from the sound bites blanketing the airwaves, it’s clear that politicians everywhere are concerned about the impact of the recession and slow recovery on the middle class. Elected leaders intuitively feel the public angst. But are things truly getting worse for middle-class families? Or are voters mostly reacting to the constant barrage of dispiriting media […]
Ben Forman
Benjamin Forman is MassINC’s research director. He coordinates the development of the organization’s research agenda and oversees production of research reports. Ben has authored a number of MassINC publications and he speaks frequently to organizations and media across Massachusetts.
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Assets, not need, should define Gateway Cities
Recent efforts on Beacon Hill to expand the Gateway Cities definition to include more communities are understandable and even expected. The Legislature is a collection of communities all with different needs and wants. When it comes to targeting resources to some places and not others, it’s exceptionally hard to set aside perceived self-interest. But the […]
Posted inEconomy, Education, Health Care
97.4
the bay state economy expanded by more than 10 percent last decade—8 percent growth on a per capita basis after accounting for inflation. It’s not the Massachusetts Miracle, but given that we were nearing the peak of the tech boom in 2000, and in 2010 we were barely emerging from an even bigger bust, these […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Student churn hinders progress
Massachusetts education officials are celebrating the dramatic MCAS test improvements posted by the state’s most chronically underperforming schools. These impressive gains are testimony to hard work and a stubborn unwillingness to accept large gaps in achievement based on where students live. While these results certainly merit our applause, it would be foolhardy to conclude that […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Culture of climate protection needed
Beacon Hill made a loud statement with the Global Warming Solutions Act. The 2008 law mandating an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions put Massachusetts on the leading edge of US climate policy. Sustained legislative leadership can carry the state toward this goal, but ultimately, effort from a broad majority of residents will be […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
The middle-class squeeze
The much-heralded demographic change seen in the latest Massachusetts census numbers is at least partly the reflection of a decade of economic change that was particularly challenging for the state’s middle class. The 2010 Census data reveal a significant shift in the state’s racial and ethnic composition. Over the decade, Massachusetts added large numbers of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
Public sector pay: reasonable or excessive?
gov. scott walker’s victory in curbing collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin public sector workers casts a spotlight on the issue of disparities between public and private sector compensation. The same issue—whether public sector workers are getting overly generous pay and benefits—is simmering here in Massachusetts, particularly with the state facing huge budget challenges this year. […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
Revenue crossroads for transportation
In his recent response to the MassINC report “Next Stop, Massachusetts,” Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Mullan says: “Departure from the cost-cutting, efficiency-finding, and culture-changing approach we have taken would be a large setback for anyone who cares about the [transportation] system.” We agree and see transportation reform as a positive step forward, particularly in providing a […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
A new look at the rankings
Every fall Boston magazine releases a back-to-school issue ranking the state’s best high schools. And every fall the skeptics sneer. These critical observers regard the magazine’s rankings as little more than a list of the state’s most exclusive suburbs, where student test scores often simply reflect the income levels of a community. It’s much harder […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion, Politics
Don’t give GE $25m in tax credits
I received a voicemail this morning from a machine tool manufacturer in Springfield. The owner was irate about a Boston Globe report describing tax credits the state has been negotiating with General Electric. He said he could hire new workers if the state would help him invest in new equipment. I expect the governor’s office […]