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"The Kansas Department of Commerce's Workforce Services division links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. The Division provides services to assist employers and job seekers, including incentives and training, assistance with closings and mass layoffs, disability resources and KANSASWORKS virtual services. The Department also works with military veterans and employees with special needs. In addition to these services, the Department partners with other agencies including the Department of Labor and the Department for Children and Families to provide reemployment and training services, and the Department of Corrections and Board of Regents on workforce initiatives."

"The Kansas Department of Commerce's Workforce Services division links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. The Division provides services to assist employers and job seekers, including incentives and training, assistance with closings and mass layoffs, disability resources and KANSASWORKS virtual services. The Department also works with military veterans and employees with special needs. In addition to these services, the Department partners with other agencies including the Department of Labor and the Department for Children and Families to provide reemployment and training services, and the Department of Corrections and Board of Regents on workforce initiatives."

Presentation giving an overview of the Department of Commerce, including their expenditures and successes, information on a few of their special initiatives, and a summary of the Legislative Post Audit of their economic programs.

Presentation concerning Rural Opportunity Zones, giving statistics on their economic impact and benefits to Kansas and Kansans.

"Sales Tax Revenue (STAR) Bonds provide Kansas municipalities the opportunity to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism areas and to use the sales tax revenue generated by the development to pay off the bonds."

Presentation giving an overview of the Department of Commerce, including their expenditures and successes and information on their special initiatives.

Testimony in support of SB 283. "The Kansas Department of Commerce appreciates the work of the Division of Legislative Post Audit in assessing the Heartland Park Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds district. ... The LPA assessment of the Heartland Park project has resulted in legislation ... that provides for some changes to the application process of the program. The Department of Commerce has reviewed this legislation and can support the changes, providing the Legislature can make three small technical changes to the wording in the legislation."

Neutral testimony regarding the bill "that would move the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA) under Commerce. ... KBA has performed a much needed function and helped biosciences grow in Kansas. If the Legislature deems that the KBA has fulfilled its mission of jump starting the bioscience industry in Kansas, then the Department of Commerce stands ready to assist in any way that the Legislature deems necessary."

Testimony in support of HB 2209, "which will allow individuals to donate to the Individual Development Account (IDA) program and claim tax credits associated with IDA. ... By helping low-income Kansans build assets through a matched-savings system, the program promotes self-sufficiency."

Presentation briefing concerning Governor Brownback's Pro-Growth Small Business Incentive, and the positive effects that it will have on the Kansas Economy.

Paul De Grauwe's fragility hypothesis states that member countries of a monetary union such as the eurozone are highly vulnerable to a self-fulfilling mechanism by which the efforts of investors to avoid losses from default can end up triggering the very default they fear. The authors test this hypothesis by applying an eclectic methodology to a time window around Mario Draghi's "whatever it takes" (to keep the eurozone on firm footing) pledge on 26 July 2012. This pledge was soon followed by the announcement of the Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) programme (the prospective and conditional purchase by the European Central Bank of sovereign bonds of eurozone countries having difficulty issuing debt). The principal components of eurozone credit default swap spreads validate this choice of time frame. An event study reveals significant pre announcement contagion emanating from Spain to Italy, Belgium, France and Austria. Furthermore, time-series regression confirms frequent clusters of large shocks affecting the credit default swap spreads of the four eurozone countries but solely during the pre-announcement period. The findings of this report support the fragility hypothesis for the eurozone and endorse the Outright Monetary Transactions programme.

Presentation giving an overview of the Kansas Corporation Commission, its divisions, and its responsibilities, with added information about hydraulic fracturing in Kansas.

Presentation giving the Kansas Department of Commerce's response to the recent Audit of Commerce incentive programs.

