Did you know that Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) just turned 60?

The Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska Anchorage has been at the forefront of public policy research in Alaska since 1961 when the research unit was formed at the request of Alaska’s Second State Legislature.

Early ISER studies began just two years after Alaska became a state with a look at how Alaska’s economy would shift as a result of statehood. Other early studies focused on agriculture, the settlement of Native land claims, impacts of the 1964 earthquake and the growth of the oil and gas industry. Since then, ISER research has contributed to nearly every public policy topic in the state, including the Arctic, natural resources, education, telecommunications, the Permanent Fund, fisheries, health care and – of course – Alaska’s economy.

In recent publications and ISER talks, researchers have explored topics ranging from the impact of commercial fisheries on local economies to the use of Narcan in Alaska, the economic impact of COVID-19 and the economic contribution of UA research activities. 

Over the past 60 years, 550 ISER researchers and authors have produced more than 1,800 publications and presentations. These are available to the public online.