Research Publications Economic Review The Economic Review is a quarterly research publication with articles by Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City staff on issues of relevance to the Federal Reserve, including macroeconomics and monetary policy, regional and international economics, banking, financial markets and payments systems. Main Street Economist The Main Street Economist is a bimonthly electronic newsletter that reviews the major economic challenges and opportunities emerging in the Tenth District, both in rural and urban communities. Research Working Papers The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's research staff produces a series of working papers. These technical papers cover a wide range of economic research topics. Payments System Research Briefing Payments System Research Briefings discuss types of payments methods, developments in payments networks and various participants' roles in the payments system. Financial Industry Perspectives Financial Industry Perspectives contains articles by the Supervision and Risk Management Division on a variety of banking issues and topics. This publication is distributed exclusively online.

Focus Areas

Economic Research   The Economic Research Department conducts innovative economic research on monetary policy and other issues of importance to the Bank and the Federal Reserve System and to communicate the results of this research to policymakers, other researchers, and the general public. Third Quarter Economic Review How Will Unemployment Fare Following the Recession? Beyond Inflation Targeting: Should Central Banks Target the Price Level? Coming Home to Rural America: Demographic Shifts in the Tenth District Was Monetary Policy Optimal During Past Deflation Scares? Research Working Papers Monetary-Fiscal Policy Interactions and Fiscal Stimulus Nested Forecast Model Comparisons: A New Approach to Testing Equal Accuracy In-Sample Tests of Predictive Ability: A New Approach Kansas City Financial Stress Index What's New Payments System Research The Payments System Research function is responsible for monitoring and analyzing domestic and international payments system developments. 2009 Payments Conference Working Papers Spin-offs: Theory and Evidence Product Innovation and Firm Survival in the U.S. ATM and Debit Card Network Industry Why Do Card Issuers Charge Proportional Fees? The Economics of Two-Sided Payment Card Economics: Pricing, Adoption and Usage Speeches Can Smart Cards Reduce Payments Fraud and Identity Theft? Research Briefings The Benefits of Collecting and Reporting Payment Fraud Statistics for the United States A Backward Glance While Looking Forward International Remittances Regional Research The Regional, Public and Community Affairs Division was created to strengthen the Bank's regional research efforts, improve its understanding of the Tenth Federal Reserve District`s unique economic geography, and enhance the analysis of local economic developments for the Bank's monetary policy deliberations. Economic Review Coming Home to Rural America: Demographic Shifts in the Tenth District This Economic Review article by Jason Henderson and Maria Akers examines whether rural areas should focus more on the recent trend of middle-aged families coming home to rural America. Do State Corporate Income Taxes Reduce Wages? This Economic Review article by R. Alison Felix asks who will bear the burden of the taxes as states reevaluate their current tax policy and the effects of each tax component. Recession and Recovery Across the Nation: Lessons from History This Economic Review article by Chad Wilkerson, Megan Williams and Amy Jones examines whether past experience can determine whether some regions will rebound earlier or stronger from the current recession. Main Street Economist The Slow Road Back for the U.S. Livestock Industry  The livestock sector has struggled to post profits in the recent recession. In the latest issue of Main Street Economist, Jason Henderson analyzes demand prospects over the next year and finds that a rebound hinges on foreign demand. Manufacturing Survey The Bank's monthly Survey of Manufacturers provides information on current manufacturing activity in the Tenth District. Research Working Papers The Financial Health of Agricultural Lenders Corporate Taxes and Union Wages in the United States Ag Credit Survey Farmland Values Stabilize as Farm Incomes Firm Tenth District Overview Banking Supervision Banking Studies and Structure economists study emerging issues affecting the banking industry, including bank supervisory and regulatory concerns, fair lending issues and potential risks to financial institutions. Community Development The Community Affairs department supports the Federal Reserve System's economic growth objectives by promoting community development and fair and impartial access to credit. The department focuses research on challenging issues affecting economic prospects in low- and moderate- income communities and brings together community stakeholders to explore prospective solutions. Foreclosure Resource Center The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has collected a number of resources on foreclosures. These resources include research on regional trends, information on local foreclosure rates and links to consumer and community organizations involved in mitigation efforts. Economic Review Characteristics of High Foreclosure Neighborhoods in the Tenth District  This Economic Review article by Kelly D. Edmiston confirms that foreclosure rates have been high in low-income neighborhoods but also finds that the foreclosure crisis is seeping into higher-income neighborhoods—due primarily to unfavorable conditions in local economies and residential real estate markets.