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Competitiveness

We want states to win in the competition for talent and investment.

Competitiveness Housing Immigrant Entrepreneurship

Massachusetts and other high-cost states face a growing challenge: people and businesses are leaving for more affordable, competitive environments. The loss of young professionals and high earners threatens long-term economic strength and innovation. Talent is mobile—and Massachusetts is especially challenged in retaining 26- to 34-year-olds and industries that can, in an age of remote work, relocate with ease.  

Pioneer works to make Massachusetts—and every state—more competitive by advancing smarter tax policy, regulatory reform, and lower living costs. This focus on competitiveness complements our work on housing, healthcare costs, workforce development, and vocational education. Our goal is simple: to create places where talent and capital want to stay, invest, and grow.

Latest Publications

Opportunity
August 26, 2026

Massachusetts Should Stop Taxing the Trucks That Deliver Its Goods

A conference committee is deciding whether Massachusetts remains the only New England state that taxes rolling stock at its full sales tax rate, with no exemption and no limit. The House version of the Mass Ready Act would exempt rolling stock (the trucks, tractors, and trailers common carriers use to move goods in interstate commerce) from the 6.25 percent sales and use tax (H.5518, Sections 22A through 22D).1 The Senate version contains no such language.2 The House passed its bill 151 to 0.3 The conferees should keep the House provision and take an easy step toward making Massachusetts more competitive.
Opportunity
August 10, 2026

Proposed Zoning Reforms Would Legalize Detached Accessory Dwelling Units in Some Boston Neighborhoods

This edition of The House Call describes a proposed zoning reform that would make it easier to add housing to existing properties in Hyde Park, Roslindale, and West Roxbury. It also provides an update about pending state legislation related to housing.
Opportunity
August 5, 2026

Study Finds Widening Gap Between Innovation and Broader State Economy

Massachusetts remains a venture capital powerhouse amid cost-driven declines in business formation and private sector jobs AT A GLANCE: BOSTON – Massachusetts remains one of the nation’s leading innovation economies, attracting significant venture capital and ranking third nationally in business research and…
Opportunity
July 23, 2026

Study: Tax Cut Would Have Grown State Economy, Increased Wages and Reduced Unemployment

BOSTON – A proposal to cut the state income tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent over three years would have provided the median Massachusetts household with $1,095 in annual tax savings, grown the state economy by $14.5 billion, created 43,000 new jobs, increased total wages by nearly 2 percent and reduced the state unemployment rate by 0.3 percent, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.
Opportunity
May 27, 2026

Pioneer Institute Applauds Healey Administration’s Proposal to Reduce LLC Filing Fees; More Reforms Needed to Address Economic Malaise

Pioneer Institute applauds the Healey Administration’s proposal to reduce the LLC filing fee from $500 to $100 and discount annual LLC fees during the early years of a new business. These changes remove two unnecessary barriers facing entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to launch and grow in Massachusetts. We believe that it is crucial that state leaders build on these proposals to address the Commonwealth’s economic malaise, which started with the pandemic.

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Additional Research

Opportunity
May 20, 2026

Pioneer Institute Study Calls for Attrition Strategy to Rein in Record-High Massachusetts State Workforce

Opportunity
May 5, 2026

Boston is 48th out of 55 Metro Areas in the Competition for Young Workers

Opportunity
April 29, 2026

New Study Finds Massachusetts Business Formation Has Plummeted Despite National Surge

Opportunity
April 23, 2026

Massachusetts Economic Development Bill Includes a Key Provision for Streamlining the Review of Housing Development Applications

Opportunity
April 15, 2026

Tax Day: A Reflection on State Income Taxes and Competitiveness 

Opportunity
April 15, 2026

New Study Calls for Reducing or Eliminating Parking Requirements for New Housing

Opportunity
April 8, 2026

New BLS Employment Data Revisions Reveal Massachusetts’ Anemic Private Sector Employment Growth Since 2020 

Opportunity
April 7, 2026

Massachusetts Has Taken an Important Step on Government AI—But the Commonwealth Must Do More to Improve Services, Transparency, and Save Taxpayer Dollars

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Meet the Experts

Jim Stergios

Jim Stergios

Executive Director
Mary Connaughton

Mary Connaughton

Chief Operating Officer, Director of Government Transparency

Fact of the day

Dependency Index – Federal Money to the States

Think you know which states depend most on Washington? Pioneer’s new Dependency Index may change your mind. Alaska ranks most dependent on federal funds, and Idaho ranks least. Check out where your state ranks here! https://loom.ly/6LMwO0c

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