Economics

In about a month, a local triathlon is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of more than $9 million, according to Michelle Pippin. Pippin, CEO of the Augusta Sports Council, said nearly 3,000 people are expected to participate in this year’s Ironman 70.3 Augusta. The 13th annual event, which will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 in downtown Augusta, consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. “The race continues to be a beginner favorite for the sport and one of the largest Ironman events in North

The continued mixed messages sent by the economic data continued in June with job openings increasing by 13.6 percent in Georgia. Georgia was one of only two states, the other being Ohio, that saw an increase in job openings. This follows the 16 percent fall in job openings in May. South Carolina job openings fell by 6.7 percent in June. Given the availability of job offers, people quitting their jobs in Georgia rose by 0.6 percent in June, the highest number for all states at 27,000. Layoffs and discharges by

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the impact of the TechNet cyber conference on the CSRA’s economy and status. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: All last week we heard about the TechNet Cyber conference taking place in downtown Augusta. Please explain the purpose of the conference. It sounds like a geeky Army thing. Rick: It probably is geeky, but it’s more than Army. It’s

The good hands of Allstate insurance are dipping deeper into the pockets of Georgia policyholders. According to Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, John King, Allstate is using a loophole in Georgia’s law to increase automobile insurance rates by 25 percent. “I am angry and disappointed that Allstate has chosen to exploit a loophole in state law to implement such a substantial increase in costs on hardworking Georgians when families are already struggling with historic inflation everywhere from the gas pump to the grocery store,” King said in a statement.

Last week, Gary Kauffman of Augusta Business Daily reported that “the PGA Tour was the only meaningful option for golfers playing at the highest levels, yet the tour doesn’t compensate the golfers for their revenues at the level of athletes in other sports.” (See Pro golfers file antitrust lawsuit). Eleven golfers have filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the PGA Tour. In economics, a monopoly is a single seller of a product. As every student in an introductory class knows, a monopoly can charge a higher price for its product than

Downtown Augusta is home to a growing list of retail shops, restaurants, and other businesses, thanks to the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta. The agency was created in 1974 to oversee and promote downtown redevelopment. Its board meets monthly to discuss a variety of topics, including projects and initiatives. ABD visited this month’s meeting, which was held on Thursday. DDA Executive Director, Margaret Woodard presented the Director’s Report and discussed current projects. For example, as ABD previously reported, The Brunch House of Augusta plans to relocate from Greene Street to