UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research

The Boyd Center conducts research on national and state economic trends for @UTKnoxville, state agencies, and public and private organizations. Houses @TN_SDC.

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

“I’m proud of the work that Celeste and Mike have done to establish themselves as respected thought leaders in education policy,” Boyd Center Director Don Bruce said. “These editorships reflect the trust that their peers have in them.”
https://t.co/zdmV6Iwlx5

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

At last week's 2026 @HaslamUT Awards Reception, Boyd Center Assistant Director Kira Rasmussen won the Staff Award for Innovation and Creativity and our Graduate Research Assistant Lucas Chaves Gurgel was a finalist for the Outstanding Doctoral Student Teacher Award!

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

We are so proud of you, Linnea!

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

Linnea Endersby has worked in the Boyd Center for five years, and her research focuses on applied microeconomics, particularly health economics and the economics of education. She's graduating with a Ph.D. in Economics from @HaslamUT at @utknoxville! @tennalum #UTGrad2026 #VFL

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

We are so proud of you, Thomas!

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

Thomas Verville has worked in the Boyd Center for two years, and his research focuses on tax policy impact, fair division mechanisms, and game theory. He's graduating with a Ph.D. in Economics from @HCB at @utknoxville! @tennalum #UTGrad2026 #VFL #utkalumni

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

Lucas Gurgel has worked in the Boyd Center for three years, and his research focuses on labor and public economics, with attention to the intersection of education and health outcomes. He's graduating with a Ph.D. in Economics from @HaslamUT at @utknoxville! @tennalum #UTGrad2026

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

Three of the Boyd Center's Graduate Research Assistants will become @utknoxville #UTGrad2026 today! Linnea Endersby, Lucas Gurgel, and Thomas Verville are graduating from @HaslamUT with a Ph.D. in Economics. A huge congratulations to all three!! #VFL #utkalumni @tennalum

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

Kira Rasmussen was recognized at last night's Chancellor’s Honors Banquet! Recipients of the Extraordinary Customer Service award bring honor to @UTKnoxville and excel in their jobs and in their working relationships—that describes our assistant director to a T! Congrats, Kira!

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

The Boyd Center (BCBER) team signed the beam for the new business building's topping off ceremony on Friday! It celebrated the placement of the final structural beam at the building's highest point. We're excited to see our center's new home taking shape: https://t.co/4t3IVICO4v

[David Mansouri @davemansouri]

Our newest report, with research from the @UTBoydCenter, shows that students who received coaching and completion grants were 11.7 percent points more likely to persist & return to campus for their 2nd year. Promising results from @tnAchieves COMPLETE program and Knox Promise.

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

@tnAchieves is a last-dollar scholarship program with a big impact for students in Tennessee. We estimate total lifetime earnings on the order of $40.6 to $45.9 billion for all tnAchieves program participants who complete some form of higher education credential.

[tnAchieves @tnAchieves]

New research from the University of Tennessee’s Boyd Center (@HaslamUT) highlights the powerful impact of tnAchieves.

Students who complete a post-secondary credential through tnAchieves are projected to generate $40.6B–$45.9B in lifetime earnings, strengthening Tennessee’s workforce and economy.

With 57,767 graduates and 84.7% staying to live and work in Tennessee, tnAchieves continues to create pathways to opportunity while driving growth in communities statewide.

Read the full report and learn more about the impact.
https://t.co/oN94GDGIyW

[TN State Data Center @TN_SDC]

New county-level estimates from the @uscensusbureau show Davidson was the fastest-growing county in Tennessee last year. Although Putnam County didn't crack the top 10, it saw the largest population increase since 2006!

See how your county stacks up: https://t.co/XANvDOZBtj

[Bill Frist, M.D. @bfrist]

For the first time, Tennesseans can explore a county-by-county picture of the human and economic toll of firearm deaths and injuries across our state.

A new interactive dashboard from @UTBoydCenter and @voices4saferTN brings together verified data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Department of Health to show how these tragedies are affecting all 95 counties in Tennessee.

Good decisions begin with good data.

My hope is that this dashboard will help Tennesseans better understand what is happening in their own communities and encourage informed, constructive conversations about safety and prevention.

Explore your county’s data here: https://t.co/245cXZY8CV

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

We collaborated with Safer TN to create a dashboard showing the economic impact of lives lost due to gun violence. The data show these tragedies cost the state’s economy an estimated $3.6B in 2023.

See the dashboard: https://t.co/YF5VJpA0ys
Read more: https://t.co/ZtKvp3XhLx

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

Our winter survey of business leaders shows 72% still feel the effects of tariffs, and 46.1% added that they were passing costs on to customers. Additionally, 63% said they were using AI in a way that didn’t affect employment levels.

Read the release: https://t.co/vDoNXnnPqM

[Michael Kofoed @mikekofoed]

Glad to be a part of our annual @UTBoydCenter Business Leader dinner in Nashville. A wonderful opportunity to listen and understand what trends are happening in the Tennessee economy and beyond.

[UT System President Randy Boyd @UT_President]

The @utboydcenter hosts the annual Business Leaders Dinner not to lecture on economics—which they would be great at—but instead to listen to what Tennessee’s leaders have to say about the state’s economy.

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

@UTBoydCenter’s Don Bruce is leading the afternoon session of “Envisioning the Future of Local Government Finances in the United States.” Our conference brings academics from across the US to Knoxville to discuss working papers on technology, aging, education, migration and more.

[UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research @UTBoydCenter]

After reaching a 100% participation rate in the #BigOrangeFamily campaign, the Boyd Center got a congratulatory visit from @UTSmokey_00 last week! Thanks for the donuts, Smokey!!