Orange County

Economic Prospects Explored: Chapman University economists roll out their annual economic forecast for Orange County on Thursday. With recent signs pointing to the beginnings of a long-awaited recovery from the 1990-92 recession that gripped much of California, expect Chapman President James Doti, the originator of the forecast, to draw a sizable crowd to the $100-per-person event at the private campus in the heart of Orange. Local business leaders use economic forecasts to help with their advance planning. In addition to the Chapman report, now in its 17th year, Cal State Fullerton issues an annual Orange County forecast and UC Irvine prepares a yearly survey of executive attitudes toward the economy. Chapman’s 1995 prognosis and a companion five-year forecast by Esmael Adibi, director of the university’s Center for Economic Research, will be unveiled Thursday at the campus’ Memorial Hall beginning at 2:45 p.m.