In spite of unanimous passage by both the House and the Senate, in the final days of the legislative session a compromise economic development bill failed to reach the Governor’s desk. While the two versions of the bill differ significantly on policy proposals, the framework for both bills is the…

And that, according to the Massachusetts Competitiveness Index Report released Tuesday by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, UMass Amherst Donahue Institute and Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, has been our high-wage, high-knowledge industries, stemming from the historically close ties…

Doug Howgate, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said the data show that both wealthy families and lower-income working class families are leaving the state, while families that land in the middle seem more willing to stay.“The biggest outmigrants are at the top end and the lowest…

The analysis by the Boston-based Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation comes as policymakers on Beacon Hill seek to stem that population loss, and even as agreement on Democratic Gov. Maura Healey’s signature economic development bill remains frustratingly out of reach.“There is broad consensus that…

Unlike many competitive rankings, the MTF index tracks a broad set of metrics. The results underscore the sometimes-overlooked fact that Massachusetts’ overall competitive standing is solidly in the middle of the pack.The MTF hopes that its benchmark, to be updated annually, can inform policy…

On March 1st, the Healey-Driscoll administration unveiled their economic development bill, An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership, also known as the Mass Leads Act. The House and Senate have now each acted on their own versions of the bill, and a conference committee…

The House and Senate have both passed their own versions of a housing bond bill, known as the Affordable Homes Act, and now must reconcile the two versions in Conference Committee. Both bills propose more than $5 billion in capital authorizations, significantly more than the record $4.1 billion…

The standard model for the role central business districts play in cities across the country has been forever disrupted by the pandemic. Reductions to in-person work have a cascade effect on commercial real estate, public finance, and city vibrancy.Boston is not immune from this disruption. In fact…

On March 1st, the Healey-Driscoll administration unveiled their economic development bill, titled An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts’ Economic Leadership or the Mass Leads Act. Through $2.815 billion in capital spending authorizations, $675 million in additional tax credits over ten…

On October 18th, the Healey administration unveiled a $4.1 billion housing bond bill, titled the Affordable Homes Act, which combined a new five-year capital funding plan with a variety of policy proposals intended to spur production and accelerate rehabilitation of housing stock, reduce state and…