Sessions
State Economist Perspective
9:40 AM - 10:00 AM Thu
Josh Lehner is an Economist with the State of Oregon’s Office of Economic Analysis. He develops the quarterly Oregon Economic forecast, including outlooks for employment, income, and housing. Mr. Lehner also acts as the state’s de facto vice economist by forecasting revenues for the Oregon Lottery, Oregon Judicial Department, and state marijuana and tobacco taxes. Outside of work, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, traveling the state and consuming Oregon’s craft beverages.
Mr. Lehner’s economic research has been cited by Calculated Risk, The Economist, Financial Times, National Public Radio, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other local media. Prior to joining the state, Mr. Lehner worked as a research analyst for a local economic development organization and published a paper on the border tax effect between Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Mr. Lehner earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Economics from Portland State University.