Civic Economics

What Civic Economics does

Civic Economics is an economic analysis and strategic planning consultancy founded in 2002 and headquartered across offices in Chicago (Matt Cunningham) and Tulsa (Dan Houston). The firm applies industry-standard analytical tools including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), REMI and IMPLAN economic modeling, and the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) database to retail economics, gaming impact analysis, land use planning, and community development projects for governments, trade associations, NGOs, and private businesses across North America.

Its core proprietary assets are three methodologies developed over 20 years of practice: an independent-retailer impact methodology comparing local versus chain/online retail market share; a gaming impact gravity-modeling approach that discounts spending displacement from other leisure activities (developed in partnership with gravity modeling firms); and a NETS-based classification system that categorizes businesses as local or non-local across roughly 2 million establishments. Signature products include the ABA Indie Impact Study Series (with the American Booksellers Association since 2012), the OPEN Index (with American Express OPEN, 2011), and the ongoing Amazon retail impact studies (Empty Storefronts, Prime Numbers, UNFulfilled). The firm's work has won a National Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association and been cited in 51 books as of Fall 2022.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees on a project-by-project basis, with no public pricing or recurring subscription model. The go-to-market is primarily sales-led and community-led: the firm acquires engagements via reputation, referrals, direct outreach, and partnerships with trade associations and local business alliances, supported by free downloadable research publications, earned media coverage (Economist, New York Times), and conference testimony at planning commissions and legislative hearings.

Name

Civic Economics

Legal name

Civic Economics

Website

https://civiceconomics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Civic Economics is a two-partner economic analysis and strategic planning consultancy founded in 2002, serving governments, trade associations, NGOs, and businesses with proprietary retail impact, gaming, and land use studies using GIS, REMI, IMPLAN, and NETS data.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Consulting Services

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Economic impact analysis
• Retail economics consulting
• Community development advisory
• Land use planning
• Local economic studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Economic Analysis and Strategic Planning Consulting: Professional consulting fees for economic analysis, impact studies, retail economics, gaming analyses, and land use planning services provided to businesses, governments, and NGOs across North America.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Civic Economics is a Chicago- and Tulsa-based economic analysis and strategic planning consultancy founded in 2002 that delivers economic impact studies, retail and gaming impact analyses, land use planning, and community development advisory services to businesses, governments, and NGOs across North America. Engagements are bespoke, partner-led projects rather than packaged products, and the firm is known for widely cited studies such as the Indie Impact Study Series and Amazon retail impact analyses.

Product overview

Civic Economics is an economic analysis and strategic planning consultancy offering professional consulting services rather than software products. The firm provides economic impact analysis, retail economics studies, gaming analyses, land use planning, and community development advisory services. Key service offerings include the Indie Impact Study Series (in collaboration with the American Booksellers Association), the OPEN Index (with American Express OPEN), and ongoing Amazon retail impact studies (including Empty Storefronts, Prime Numbers, and UNFulfilled). These are consulting engagements rather than software products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Impact Analysis

Quantifiable outcome

• Independent retail market share declined from 59% to 48% nationally (1990-2009)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• American Booksellers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Ongoing collaboration since 2012 on the Indie Impact Study Series, allowing organizations to develop localized data on economic impact of independent retailers. Also collaborated on Indie City Index (2011) and Amazon impact studies including Empty Storefronts, Prime Numbers, and UNFulfilled (2022). The ABA provides partial matching funds enabling communities to participate at modest cost.
• American Express OPENflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011American Express OPEN (small business services division) approached Civic Economics to develop the OPEN Index research project in 2011, providing understanding of conditions facing independent businesses and their community impact. This study built on the Indie City Index methodology and analyzed 15 major U.S. cities. Civic Economics' prior research provided the underpinning for American Express's Small Business Saturday campaign.
• Interface Studio (Philadelphia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning partnership for the Wicker Park-Bucktown Master Plan in Chicago. Interface Studio led community engagement while Civic Economics provided economic analysis of business district evolution. The project won the National Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association.
• Sam Schwartz Engineering (Chicago)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the planning team for Wicker Park-Bucktown Master Plan, providing transportation engineering expertise alongside Interface Studio and Civic Economics.
• Walls and Associates (Oakland, California)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) database, which provided 20 years of data covering every retailer, restaurant, and bar in a stratified national sample of 144 counties for the OPEN Index study.
• Various Gravity Modeling FirmscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with leading gravity modeling firms to develop proprietary methodology for quantifying real economic impacts of casino gambling, discounting spending displacement from other leisure activities.
• Appalachian Regional CommissionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContract engagement to provide technical assistance and hands-on guidance to new leaders in four distressed communities from Mississippi to Pennsylvania, helping communities relearn local planning processes and regain trust of funding sources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Fourth Economy: Economic development consulting firm working with communities, governments, and regions on strategic planning and economic analysis. Directly comparable in client type (governments, NGOs) and economic development focus.
• BAE Urban Economics: Berkeley-based economic consulting firm specializing in real estate economics, fiscal impact analysis, and public-private development advisory. Comparable in serving municipalities and developers with economic impact and land use analysis.
• TischlerBise: Fiscal and economic impact analysis firm serving municipalities, counties, and developers. Specializes in cost-benefit and fiscal impact studies, overlapping with Civic Economics' economic impact and land use service lines.
• Interface Studio: Philadelphia-based urban planning firm that partnered with Civic Economics on the award-winning Wicker Park-Bucktown Master Plan. Offers complementary planning, community engagement, and economic analysis services to municipalities and developers.
• RKG Associates: Real estate and economic consulting firm providing market analysis, retail economics, and impact studies. Directly comparable to Civic Economics in retail economics expertise and use of establishment-level data.
• BBC Research & Consulting: Denver-based economic and market research firm providing economic impact studies, fiscal analyses, and market research to public agencies and private clients. Strong overlap in economic impact methodology and government client base.
• Econsult Solutions: Philadelphia-based economic consulting firm providing economic impact analysis, real estate advisory, and policy research to public and private clients. Closely comparable in service mix and client base (governments, NGOs, businesses).
• Project for Public Spaces: Nonprofit organization specializing in placemaking, downtown and neighborhood revitalization, and public space economics. Comparable in working with municipalities and community organizations on economic vitality of local districts.

Broad incumbents

• Smart Growth America: National nonprofit advocacy organization focused on land use, walkable communities, and economic development policy. Larger in scope and advocacy-driven, but shares Civic Economics' emphasis on data-driven research to influence local economic policy.
• HR&A Advisors: National economic development and real estate advisory firm offering economic impact analysis, market analysis, and public-sector advisory. Operates at larger scale with broader service portfolio but overlaps with Civic Economics on economic impact and land use engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/civiceconomics
• Facebookfacebook.com/CivicEconomics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Civic Economics