MassINC’s Middle Class Index

Ben Forman, Steve Koczela, Caroline Koch and Robert David Sullivan
The first-of-its-kind Middle Class Index is designed to serve as a barometer of the status of middle class residents. Composed of 26 different indicators, the overall score for Massachusetts in 2010 was 97.4, down 2.6 points from the benchmark figure of 100 for the year 2000. Nationally, the index number was 94.2. The index number read more
Topic(s): Education, Jobs and Economic Security, Economic Development, Government Accountability

Moving Forward with Funding

New strategies to support transportation and balanced regional economic growth

Ben Forman, Daniel Darcy and James Emilio
Difficult economic times have created a host of challenges for Massachusetts. Among them, the financial shortfalls of the state’s transportation agencies place high on the list. The MBTA is considering fare hikes and service cuts; even with these actions, real questions remain about how the agency will close gaps and keep the aging system operating read more
Topic(s): Economic Development, Transportation

Going for Growth

Promoting Residential Reinvestment in Massachusetts Gateway Cities

Benjamin Forman
Promoting Residential Reinvestment in Massachusetts Gateway Cities, the second brief in a series exploring evidence-based policy innovations to spur reinvestment and renewal in the state’s key regional cities. This paper examines state housing spending over the last 15 years and finds that programs designed primarily to increase affordability in strong markets have not been able read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Economic Development, Gateway Cities

Building for the Future

Foundations for a Springfield Comprehensive Growth Strategy

Ben Forman, John Schneider, Ed Lambert and Jason Silva
Springfield has enormous assets, but like other midsize cities throughout the Northeast and Midwest, it struggles to get past decades of disinvestment brought on by manufacturing decline and residential disinvestment. To rebuild and reposition for the knowledge economy, communities like Springfield need long-term strategies – plans that address challenges and leverage opportunities by channeling resources read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Strong Communities, Economic Development, Gateway Cities

Great Expectations

A survey of young adults in Massachusetts

Dawn Crossland Sumners, Stacy DiAngelo and Larry Hugick
This project was made possible by the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with MassHousing and State Street Foundation. This groundbreaking survey represents the first of its kind for our state-and we believe the first nationally. The choices of young adults about where to live and work are critical to our state’s read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Strong Communities, Economic Development, Public Opinion

Mass Jobs

Meeting the Challenges of a Shifting Economy

Andy Sum, Ishwar Khatiwada, Sheila Palma, Paulo Tobar and Jacqui Motroni
The Massachusetts economy is the envy of many other states. It consistently ranks among the top in measures of New Economy success. We rank near the top of the nation in our level of labor productivity and have outpaced the nation in recent years in the rate of growth (11.5% versus 10.6%). We have the read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Economic Development

Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities

Lessons Learned and an Agenda for Renewal

Ben Forman, Eric McLean Shinaman, John Schneider, Mark Muro, Ed Lambert, Rebecca Sohmer, Greg Leiserson and David Warren
Massachusetts has enjoyed one of the most successful economic transitions to a knowledge-based economy anywhere in the world over the last two decades. Statewide trends describe a solid economic turnaround, built on strong institutions, soaring educational attainment and the emergence of knowledge-based industries with high-paying jobs. Yet these broader trends obscure stark geographical variations within read more
Topic(s): Strong Communities, Economic Development, Gateway Cities

Mass Economy

The Labor Supply and Our Economic Future

Andy Sum, Ishwar Khatiwada, Sheila Palma, Vladlena Sabodash, Paulo Tobar, Joseph McLaughlin, Kamen Madjarov and Jacqui Motroni
This research assesses the health of the state’s supply of labor, both now and into the future. A key question is whether the state has an adequate supply of qualified workers to fuel our next round of economic expansion. In recent years, when the national economy began to recover from the recession of 2001, the read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Economic Development, Research

A Generation in Transition

A Survey of Bay State Baby Boomers

Dawn Crossland Sumners, Stacy DiAngelo, Larry Hugick and Greg Leiserson
A Generation in Transition: A Survey of Bay State Baby Boomers is a groundbreaking report produced in partnership with Princeton Survey Research Associates Intl. and made possible by the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. This survey represents the first of its kind for our state. Historically, baby boomers have rewritten the read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Economic Development
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