Hartford Business Journal – During the first quarter of 2017, Connecticut’s economy, as measured by real output or gross state product (GSP), contracted below where it was in 2004. After seven years of contraction from 2008 to 2014, the economy managed a modest 2 percent gain in 2015, only to retreat to essentially zero growth in 2016 and a sharp decline in early 2017.
In the Media
External media mentions
Economic Diversity Cushions Danbury Region from Unemployment
Greenwich Time – Since 2002, and throughout the Great Recession, Danbury and nearby towns enjoyed an unemployment rate two to three percentage points lower than the nation, the state and the cluster of cities and towns along the Gold Coast.
Stamford Publisher’s Journal Aims for Health Care Breakthrough
Stamford Advocate – In the past 15 years working in health care communications, Tory Cenaj has chronicled many of the trends shaping the industry. Her new project focuses on what could be another breakthrough.
Cenaj is the founder and publisher of “Blockchain in Healthcare Today,” an online journal set to debut next month. The launch of the publication reflects her faith in the potential of technology she thinks could transform the health care industry by ushering in more data security and producing major savings.
Down, But Not Out: Experts See Future for UBS in Stamford
Stamford Advocate – An embattled investment banking giant has downsized significantly in recent years in Connecticut. But a departure does not appear imminent.
Some California Nursing Homes Inflated Star Ratings
Skilled Nursing News – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made improvements to its Five-Star Quality Rating System after questions about self-inflation, and a new study provides more evidence for why the changes were necessary.
Charter-backed Repeal of Net Neutrality Approved
Stamford Advocate – The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to eliminate “net neutrality” rules instituted during the Obama administration that regulate how broadband providers deliver and charge for content, in an expected but controversial decision that opponents have vowed to fight.
Purdue Pharma, Prosecutors Continue Dialogue
Stamford Advocate – As a growing number of states pursue legal action against Purdue Pharma for allegedly stoking the nation’s opioid crisis, both sides are seeking to avoid protracted and costly cases.
Connecticut Internet Firms Face Post-Net Neutrality Era
Stamford Advocate – A battle over online access is roiling an industry that includes Connecticut’s top internet companies.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed getting rid of “net neutrality” rules instituted during the Obama administration that play a pivotal role in regulating how broadband providers deliver and charge for content.
A Glimpse at Silicon Valley’s Cryptocurrency Craze: A Melding of Reality, Fantasy and Hype
MarketWatch – The hype that has fueled the skyrocketing prices of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies was on full display this week in San Francisco, where a conference showcasing young companies seeking to catch the crypto wave before it crests offered a perplexing mix of a fantastical future and likely reality.
Woodbridge Businessman Pledges $22.5M to Support UConn Entrepreneurship
Hartford Business Journal – Woodbridge businessman Peter J. Werth has pledged $22.5 million to the UConn Foundation, which will include establishing an Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.