Explore the economic impact of anchor institutions in 520 regions across the United States. The reliance index demonstrates how dependent regional economies are on these institutions and provides a measure of the national average.
Universities and hospitals anchor regional economies in distinct ways. The updated Anchor Economy Dashboard now separates their economic impacts, revealing how each sector uniquely shapes local economies and drives different regional dynamics.
Universities and hospitals, as anchor institutions, significantly contribute to local economies by providing jobs and services. But what happens in downturns? This study analyzes the economic performance of State College, PA, during three recessions.
About the Dashboard
The Anchor Economy Dashboard answers two critical questions for regions in the U.S.
What is the economic impact of higher education institutions and hospitals (anchor institutions) on the regions they are in and how dependent are regions on anchor institutions for overall economic activity? The Anchor Economy Dashboard presents first-ever anchor impacts for the entire U.S. by region and a new “reliance index,” demonstrating how dependent regional economies are on these institutions.
The tool was updated in April 2026 to include the regional economic impacts of higher education institutions and hospitals separately so users can better understand the respective economic contributions of these institutions in their region.
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Suggested Citation:
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Anchor Economy Dashboard.
Accessed Jun. 02, 2026,
https://www.philadelphiafed.org/surveys-and-data/community-development-data/anchor-economy-dashboard.
