News & Insights

The thinking behind the work

Essays from our Present Value blog, news from the firm, and our analysts in the press.

Present Value·Digital Innovation

The Takeaways from BIO Convention 2016

The best of the life science and biotechnology industries can be seen at the annual Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Convention. This massive…

Present Value·Economic Development and Sector Strategy

Do Neighborhoods Spread?

Growing up White in West Philly, I thought a lot about neighborhood boundaries. Somehow, despite “West Philadelphia” being predominantly Black, my block…

Present Value·Infrastructure Economics

Moving Cities: Copenhagen

Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen, is often touted as the poster child for the movement towards sustainable urbanism. It earned this superlative through…

Present Value·Economic Development and Sector Strategy

A New Technique for More Accurate Impact Assessment

States, municipalities, and school districts make land use decisions that influence their fiscal and economic conditions. Understanding the effects of those decisions…

Present Value·Tourism

Old City, New Look

Old City District in Philadelphia has long been a tourist destination for American history lovers. With 4.3 million annual visitors to the…

Present Value·Tourism

Running the Numbers, Tracking the Impact

As I sat down to lunch on April 17th at Joe’s American Bar and Grille, I stared around the crowded restaurant. The…

Present Value·Equity and Inclusion

Breaking Down the Criticisms of the EB-5 Program

As with all topics surrounding immigration, there is controversy. The EB-5 visa investor program, whose aim is to bring foreign money and…

Present Value·Public Policy and Fiscal Analysis

Decoding Tax Policy and Administration

Decoding Tax Policy Issues of tax policy and administration can often be clouded. They can be overly complicated and overtly politicized, making…

Present Value·Infrastructure Economics

Moving Cities: Berlin

Since the fall of the Wall in 1989, Berlin has emerged as one of Europe’s cutting edge intellectual, cultural, and economic centers.…

Present Value·Economic Development and Sector Strategy

The View From Ridge: Neighborhood Change Along Philadelphia’s Ridge Avenue

Once a vibrant commercial corridor, the built environment of Ridge Avenue in North Philadelphia has suffered from decades of economic decline and…

Present Value·Economic Development and Sector Strategy

APA Conference 2016 Highlights

[View the story "APA National Conference 2016 - Emerging trends, highlights, and the future of planning" on Storify]  

Present Value·Economic Development and Sector Strategy

Open Access PHL Meetup: Stronger Neighborhoods

On April 1, Philadelphian thinkers, planners, data enthusiasts, and civic leaders met for the monthly Open Access PHL meeting. The convening's focus…

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