Greater Ohio Policy Center has released “Ohio’s GDP in National Context: Ohio’s Legacy Places Matter a Lot”, a white paper on the state’s population trends and their impact on the state’s economy.
The Ohio Department of Development’s population projections anticipate Ohio will lose nearly 6% of its population by 2050, with most of the state’s legacy cities and surrounding metros expected to experience declining population numbers. The Columbus Dispatch and other outlets have explored this data and the implications population loss may have.
GOPC’s white paper looks at the issue through the lens of GDP (gross domestic product) production. Ohio is currently the nation’s 7th largest producer of GDP and 59% of that production comes from counties that are expected to decline in population.
If Ohio wishes to maintain its position as a major GDP producer, Ohio must continue to invest in its legacy communities.
“There are very real, economic reasons to invest in our legacy cities and metros and ensure no Ohioan is left behind,” said GOPC Executive Director Alison Goebel.
The white paper offers five recommendations on actions that the state and others can take to address population loss and strengthen legacy communities.