June 25, 2024
What makes these five so-called “W” towns so appealing?
Learn about what makes these five Massachusetts "W" towns so desirable to live in, but also the costs associated with them.
Transparency
June 25, 2024
New Online Tool Tracks MA Hospital Revenue from Commercial Sources
A new online tool from Pioneer Institute shows a gradual increase in non-commercial (public payer) revenue at Massachusetts hospitals and also reveals a strong relationship between the hospitals with the highest commercial revenue and those with the highest relative prices.
June 18, 2024
Examining the Academic Achievement Decline in New England Prior to COVID-19
COVID-19 was not the beginning of student performance declines in the United States. Academic achievement for students across the country began to drop-off following the widespread implementation of the Common Core curriculum in 2013. While declines have occurred across the country, New England has experienced a particularly sharp decrease in student achievement.
June 13, 2024
Massachusetts Legislature Procrastinates Once Again
There are less than seven weeks left to the Massachusetts Legislature’s formal sessions with much unfinished business to attend to. Analogizing Massachusetts legislators to students, they are waiting until the night before a 10-page paper is due to begin the assignment that...
March 26, 2024
Testimony - Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions
Testimony - Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions
March 14, 2024
Sunshine Week 2024
Partly Sunny with a Chance of Transparency As Pioneer Institute observes Sunshine Week , March 10-16, it is worth remembering the uncommon courage it took for our founders to so publicly and transparently declare their political beliefs and loyalties at a time when Great Britain...
December 22, 2022
Pioneer Commends MA Governor-elect Healey's Step Toward Greater Transparency
Pioneer Institute commends Governor-elect Maura Healey for choosing not to claim a public records exemption for the governor’s office. Governor-elect Healey also pledged to support legislation that would curb exemptions claimed by the legislative and judiciary branches of state government.
August 9, 2022
Massachusetts Needs a Comprehensive Performance Management Framework
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.
August 4, 2022
School-Age Population Remains Steady, but Boston Struggles With Declining Enrollment
Hopefully, new leadership will ensure that the system makes the changes necessary to improve public education in Boston. Otherwise, enrollment declines will continue.
July 19, 2022
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?