1. The State of American Indian Economic Development
Eric Henson
Western Knight Center
Palm Springs, CA
March 13, 2005

2. The Harvard Project
Since 1987 the Harvard Project has worked to understand the conditions under which sustained, self-determined socio-economic development is achieved in Indian Country.

3. Central Activities of the Harvard Project
Research
Faculty and staff investigate development and other policy-related issues of concern to tribal governments.
Advisory Services
More than 200 advisory projects at the request of tribes. Projects include constitutional reform, land use, and feasibility studies.
Executive Education
In conjunction with the Native Nations Institute at the University of AZ.
Honoring Nations
Since 1998 this awards program has identified, celebrated, and shared 64 outstanding examples of tribal governance.

4. Findings of the Harvard Project
Sovereignty Matters
Results are consistently better when decision making rests with tribes.
Institutions Matter
Successful tribal governments fairly settle disputes, separate business from government, and successfully implement and administer tribal policies.
Culture Matters
Native culture is a resource that strengthens tribal governments and improves tribal programs.

5. Census Databook
Recent Research
Jonathan Taylor and Joseph Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.
Comparison begins with many years of socio-economic distress to overcome
Per-capita income less than a third of the US level.
Unemployment three times the US level.
College graduation rates less than half the US level.

6. Changes on Reservations Other than Navajo (Changes 1990 – 2000 presented in points unless indicated as %)
Non- Gaming
Gaming
U.S.
Real per capita income
+21%
+36%
+11%
Median household income
+14%
+35%
+4%
Family poverty
-6.9
-11.8
-0.8
Child poverty
-8.1
-11.6
-1.7
Deep poverty
-1.4
-3.4
-0.4
Public assistance
+0.7
-1.6
+0.3
Unemployment
-1.8
-4.8
-0.5
Labor force participation
+1.6
-1.3
Overcrowded homes
-0.1
+1.1
Homes lacking complete plumbing
-4.6
-3.3
Homes lacking complete kitchen
+1.3
-0.6
+0.2
College graduates
+1.7
+2.6
+4.2
High school or equivalency only
-0.3
+1.8
Less than 9th grade education
-5.5
-6.3
-2.8
Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

7. Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

8. Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

9. Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

10. Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

11. Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

12. Taylor and Kalt, American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between The 1990 and 2000 Censuses, HPAIED, January 2005.

13. Conclusions
The measures cited here, when tied to other Harvard Project research, indicate that a broad policy of Indian self government is working.
At the heart of building prosperous nations is de facto sovereignty – this allows tribes to reap the benefits, and bear the risks, of local decision making.
Tribes that build governing institutions capable of driving socio-economic development on their own terms are the ones that are more likely to achieve long-term, sustainable, economic prosperity.
In spite of this progress, Indian Country still has a long way to go to reach parity with the rest of the US.