UT Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research

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: tr.ee/safertndata

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: tiny.utk.edu/firearms Read more: safertn.org/new-data-dashb…

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: news.utk.edu/2026/03/17/ten…

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.

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.

@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.

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!!

The Boyd Center has reached a 100% participation rate in the #BigOrangeFamily campaign every year since its inception, and now this year is no different! We are proud to help @UTKnoxville remain #1 in SEC for faculty and staff philanthropy. Learn more: utk.edu/family

New @uscensusbureau 2025 population estimates are here! Tennessee had the 8th-largest population increase in the U.S., adding nearly 64,000 new residents and bringing its population to 7.32 million. The driver of the increase? Net migration. Read more: tnsdc.utk.edu/2026/02/02/202…

The Boyd Center’s Celeste Carruthers was recognized as one of the nation’s top education scholars in the 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings! Carruthers holds a joint appointment in @HaslamUT's Department of Economics at @UTKnoxville. edweek.org/policy-politic…

Tennessee’s economy will continue to expand in 2026 despite challenges stemming from slower job growth and federal policy changes, according to the @UTBoydCenter's newly released 2026 Economic Report to the Governor. Read more: news.utk.edu/2025/12/15/boy…

The Boyd Center's survey of @TennCare recipients found record-high satisfaction among enrollees, with 97% satisfied with coverage. Our study also finds 7% to 9.1% of Tennesseans are uninsured, down from last year’s estimate of 7.6% to 9.6%. Read more: news.utk.edu/2025/11/25/ut-…

Tennessee Reconnect is delivering real results for adult learners. Investing in people expands opportunity and strengthens Tennessee’s future. Thanks to the advisors and coaches guiding adult learners, and to @UTBoydCenter for highlighting this impact.

Tennessee Reconnect is delivering real results for adult learners! A new study from @UTBoydCenter shows: • Reconnectors finish college at MUCH higher rates than adults who go it alone. • After graduating, their incomes grow faster than those without a Navigator. 🔗in comments

The federal government shutdown impacts all types of data users since statistical agency websites go dark. But there are alternatives to putting your research on hold. tnsdc.utk.edu/2025/09/30/nav…

All of our Boyd Center professors hold joint appointments in the economics department as well. We are proud that they are not only informing public policy through Boyd Center research in economics, education, health and taxes, but also going above and beyond to teach students!

The Boyd Center's Celeste Carruthers will represent @UTKnoxville at the 2025 Emerging School Models Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School. She will join the Sept. 25 panel, "From classroom to career: Measuring the success of CTE programs." Register: bit.ly/44KyI8p

The Boyd Center's Celeste Carruthers went on @Marketplace earlier this week to discuss the U.S. economy and the job market. Listen here: marketplace.org/story/2025/09/…

“We want the labor market churn, because what we would be seeing then is folks getting promotions or better-paying jobs,” @UTBoydCenter's @mikekofoed told @KaylaPrechtTV at @6News. “That would create spots for a new college grad to enter the labor market.” wate.com/news/local-new…

The summer newsletter is out! Click through to read about: - How many Tennesseans work outdoors in the summer heat - A new population estimates program & how it changes state-shared revenue distribution - A first look at Census 2030 operations And more: conta.cc/40OfY5H