ESI Blog: Present Value
Present Value was created as a platform for sharing ideas, discussing our interests and improving connections with our community. Each week, we invite guest contributors from the ranks of our senior advisors, industry experts, and thought leaders.
The best of the life science and biotechnology industries can be seen at the annual Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Convention. This massive venue brings in large companies and start-ups, as well as academic institutions and representatives from national and local governments from across the globe. Some 30 American states hosted pavilions or sent delegations, and […]
Growing up White in West Philly, I thought a lot about neighborhood boundaries. Somehow, despite “West Philadelphia” being predominantly Black, my block at 47th Street was entirely White. To the east, towards Penn and Drexel and Center City, lay more blocks like my own, filled with predominantly White households. Immediately past 49th Street to the […]
Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen, is often touted as the poster child for the movement towards sustainable urbanism. It earned this superlative through its legacy of public investment and of prioritizing the elements that make a city livable, including a diverse and efficient transportation system with plentiful parks and public spaces. According to a pamphlet developed […]
States, municipalities, and school districts make land use decisions that influence their fiscal and economic conditions. Understanding the effects of those decisions on schools, traffic and municipal services can help to prevent school overcrowding, gridlock, gaps in services and fiscal distress. A fiscal impact analysis (FIA) is an important tool for assessing how new development will impact costs and revenues, helping leaders make better decisions […]
Old City District in Philadelphia has long been a tourist destination for American history lovers. With 4.3 million annual visitors to the Independence National Historic Park and the recent honor of being named America’s first World Heritage City, Old City has solidified itself a top historic landmark in the U.S. While this deep rooted history […]
As I sat down to lunch on April 17th at Joe’s American Bar and Grille, I stared around the crowded restaurant. The dining room was filled with excited athletes, many of whom were wearing their official blue and yellow Boston Marathon jackets. Digging into my $23 chicken, I considered the economic impact these running enthusiasts […]
As with all topics surrounding immigration, there is controversy. The EB-5 visa investor program, whose aim is to bring foreign money and create jobs, is no exception. Media coverage skyrocketed this past fall with the fast approaching program deadline. For years, the program has been accused of “selling green cards to rich people” and being […]
Decoding Tax Policy Issues of tax policy and administration can often be clouded. They can be overly complicated and overtly politicized, making it difficult for the taxpayers to fully understand their tax code and what their taxes are being used for. Serving as the foundation for financing government services and programs, it is important for […]
Since the fall of the Wall in 1989, Berlin has emerged as one of Europe’s cutting edge intellectual, cultural, and economic centers. For anyone interested in the evolution of transportation and development patterns, visiting Berlin is a bargain: you can see two cities for the price of one. Following WWII, significant public and private capital […]
Once a vibrant commercial corridor, the built environment of Ridge Avenue in North Philadelphia has suffered from decades of economic decline and neglect. Recently, the neighborhood just west of Broad Street known as Francisville is on the rise, with several vacant and blighted properties being converted into a mix of affordable housing and upscale market-rate […]