
Sandro Catanzaro Takes His American Dream to Mars and Back
This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Sandro Catanzaro, who started several businesses in his native Peru but had no idea he’d end up helping NASA go to Mars, or that he’d use that same technology to plan and buy video ad campaigns. Now Head of Publisher Services Strategy for Roku, which acquired the company he founded, dataxu, in 2019, Mr. Catanzaro is an emblem of ingenuity and inventiveness. His demand-side platform, device graph technology and analytics platform help accelerate Roku’s ad tech roadmap and ability to serve a wide array of advertisers. But he’s not done yet!


Where Did the Largest PPP Loans Go? Assessing the distribution of loans by industry
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on all parts of the economy,…

Data, Attitudes, and Ecommerce: Noteworthy trends in retail for the present and future
Following the July 16th release of the June Retail Sales Report…

COVID-19 will likely lead to a recession. Can Massachusetts municipal budgets handle one?
Using municipalities' experiences during the Great Recession, a new policy brief examines the likely impact of COVID-19 on local property taxes, as well as political implications for state aid. We list the municipal revenues by category among the least tax-reliant communities in Massachusetts, show the trajectory of tax revenue growth rate in Massachusetts state and local governments, and rank stabilization fund assets per capita among Massachusetts Gateway Cities.

Public Statement: Extend Massachusetts’ Income Tax Filing Deadline
Massachusetts must extend the tax filing deadline, just as the federal government and 34 of the 41 states that tax income have done.

In the past few years, the tobacco industry has thrived in Massachusetts. Here’s why.
Despite recent good news about declines in alcohol, traditional…

MassAnalysis: Drawing data-based comparisons between cities and towns
Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns—a constellation of communities…

The Connection Between Property Taxes and Pension Funding
A recent study from economist Evgenia Gorina, published in the…

Time to Say “Cut” on Massachusetts’ Film Tax Credit?
State Senate President Karen Spilka is taking preliminary steps…

A Primer on Secondary Revenue Sources for Local Governments
Using Pioneer Institute’s MassAnalysis tool, one can find information…

The State Legislature Should Steer Clear of New Occupational Licensing Laws
The reach of occupational licensing laws has expanded greatly…

The Storrow Drive Tunnel Has The Lowest Sufficiency Rating In The Country, Why Hasn’t It Been Fixed Yet?
If you live in or commute to Boston, chances are you’ve driven…

What impact do Massachusetts home prices have on Boston commuters?
Massachusetts is commonly ranked one of the most expensive states…

The Opioid Crisis’ Wealth Window: There’s a Network of Overdoses on the East Coast
Billerica, Massachusetts is a quaint town of 40,000 people in…

Blandford’s Police Resignation Could Shed Light on Underlying Issues
Last week, the Town of Blandford’s police force resigned en…

Got Milk? The Answer Might Soon Be No in Massachusetts
It’s not a good time to be a dairy farmer in Massachusetts,…

A Public Transit that Neglects Its Public
Two of a community’s most important hubs are its colleges and…

Should Boston want to be the home of Amazon’s second headquarters?
Amazon is the kind of company whose mere presence is enough to…

Investing in commercial development may ease fiscal woes without affecting crime
Bedford, Massachusetts is a suburban town of about 14,000 in…

Boston is a global city. Here’s why that status is threatened
Boston is often touted as a “global city.” A quick Google…

Newburyport, Abington and Beyond: How Should Massachusetts Towns Prepare for Legalized Recreational Marijuana?
Recreational marijuana businesses are legal in Massachusetts…

Which State Employees Make More than the Boss?
In 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections had 20 employees…

Why Did the Department of Corrections Pay a Chef $166,762 last year?
Pioneer Institute’s MassOpenBooks transparency tool shows an…

Many Massachusetts towns choosing to forego marijuana tax revenue
Local officials, health advocates, and neighborhood group leaders…

The role of old industrial districts in residential suburbs
The City of Waltham was once an aging mill town. Its flagship…

Can Cape Cod’s economy rely on tourism forever?
Cape Cod’s character has long been dependent on the season.…

Massachusetts towns reveal all the details of bids for Amazon’s second headquarters
By Adanya Lustig
Massachusetts towns are disclosing their…


Managing Growth in Malden & Somerville: A Tale of Two Cities
The influx of new residents into Boston and its surrounding communities…