Want to know how Disneyland's closure will hit Southern California's economy?
Ask the Cal State Fullerton trio of economists who determined the resort's $8.5 billion impact in Southern California.
When Disneyland Resort wanted an accurate and objective assessment of its economic impact on the region, the powerhouse turned to the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting at Cal State Fullerton.
Anil Puri, the center's director; Adrian Fleissig, professor of economics; and Aaron Popp, assistant professor of economics spent six months on the project before announcing the results in September.
Their study revealed the resort's $8.5 billion impact on the region — an increase of 50 percent over 2013 — stemming from its 78,299 employees and the millions of visitors that boost local businesses.
The theme park's March 14 closure will hit Orange County hard, says Fleissig. That's where more than 73 percent of the resort's employees call home.
"The drop in tourism also will have a negative fiscal impact as tax revenues will shrink. This is bad news for Orange County and in particular for city of Anaheim’s General Fund.
"With the Disneyland Resort busy practically all year, it will be difficult to make up the lost revenue."
Anil Puri is the director of the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting and a professor of economics in Cal State Fullerton’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. He specializes in economic forecasts and policy analysis.
Aaron Popp is an assistant professor of economics in Mihaylo College of Business and Economics and a research associate at the university’s Woods Center. Popp's research focuses on macroeconomics and computational economics.
Adrian Fleissig is a professor of economics in Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, and a research associate at the university’s Woods Center and its Center for Demographic Research. He teaches courses in econometrics and macroeconomics and is a leading forecaster of the region’s housing market.
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