director of CBER; and U.S. Sen. Todd Young for Indiana.

Hicks discussed the clash between continued low consumer sentiment despite a strong rebound in employment following the COVID-19 pandemic--what he calls “The Great Discordance.”

Young reflected on recent economic wins in Indiana, like the recent opening of a semiconductor facility in the southwest part of the state. It came to fruition because of his CHIPS and Science Act, which named Indiana one of eight new regional semiconductor-production hubs across the country and awarded about $33 million to the state to aid in this purpose. He also spoke about the Fiscal Stability Act, a bipartisan bill he sponsors that aims to find legislative solutions that stabilize and decrease the national debt.

View the 2024 Economic Forecast and presentation slides from the event