Transforming Ohio’s Economy: Questions for the Next Governor of Ohio

In November, Ohioans will elect a new governor. The governor and the voters who elect her or him will need to grapple with challenges to Ohio’s future, many of which are rooted in the state’s past. 

How well is the state doing in producing good-paying jobs and trained workers? Is the state doing enough to ensure that all its citizens, including those who have historically lagged in wealth and income, share the benefits of a growing economy? What national and international policy issues affect Ohio’s economy? 

Bill Shkurti, distinguished adjunct professor with the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and Fran Stewart, senior research associate for The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the Ohio Manufacturing Institute, released a new report, “Transforming Ohio’s Economy in the Wake of the Great Pandemic: Questions for the Next Governor,” to inform gubernatorial candidates and Ohio voters about policy choices that lie ahead.  

They examine what has happened to Ohio’s economy since they issued their 2018 report, “Toward a New Ohio: Questions Every Candidate Should Answer.” This update covers the two years before the pandemic began in the U.S. in 2020, the impact of the pandemic on Ohio’s economy and workforce, and the issues it raises going forward. Shkurti and Stewart also address the potential economic effects of Intel Corp.’s plans to invest $20 billion to build two semiconductor fabrication plants and employ at least 3,000 workers in Ohio. They conclude with a series of questions for the candidates for governor and other state elected officials.