Publications

This ongoing project has provided many insights regarding the most pressing issues facing older residents in New Jersey. The first output from the project, an op-ed by Audrey Meng entitled Cost of Living for Older Adults in New Jersey, was presented along with the results of the NJ Statewide Survey of Older Adults at the […]

Emergency departments (EDs) may be the primary, and sometimes only, connection to the healthcare system for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) or opioid overdose,[1] making them important sites in the continuum of care for OUD. Emergency departments can connect people with OUD to community-based care, particularly through the provision of medications for OUD, such […]

Public support and opinion drive many facets of the criminal justice system and its policies, including changes to sentencing laws and guidelines (Pickett, 2019). Thus, understanding public attitudes towards changes to the system can aid in understanding whether policies or reforms may be positively received and later adopted (Enns, 2016). In our study, we explore […]

Our project to create a dataset of historical water bodies in New Jersey began by finding maps of historical water bodies. Two atlases were used to locate historical water bodies in New Jersey. The first was Atlas of the Metropolitan District and adjacent country comprising the counties of New York, Kings, Richmond, Westchester and part […]

In this fifth blog post on our research into corporate ownership of New Jersey’s one- to four-unit residential properties, we share more preliminary findings from our analysis of changes in property ownership between 2012 and 2022. As growing corporate ownership has become a concern for housing advocates and policymakers nationwide, including in New Jersey, we […]

A growing body of scientific evidence supports paid family leave policies for new parents: studies have demonstrated benefits to public health (increased breastfeeding, on-time vaccinations, decreased infant hospitalizations, and improved child/parent bonding), socioeconomic wellbeing of families (improved labor force participation, decreased poverty and use of public support programs, and increased ability to arrange childcare), and […]

R/ECON’s next economic forecast is slated for release in mid-summer, followed by another forecast in the fall. As we track the latest state data and national outlook, we (much like everyone else) have been closely following the news on tariffs, the Fed’s potential actions, and associated fluctuations in the financial markets. While tariffs don’t enter […]

As discussed in our previous blog entry on our development of a State AI Readiness Index, artificial intelligence is transforming industries, economies, and governments around the globe. However, despite its increasing influence, the readiness for AI adoption in governance differs significantly across individual U.S. states. The State AI Readiness Index uses four pillars to measure […]

In New Jersey, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) services are vital for supporting food security among low-income households. However, significant accessibility barriers prevent many users from benefiting fully from the available resources. The current NJ SNAP website is designed solely in English and directs non-English-speaking users to Google’s translation service. This approach falls short in […]

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs provide a financing solution for energy efficiency upgrades using special property tax assessments. This approach tackles the significant barrier of high upfront costs that can prevent property owners from implementing clean energy improvements. Special assessments are established municipal financing tools traditionally used for public infrastructure. These assessments are “special” […]

From February 1 to April 1, 2024, New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) conducted the “Statewide Survey of Older Adults” for NJ residents aged 60 and older. The survey had 1,440 participants throughout the state, with all counties represented. The results of the survey were released in August 2024. The number one issue of […]

Thinking of hopping on an e-bike or e-scooter? Before you hit the streets, check out the brand-new New Jersey Micromobility Guide, a roadmap for safe and legal travel. This comprehensive guide, now available through the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center housed at the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, offers […]