Testimony in support of SB 292. "which will support increased growth of the bioscience industry in Kansas by allowing additional flexibility in the classification of bioscience companies. ... The bill will allow the [Kansas Bioscience Authority] and the Secretary of Revenue to determine that a business classified as a bioscience company because of its NAICS code should be no longer considered as a bioscience company. This will enable Commerce to provide economic incentives and support for businesses that are otherwise unable to receive KBA benefits to assist in creating jobs and investing in our state."

Testimony concerning SB 262. "The Department is proposing several changes to the PEAK incentive program to ensure that we can continue to use the Department's strongest economic development tool to its full capability. ... The Department believes that the proposed changes will clarify the intent of PEAK and enable the program to have an even greater positive impact on job creation and economic growth in Kansas."

Presentation giving an overview of the Department of Commerce, including their expenditures and successes and information on their special initiatives.

Presentation giving an overview and utilization statistics on two major Department of Commerce programs for economic development in Kansas.

Testimony in support of SB 295. "The agency is in favor of this addition to the eligible categories for the Community Service Program. We have observed an increase in particular types of projects proposed by local non-profits and we believe this change is necessary in order to adequately address those projects. ... The consistent increase in the number of projects proposed, dealing with technical education and housing, has led to our support for this change."

Testimony concerning HB 2430. "The Department is proposing several changes to the PEAK incentive program to ensure that we can continue to use the Department's strongest economic development tool to its full capability. ... The Department believes that the proposed changes will clarify the intent of PEAK and enable the program to have an even greater positive impact on job creation and economic growth in Kansas."

Testimony in support of HB 2417. "The Department of Commerce supports this small expansion of the Rural Opportunity Zones program. This expansion would add three counties well-positioned to take advantage of this unique tool, and it could help Cherokee, Montgomery, Sumner and Labette Counties to develop a competitive advantage over adjacent counties in Oklahoma and Missouri."

Testimony in support of HB 2440, "which will support increased growth of the bioscience industry in Kansas by allowing additional flexibility in the classification of bioscience companies. ... The bill will allow the [Kansas Bioscience Authority] and the Secretary of Revenue to determine that a business classified as a bioscience company because of its NAICS code should be no longer considered as a bioscience company. This will enable Commerce to provide economic incentives and support for businesses that are otherwise unable to receive KBA benefits to assist in creating jobs and investing in our state."

Testimony in support of HB 2722. "The Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) Act provides a program ... that assists in the financing of public improvements to support cities and developers who are building housing in rural communities. ... HB 2722 makes a technical change clarifying that school districts located in RHIDs have the discretion to allow the incremental increase of revenue generated from the statutory 20-mill uniform school levy to be used to pay for the principal and interest on bonds issued for the RHID and for eligible project costs incurred by local governments."

Written testimony in support of HB 2430. "The Department fully supported the changes that the House made to strengthen the bill. Those changes clarified the legislative language overseeing PEAK, while still giving Commerce the latitude to use this program to help expand economic development and maximize the program's effectiveness. These changes will ensure that the program continues to have a positive effect in supporting job growth in Kansas, while also allowing for more accountability to Kansas taxpayers and the Legislature. ... The Department believes that the proposed changes will clarify the intent of PEAK and enable the program to have an even greater positive impact on job creation and economic growth in Kansas."

The wave of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the United States serves as a means to address the current trade imbalance, reduce U.S. unemployment, and even encourage economic growth. However, U.S. critics point to the current Chinese policy of using subsidized State Operated Enterprises (SOEs) and using devalued currency to gain an unfair competitive advantage. In addition, there is an anxiety that the Chinese desire for economic transformation will facilitate the theft of U.S. intellectual property and technology. Understanding how the Chinese came to rely on SOEs and a devalued currency is crucial to understanding the current international economic environment. In addition, the U.S. historical and current reaction to FDI requires analysis as the two nations embark on an era of economic interdependence. In order to navigate the challenges and opportunities of this new reality, U.S. policy makers and the Communist Party of China will be required to foster economic strategies that not only maintain, but also advance the interest of both nations.

