New Metric Helps Economic Developers Measure Quality-of-Life

International Economic Development Council’s 2013 Annual Conference
October 6-9
Philadelphia, PA
Register before Friday, August 9, and save with our Early Registration rates!

Defining Issues Luncheon
Monday, October 7, 2013, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $45

What if you could measure the American Dream and how citizens in your community feel about their ability to obtain it?  At the 2013 International Economic Development Council Annual Conference, Xavier University Professor and TEDx Cincy Speaker Dr. Gregory Smith will discuss the development of the American Dream Composite Index (ADCI), and its implications for the work of economic developers and other community leaders. 

With economic developers hungry for multiple metrics to measure success and sell their communities to outside talent, site selectors, and prospective businesses alike, the American Dream Composite Index is a new way to view economic development through a broader lens and hold local officials directly accountable to the residents of their community. 

Led by Dr. Smith, a team of researchers at Xavier’s Williams College of Business developed the ADCI as a metric to understand how people in each U.S. state rate their ability to achieve the American Dream.  It’s not only the picture-perfect home with a loving family and well-paying job that fulfills this ideal: there are many other dimensions that the ADCI takes into consideration. By generating a monthly rolling average on a scale of 1-100, the index is a comprehensive measure that accounts for the fact that everyone defines the American Dream differently.  As an aggregation of multiple diverse perspectives about individual success and well-being, the ADCI provides a valuable Quality-of-Life metric for economic developers and shines light on which states best enable their residents to pursue their unique goals and aspirations.  To comprehensively evaluate the attitudes of people in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the ADCI combines data from four more specific measures: The American Dream Well-Being Index, The American Dream Societal Index, The American Dream Diversity Index and The American Dream Environment Index. 

Attend the Defining Issues Luncheon to learn more about measuring the American Dream and why it matters to you.  To attend this event, register now for the IEDC Annual Conference.

Reserve Your Hotel Today

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
1201 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

IEDC room rate: $239 single/double
Group rate cutoff: Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Reservations: (877) 212-5752
» Reserve your room online