In this episode of the Bengal Business Radio Show, host Dr. Alex Bolinger welcomes Dr. Karl Geisler, department chair of Economics and Finance at Idaho State University, to unpack key questions raised at the Idaho Economic Outlook Symposium. Geisler explains how Idaho’s unusually diverse mix of industries and distinct regional economies has fueled strong growth and helped the state weather downturns, even as 2025 began with slower gross state product growth following a “banner” year in 2024. He walks through his multi‑year forecasts for Idaho personal income and state tax revenues, clarifying why growth is moderating back toward long‑run averages and how tax‑code changes and demographic shifts—especially rapid population growth and an aging, increasingly retired in‑migrant population—are affecting labor force participation, unemployment, and the state budget. The conversation also compares Idaho’s employment picture to national trends, highlights the role of energy and healthcare topics featured at the symposium, and closes with Geisler’s reflections on the value of studying economics and his research in regional and spatial economics, from casino impacts to commuting patterns and workforce analysis.
BBRS Explores Idaho’s Economic Outlook with Dr. Karl Geisler
