powering georgia's
economic engine
    with intellectual capital

The University System's focus on using its intellectual capital to help keep the state's economy running continued to reap strong dividends for Georgia. Beginning with the almost $8 billion economic impact of the System's 34 institutions, to a focus on technology to meet the needs of the knowledge economy, to bring in new jobs and research dollars, the System continues to help Georgia move ahead.

SURVEY OF ECONOMIC IMPACT OF USG
In March 2000, Dr. Jeffrey M. Humphreys announced that the University System of Georgia's economic impact on the state was $7.7 billion for the period July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999. Humphreys is director of economic forecasting for the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. This annual project demonstrates the most fundamental and basic impact the System's 34 institutions have on the state's economy.

The $7.7 billion is an impressive 6.4 percent (or $464 million) increase over the previous year's economic impact figure of $7.3 billion. The economic impact figure was arrived at by analyzing three important categories of college/university-related expenditures:

• spending by the institutions themselves for salaries and fringe benefits, operating supplies and expenses, and other budgeted items;
• spending by the institutions for capital projects (construction); and
• spending by students who attend USG institutions.

INCREASE IN USG RESEARCH FUNDING
One of the strongest measures of the University System of Georgia's growing preeminence can be found in the dollar value of research grants, contracts and gifts. During FY2000, the value of such research increased seven percent to a total of $575 million.

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©2001 University System of Georgia Board of Regents