The Big Easy

President Obama Speaks on the Economy at the Port of New Orleans

Tourism in New Orleans

Hotel Exterior located in the French Quarter

Scenic New Orleans

Chapter 4: The Political Economy of New Orleans

New Orleans or otherwise known as “The Big Easy,” is a major port city and boasts the largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The economy of New Orleans is dominated by four major sectors: oil and gas related activities, port and ship production, aerospace manufacturing, and tourism. The city’s strategic location straddling along the Mississippi river in addition to being a port city allows for several US Navy and other military operations. The unique geographic location of New Orleans allows the city to provide many primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary jobs. 

Because of the city’s maritime location, it is responsible for a major sector of the country’s oil refining in conjunction with petroleum and natural gas production. Many primary and secondary occupations are also developed through the production of ships/vessels and aerospace technologies.

New Orleans Oil Refinery

The city also boasts as a huge tourist attraction. The tourist sector of New Orleans features many attractions such as the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and the Mardi Gras festival. New Orleans tourism sector is so prominent that it accounts for nearly forty percent of the city’s tax revenue. The emergence of tourism in New Orleans has allowed the city to contribute to its tertiary sector.

Mardi Gras Festivites 

Finally, the city’s military sector features many facilities in the area. Such facilities include the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, the US Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Command, and finally the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. The city’s combination of military activities with raw material production and R&D has contributed to the quaternary sector.

New Orleans Air Station Joint Reserve Base

Although the city boasts a stable economy, one of the major problems facing the city was the population decline following Hurricane Katrina. Following the disaster, the city faced a limited restoration of its basic infrastructure. The lack of stability combined with the devastation from Hurricane Katrina has led to New Orleans accounting for only 76% of its population in 2010.

Today New Orleans is one of few cities that are looking to come out of this recession strong.  Consistent increase in population, rise of new businesses, and the influx of tourists has given the city a jumpstart to recovery. 

Sources:

http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/New-Orleans-Economy.html

Wikipedia