
Changes to the Confounding Massachusetts Estate Tax
Policymakers on Beacon Hill have many visions of tax relief for this fiscal year, and all of them include changing the estate taxes. What are those changes, and what would their impact be?

An Examination of the Commonwealth Rainy Day Fund
Established in 1987, the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund has been a key component of the financial stability of Massachusetts. As of recently, it's seen spectacular growth. Why?

The Curious Case of the Missing Stabilization Funds
Stabilization funds are a key component of a municipality's financial strength, yet many towns (including Boston!) report no stabilization funds. Why is this?

The Confounding Massachusetts Estate Tax
The estate tax has become an increasingly significant source of revenue for the Bay State in recent years. Why is this: and is it a good thing?

Massachusetts Needs a Comprehensive Performance Management Framework
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Many states have made promoted government efficiency and effectiveness by setting goals and tracking their progress. Massachusetts tried making a performance structure, but in 2014 it was discontinued. Today, the state lacks a comprehensive structure to track progress.

Is a Universal Basic Income the Future? You Decide.
With a rising cost of living, higher inflation, and an economy that generates fierce debates about inequality and poverty, many have called for systemic reforms and even more radical changes, including a universal basic income. What is UBI? How does it work? What do researchers think?

Massachusetts Remains One of the Least Financially Transparent States
In 48 states, elected officials are required to submit annual public financial disclosures. After seven years of tracking these disclosures state by state, Pioneer Institute ranks Massachusetts lowest in terms of the transparency of those financial disclosures.

Where Are Massachusetts Residents Moving To?
A blog published earlier this month by Pioneer shined a light on Massachusetts’ growing dilemma: More people are leaving the state than coming here. According to Pioneer’s Massachusetts IRA Data Discovery website, Middlesex and Suffolk counties are losing the most residents.

What’s going on with the economy in Cambridge?
Dubbed the city of squares, Cambridge, a leading innovation center,…

The Second Largest Public Construction Project in MA is to give Logan International Airport a New Look
According to Pioneer Institute’s MassOpenBooks, the two construction…

UMass Football Coach is the 7th Highest Paid Employee in the State
Football fans across the country wait in anticipation for the…

New Report: Massachusetts Maintains Reasonable Debt Relative to GSP
Massachusetts has more debt than any New England state. Can we afford to pay it off or will we hand it down to future generations?

New Hampshire Tax Burden Dramatically Less than Massachusetts
New Hampshire collects less than half the amount of taxes per capita as Massachusetts. How do they do it, and which strategy produces better outcomes?

The Green Line Extension Project Progress and Finances
Earlier this month, a Boston Globe article informed Boston residents…

Healthcare dominates the job market.
Healthcare and social assistance are among the most important…

Looming Budget Crisis Reveals MBTA’s Dependency on Federal Funds
The MBTA is about to lose federal funding at a critical moment when ridership has not yet recovered. Will the state make up the difference?

High School Education in Brighton, MA
In 2010, Brighton High School in Boston had an enrollment of…

Emigration from Massachusetts is at a Decade High, Despite Booming Economy and High Standard of Living
The economy is doing great, so why are people leaving Massachusetts?

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services on the Rise in Suffolk County, MA
Suffolk County, Massachusetts consists of the cities…

A Decade of Culture and Recreation Spending on Cape Cod
Culture and Recreation are among the most important services…

A Decade of Police Spending on Cape Cod
Police spending is often the subject of debate in town halls…

Barnstable County: What Towns Tax the Most?
The housing market has been the center of American economic growth…

Property Crime Rates and Motor Vehicle Theft in Eastern Massachusetts Cities
An article published in May by WBUR shined a light on the recent…

Healthcare Employs More on Cape Cod Than Any Other Sector
Despite being a major tourist destination, the largest employment sector on Cape Cod is not related to tourism: it is healthcare!

With Declining Enrollment, Public Colleges in Massachusetts Cut Back Adjunct Faculty Positions
The number of adjunct faculty positions is declining at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Tax Revenues Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels
Pandemic recovery and then some! Massachusetts revenues are higher than anyone was expecting, but where is all the money coming from? And what does this mean for the Massachusetts economy?

Sunshine Week 2022 – Government Transparency Has a Great New Ally
While government transparency is a year-round pursuit, Sunshine Week marks a unique opportunity to reflect on our past work and plan for our future work to weave this most necessary fabric of a free and healthy democracy.

How did COVID impact Massachusetts’ long-term care facilities?
Pioneer Institute has filed a Public Records Act request related to COVID's impact on Massachusetts’ long-term care facilities because the Institute believes this is a matter of obvious importance, both on principle (the public has a right to know the facts), and for purposes of evaluating – and where possible improving – public policy.

Green energy job growth in Massachusetts following New Climate Change report published by the United Nations
On August 9, 2021, the United Nations Climate Change Panel published…

MBTA Ridership Trends Compared to Public Transportation Agencies Nationwide
The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on our economy,…