About CUED

Mission

Since 1978, the Center for Urban Economic Development (CUED) has conducted research on a broad range of issues shaping the trajectories of local and regional economies. CUED’s mission is to improve development outcomes and expand economic opportunity, and we strive to achieve our mission in three principal ways. First, CUED conducts original research on employment, economic restructuring, community development, and public policy. Second, CUED works in partnership with community-based organizations, labor unions, advocacy coalitions, state and local governments, and policy think tanks to devise development strategies. Such strategies require research on job access, job quality, business strategies and outcomes, the role of public policy, and the impacts of development on neighborhoods. Third, through specially constructed models of technical assistance to project partners, CUED enters into long-term relationships with organizations to conduct strategic research, to evaluate community and workforce development programs and strategies, and to translate lessons from practice into public policy.

Industry analysis: research on industrial change in key sectors, and how these shifts impact urban economies and labor markets

Workforce systems: analysis and evaluation of programs and strategies to improve labor market outcomes

Urban economic change: research on a broad range of issues that shape the trajectories of local and regional economic prosperity

Industry Analysis

  • Logistics
  • Cooperatives
  • Gig economy
  • Technology and automation
  • Residential and commercial construction
  • Temporary staffing
  • Care work

Economic Analysis

  • Labor market indicators
  • Community needs assessments
  • Recessions and recoveries

Evaluation

  • Economic development initiatives
  • Public policies
  • Workforce development programs

Public Policy

  • Labor market policy
  • Public policy analysis
  • Labor standards
  • Workforce development

Dr. Nik Theodore, Director

theodore@uic.edu

115 CUPPA Hall
412 S. Peoria Street, (MC350)
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 413-3375