OUR MISSION is to conduct, promote, and disseminate high-quality applied economic and financial research of interest to both private industry and policy makers alike. DEFA conducts regional impact studies, produces regional economic forecasts for a variety of locations, markets and industries, analyzes regional real estate markets, conducts investment portfolio analysis, and researches both the determinants, and economic impacts, of regional entrepreneurial development. The emphasis of DEFA research is applied and policy-oriented, rather than basic and academic.