The Business and Community Services team at Central Washington University was recognized on April 13 for earning the Best Paper Award at the Society for Advancement of Management’s International Business Conference. The award was given for their research paper on the Regional Sustainability Gap Index, which focuses on measuring regional economic sustainability.
The recognition highlights ongoing efforts to assess whether economic growth in local communities translates into sustainable opportunities for residents. The BCS study, titled “RGSI: A Measure of Regional Sustainability Through Human Capital,” argues that economic growth alone does not guarantee improved prospects for people living in those regions.
According to an article published by the Society for Advancement of Management, the research was conducted by BCS Executive Director Rob Ogburn, IDEA Central Executive Director Dr. Bill Provaznik, and former CWU Business Professor Coco Wu. Their work over three years examined seven counties in Central Washington and introduced a framework that measures both current wage levels and long-term wage trends as indicators of regional opportunity.
“Rather than relying on broad economic indicators, the index focuses on wages as a direct measure of opportunity,” the article explains. “It evaluates both where a region stands today and where it is headed, combining current wage levels with long-term wage growth trends to reveal whether communities are advancing or falling behind.”
The RGSI model uses publicly available data and straightforward calculations so policymakers can more easily evaluate their region’s performance without complex modeling. The SAM article notes this approach encourages leaders to prioritize sustainability rather than short-term gains: “This clarity is important because it shifts the conversation… It asks whether current strategies are improving long-term outcomes for residents, not just producing short-term gains.”
In awarding Best Paper honors, conference judges said: “This work does exactly that by providing a tool that is both conceptually sound and immediately useful. It challenges leaders to look beyond surface-level success and to focus on the deeper indicators that shape long-term prosperity.”
The award underscores growing interest among academics and practitioners in developing practical tools to help regions plan more effectively for sustainable futures.