A nation's power to impose its will and to achieve its national objectives emanates from its instruments of national power. Today, instruments of national power include diplomacy, information, military, and economy, collectively identified by the acronym DIME. A nation does not necessarily have to be superior in each element of the DIME to achieve its national goals and interests. It does, however, have to be adept in managing each element of national power synergistically in order to achieve its desired results. During the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution (1778-1781), the rebels were outmatched and out-resourced in every conceivable way compared to Great Britain's global power, yet they still managed to defeat the British. The Americans succeeded by utilizing their instruments of national power more adeptly than the British. The British had an advantage regarding military and economic national powers, but failed to leverage those advantages into a successful campaign against the Americans. This misstep by the British allowed the Americans to protract the war long enough to leverage its advantages of diplomatic and information national powers that ultimately resulted in victory, independence, and the birth of a new nation.

This paper looks at the trade policy landscape of the EU and the wider Europe, with a focus on issues arising from the signature on 27 June 2014 of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (DCFTAs) between the EU and three East European countries (Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine), and actual or prospective issues relating to the customs union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan (BRK), and the Eurasian Economic Union whose founding treaty was signed on 29 May 2014. The huge expansion of intercontinental free trade area negotiations currently underway, in which the EU is an active participant alongside much of the Americas and Asia, stands in contrast with Russia's choice to restrict itself to the Eurasian Economic Union, which is only a marginal extension of its own economy. Alone among the major economies in the world, Russia does not seek to integrate economically with any major economic bloc, which should be a matter of serious concern for Moscow. Within the wider Europe, the EU's DCFTAs with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are a major new development, but Russia now threatens trade sanctions against Ukraine in particular, the economic case for which seems unfounded and whose unilateral application would also impair the customs union. The Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan customs union itself poses several issues of compatibility with the rules of the WTO, which in turn are viewed by the EU as an impediment to discussing possible free trade scenarios with the customs union, although currently there are far more fundamental political impediments to any consideration of such ideas. Nonetheless, this paper looks at various long-term scenarios, if only as a reminder that there could be much better alternatives to the present context of conflict around Ukraine.

Presentation "to provide you with an overview of the Commission, what's happened in the last year and the significant challenges confronting Kansas. ... The Commission's activities fall into four different areas: (1) ratemaking; (2) prevention of market failures; (3) administration of tax and subsidy programs; and (4) agency management."

Testimony in opposition to SB 240, "would repeal KSA 79-32,160a, which allows companies to earn and claim investment tax credits under the High Performance Incentive Program (HPIP). ... To end this program would significantly weaken the state's economic toolbox and the state's ability to attract quality companies that offer high-paying jobs. That, in turn, will weaken our efforts to spur much needed job growth."

Testimony in support of HB 2086, "which offers a technical change to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Community Improvement District (CID) statutes. This will allow the underlying program to be better utilized by local units of government to increase economic development in Kansas and create more jobs."

Testimony in support of SB 181, "which will help to grow the Kansas economy. ... As a former legislator, I worked with several of you in the past in reforming property taxation for vehicles to help increase the number of new vehicles sold in Kansas."

Testimony in support of SB 202, "legislation that will add certain agricultural production NAICS subsectors to the definition of "qualified firm" within the High Performance Incentive Program (HPIP)."

Testimony in support of HB 2084, which "would enable the Department to encourage and approve non-profits that are working to expand technical training opportunities and apprenticeships to Kansas youth. The legislation would also allow for those training opportunities to address critical housing shortages in the state."

Testimony in support of HB 2272, "legislation which makes a technical change to the Industrial Revenue Bonds tax abatement statute. ... The proposed legislation would create a new IRB abatement section ... that would make it clear that so long as 100 percent of the project was financed with IRBs (regardless of whether fee title transfers to county or city) then the 10-year IRB abatement would be available."

Presentation giving an overview of the Department of Commerce, including their expenditures and successes and information on their special initiatives.