Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of online connectivity in society today. Yet there is still a digital divide as inequitable access to broadband services prevents underserved communities from benefiting from vital programs. Research shows that there are significant associations between lack of access to broadband services and access to healthcare, and many of […]

“Evidence-based policymaking” seems to be all the rage with think tanks, lawmakers, and governmental agencies, but what does it mean, really? Evidence-based policymaking uses the best available research and data to target resources to programs and policies that are proven to work.[1] It guides decision-making using results-driven solutions and rigorous data analysis. Lately, legislative bodies […]

The short-term prospects for the state’s economy remain quite exuberant. This is despite the arrival of the delta variant of COVID-19 in July 2021, which forced the national economy to down shift just as it seemed the pandemic was waning. Still, economic fundamentals remain strong. Consumers continue to sit on their savings. The nation’s Gross […]

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn has brought about record job losses and the highest number of new unemployment claims since 1982. In mid-March 2020, new unemployment claims nationwide totaled 6.6 million and remained at over 1 million new claims each week for over a year. The U.S. Department of Labor has estimated […]

To help Americans recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has authorized the U.S. Treasury Department to set up coronavirus relief grants to state and local governments for economic recovery, capital projects, homeowner and rental assistance, and small business aid. Treasury encourages states to apply for these grants to fund programs and […]

Over the past few years, a heightened awareness of the importance of racial equity and justice has permeated the political conversation. American institutions, businesses, and communities are taking a closer look at their roles in this context. Increasingly, policymakers are applying an equity lens to their decision-making processes. Evidence-based research has become a prevailing tool […]