Annual report pinpoints timely data trends in Kansas


LAWRENCE — International exports in Kansas increased nearly $1 billion in value from 2007 to 2017. The state's contribution to international trade is one tidbit of information captured in the most recent Kansas Statistical Abstract.

The Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas recently published online for free the 52nd edition, which contains a wide variety of social and economic statistical data broken down by state, county and city.

"It's valuable for policymakers and community leaders who are planning for the future to be able to see trends like these in Kansas," said Genna Hurd, IPSR associate researcher and KSA editor. "We are honored that KU has been able to provide this service to people in the state for more than 50 years."

The 52nd edition includes statistics through August 2018 on 16 categories: Agriculture; Banking and Finance; Business, Industry, and Exports; Climate; Communications and Information; Courts, Crime, and Public Safety; Education; Employment and Earnings; Energy and Natural Resources; Government; Housing and Construction; Income; Parks and Recreation; Population; Transportation; and Vital Statistics and Health.

Other examples from the new edition of the report demonstrate the growth of wind energy production in the state as well as the number of special taxing districts across the state. The data also show population changes in Kansas counties from 2010 to 2017.

The current edition gives the public and community leaders a sense of the history of sales tax rates by county and city across the state, especially the number of special taxing districts that have popped up in the last decade.

Regarding special taxing districts, this includes community improvement districts, transportation development districts and sales tax and revenue bonds. Hurd said the table was first published in the KSA's 43rd edition in September 2009.

"This type of data is one example of the value-added service. We aim to provide relevant data in a convenient and timely format to Kansas citizens," Hurd said.

IPSR staff members said data in the Kansas Statistical Abstract can be especially useful to policymakers at the state and local levels as they weigh various issues, apply for grant funding or conduct other business.

"Over the years, we have seen many examples of local and state leaders needing to analyze these different sets of data in one place," said Xanthippe Wedel, an IPSR senior research data engineer who leads collection of the data.

KU published the first edition in 1966.

Fri, 11/16/2018

author

Carolyn Caine

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Carolyn Caine

Institute for Policy & Social Research

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