Scientific Paper
Data Centers and Local Economies in the Age of AI: A Shift–Share Approach
Fernando E. Alvarez; David Argente; Joyce Chow; Diana Van Patten · 2026-05-01
What it covers
Working paper issued May 2026, revised September 2026. Its abstract reports local economic gains alongside higher house prices and public-supply water withdrawals, with electricity-price effects emerging later.
Who it helps
Intended audience has not been documented.
Limitations
Source-specific limitations have not been reviewed. Inclusion and topic labels do not establish effectiveness or reliability.
Show citation
Fernando E. Alvarez; David Argente; Joyce Chow; Diana Van Patten. 2026-05-01. Data Centers and Local Economies in the Age of AI: A Shift–Share Approach. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w35194/w35194.pdf (AI & Environment Resource Hub; record paper-513; collection snapshot 2026-10-04).
Classification and context
Included in the original Scientific Paper collection. Labels below are metadata based suggestions. They are not verified findings, claims of effectiveness, or endorsements.
Definitions, inclusion guidance, and examples →
Available source metadata
- Author or creator
- Fernando E. Alvarez; David Argente; Joyce Chow; Diana Van Patten
- Publisher
- NBER Working Paper 35194
- Publication date
- 2026-05-01
- Date precision
- day
- Geographic scope
- Unknown
- Language
- unknown
- Peer review
- unknown
- Source access
- Reachable at last check
- Metadata confidence
- Metadata unconfirmed
- Last verified
- Not yet verified
- Snapshot import
- 2026-09-13
- Legacy domain
- Governance, Justice & Society
- Legacy subdomain
- Local economic and resource effects
- journal
- NBER Working Paper 35194
- source evidence
- https://www.nber.org/papers/w35194
- metadata reviewed at
- 2026-10-04
Provenance and review
- Source access
- Reachable at last check
- Metadata confidence
- Metadata unconfirmed
- Editorial relevance
- Relevance has not been separately reviewed.
- Evidence quality
- Evidence quality has not been separately assessed.
Source sheet: Scientific Paper · Row 517 · Original ID: paper-513.
View source spreadsheet ↗
A paper listing is not a quality assessment. Peer review and findings require source-level confirmation. Source link reachable · checked 2026-09-28. Metadata not yet corroborated. The import date is not the original date added.
Suggest a correction for this record →Newsletter appearances
Publication, placement, and evidence are tracked separately. A legacy coverage flag alone does not prove an appearance.
Related through shared environmental topics
Ordered by the number of shared provisional topic labels. This indicates a browsing connection, not agreement between sources.
Shared topics: Governance and society; Energy and electricity; Water; Built environment and infrastructure
Scientific Paper · 2026-09-15
This article proposes a five-step state policy roadmap for data center development: conduct environmental and community impact studies, use the findings in siting decisions, reassess incentives, require large facilities to pair with off-grid clean energy and storage, and mandate community-benefit sharing. It focuses on protecting grid reliability, electricity affordability, environmental integrity, and host communities.
Source: SSRNAutomated access restricted · Metadata unconfirmed
Shared topics: Governance and society; Energy and electricity; Water; Built environment and infrastructure
Tool
Get the info that you need about data centers and local opposition to them, as much as possible.
Source: AI Data Center MapReachable at last check · Required metadata corroborated
Shared topics: Governance and society; Energy and electricity; Water; Built environment and infrastructure
Organization · United States (North America); headquarters unknown
Alliance advocating responsible data center development, with protections for ratepayers, water resources and communities, developer-funded infrastructure, and local accountability.
Source: OrganizationNot checked · Metadata unconfirmed
Shared topics: Governance and society; Energy and electricity; Water; Built environment and infrastructure
Tool
The University of Virginia National Security Institute and Special Competitive Studies Project provide a public tracker of China data center facilities and their relationships to energy, water, land use and policy.
Source: ToolNot checked · Metadata unconfirmed
