In spite of the historic campaign events and election result, 2008 followed some more or less usual patterns in shaping voter choice. Using survey data collected by the Survey Research Center (SRC) in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida in October and November 2008, this analysis shows that Florida voters were strongly influenced by partisanship and retrospective evaluations of the Bush presidency. A few issues were also modestly important in shaping vote choices.

Florida, as one of only seven states to levy no tax on personal income, relies significantly more on the sales tax to fund its services than do states with a personal income tax. Since all consumers purchasing goods or services online are legally required to pay either sales or use tax, online transactions may represent a considerable source of revenue. To capture some of this revenue, Florida may wish to revise its tax laws, either by joining the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP) or by making smaller, technical modifications. This article explores issues surrounding each option.

Federal, state, and utility measures provide incentives for people to use electricity more efficiently or consume less energy. However, the effectiveness of such incentives depends on consumers’ behavior. Through analysis of survey data, Dr. Lynne Holt and Ms. Carol Jacobson Larson explain consumers’ attitudes toward energy conservation and energy efficiency as a means of meeting Florida’s electricity needs. Of particular interest is the use of electric rates in affecting consumer behavior.

By most measures, the 2004 hurricane season was the worst in Florida’s history. Four hurricanes blasted through the state between August 13 and September 25, with Charley making landfall on the southwest coast near Punta Gorda, Frances on the southeast coast near Stuart, Ivan in the panhandle near Pensacola, and Jeanne nearly retracing the route followed by Frances. This was the first time in recorded history that four hurricanes had struck Florida in a single year. Most parts of the state were hit by at least one of the hurricanes and some were hit by two or even three.

Florida was struck by four devastating hurricanes in 2004. In a previous issue of Florida Focus, we presented the results of a survey designed to assess the impact of those hurricanes at the state level. Those results provided a useful statewide overview, but provided no information on the impact of the hurricanes on local areas in Florida. Since some of the most populous parts of the state were largely unaffected by the hurricanes, state-level results understate the impact of the hurricanes on many local areas.

With a population of over 17 million residents, Florida is the fourth most populous and the third fastest growing state in the nation. It garners national and international interest in demographic, economic, and social statistics from people interested in moving to or visiting the state, starting businesses, financing business ventures, or planning for the state’s growth. This paper explores various resources for obtaining data about Florida.

Throughout history Florida’s population has continuously repositioned itself. At the time of the first census in 1830, Florida had only 34,730 people, concentrated primarily in the Panhandle region. By 2000, the population had grown to 15,982,824 people, and by 2005, the population estimate was 17,918,227, concentrated in the central and southern peninsula. This study will track the movement of the geographic center of Florida’s population from 1830 to 2005.

Several proposals for major changes in Florida’s state and local tax systems are now under discussion. The intense interest in taxes, and especially property taxes, arises from the interaction of Save Our Homes (SOH) and the recent housing boom.

The recent rise and subsequent decline of housing prices, both in Florida and across the nation, have led to speculation about the nature of house prices in general. This paper explores recent trends in house prices, especially in Florida.