Running the Numbers: A Practical Guide to Regional Economic and Social Analysis: 2014

<p>Through use of practical examples and a plainspoken narrative style that minimises the use of maths this book demystifies data concepts sources and methods for public service professionals interested in understanding economic and social issues at the regional level. By blending elements of a general interest book a textbook and a reference book it equips civic leaders public administrators urban planners nonprofit executives philanthropists journalists and graduate students in various public affairs disciplines to wield social and economic data for the benefit of their communities. <br><br>While numerous books about quantitative research exist few focus specifically on the public sector. <em>Running the Numbers</em> in contrast explores a wide array of topics of regional importance including economic output demographics business structure labour markets and income among many others. To that end the book stresses practical applications minimises the use of maths and employs extended chapter-length examples that demonstrate how analytical tools can illuminate the social and economic workings of actual American regions.</p>