The Center for Economic Development and Business Research, part of the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, received the 2015 Award of Excellence in Electronic Publications from the Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER) at the organization's annual conference last month.

The publication, titled “Wichita in Megapolitan America: An Analysis of Wichita’s Potential Export Markets,” was recognized by AUBER representatives for content and design, and hailed as “beautifully organized” and an “impressive document.” View the winning publication at www.exportmarkets.cedbr.org.

This CEDBR report focuses on Wichita’s potential to export goods to supply industries that are highly concentrated in nearby metropolitan and megapolitan areas. Using data on industry inputs and outputs, CEDBR identified goods-producing industries that are highly concentrated in Wichita and assessed their potential to serve as inputs to highly concentrated industries in nearby metropolitan areas. The report identified a number of exporting opportunities for Wichita companies in nearby metropolitan areas.

"For long-term economic viability, there is an increasing need for Wichita's economy to be linked to surrounding metropolitan areas," WSU President John Bardo said of the report. "This study is an important resource to encourage these relationships and provide greater growth opportunities for the South Central Kansas economy.”

AUBER is internationally recognized by business, government and education as the premier professional organization dedicated to continually improving the quality, effectiveness and application of research in business, economics and public policy.