Economics

Nearly half of Arkansas households are ALICE: asset limited, income constrained, employed. The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation's Shantell Hinton explains what that means for working families.

Michael Tilley of Talk Business & Politics on a rejected plan to rebuild Fort Smith's original 1817 fort, slowing metro economies, a monthlong city cyberattack fallout.

A new Economic Policy Institute report puts the teacher pay gap at 25%. Economist Sylvia Allegretto talks with Ozarks at Large about how the gap widened since the 1990s.

Saunders Real Estate's David Hill says Arkansas land is still selling, but buyers are pickier. Timberland is shifting to recreation, ag land to housing, Delta farms to institutional owners.

Michael Tilley of Talk Business & Politics breaks down Fort Smith metro home sales, building permit totals, tourism job growth, plus a Fort Smith board push to restrict data centers.

A new United WE report finds caregiving responsibilities remain the biggest barrier keeping Arkansas women out of the workforce, with entrepreneurship rising as women seek more flexibility.

Entegrity's John Coleman explains how Act 278 slashed solar net metering credits to a fraction of retail rates, and how a separate law tied to AI data centers could push electricity costs higher for everyone.

Arkansas Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald discusses the state's climb in ALEC's economic outlook index — and whether a top-10 ranking can coexist with some of the lowest median incomes in the country.

Arkansas farmer Tim Wells and conservation advocate Rebecca Bartels warn that proposed USDA budget cuts could devastate farm support services statewide.

Arkansas had more farm bankruptcies in 2025 than any other state. Northwest Arkansas Food Bank president Taylor Speegle says hunger requires policy — not just food banks — to solve.