Publications

As the New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) reaches its fourth anniversary, it is my honor to serve as the Executive Director, working with an incredible team of dedicated professionals to better understand and investigate policy issues impacting the state. The NJSPL was created as the result of a grant from the Office of the Secretary […]

A little over a year ago, we reviewed the latest data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey showing that in 2022 New Jersey had the highest median income in the country, coupled with housing costs also among the nation’s highest. Here we revisit these indicators and review the 2023 data released late last year. […]

As one of the most significant federal grants to local governments in American history, the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) were designed to provide robust support to local governments in addressing the public health and economic challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. As highlighted in a previous New […]

R/ECON’s economic forecast for New Jersey as 2024 drew to a close once again shows a slowing trajectory, with annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2025 projected to slow more sharply than in the prior forecast.

The American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) represent one of the most significant federal investments in state and local governments in history. Enacted in March 2021 as part of the broader $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the ARPA-SLFRF allocated $350 billion in direct aid to state, local, tribal, and […]

About the Survey Between October 7 and November 14, 2024, the New Jersey State Policy Lab conducted a brief survey to gain insights into emerging issues and policy priorities in New Jersey. The survey aimed to inform the Policy Lab’s strategic research planning, ensuring the organization continues to deliver rigorous, evidence-based policy research that addresses […]

The American Rescue Plan Act's Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) provides $350 billion to state and local governments, representing one of the largest federal aid programs to local governments in American history.

In late July, the outlook for the U.S. economy appeared strong, with some observers suggesting that the Fed had indeed nailed the long-awaited soft-landing even in light of recent cooling in the labor market.

The United States Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently began publishing state-level data on the distribution of personal income across households. Similar income distribution and income inequality data has previously been available from other sources such as the IRS and U.S. Census Bureau. However, the BEA’s new approach draws on a wide variety of measures […]

Broadly stated, financial literacy refers to the knowledge and skills necessary for making sound financial choices within a business context, which is deemed critical for business operation and growth.

R/ECON’s economic forecast for New Jersey as of June 2024 continues to show a slowing trajectory, though the decline in annual GDP growth is not as pronounced as in the prior forecast. The anticipated slowdown has also been deferred from 2024 to 2025, consistent with expectations for the nation following stronger-than-expected GDP growth at the […]

The American Rescue Plan Act's Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) provide $350 billion to state and local governments, making it one of the largest federal aid programs to local governments in American history.