MassINC and CommonWealth to host 15th anniversary celebration

MassINC and CommonWealth magazine will host “Serious Fun: A political party,” on November 10th, 2011 at the John F. Kennedy Library in South Boston. The event will take a seriously funny look at politics, pundits and the press in celebration of MassINC and CommonWealth magazine’s 15th anniversary. The program, which includes live and taped performances

Poll: Views of Congress turn sharply negative

BOSTON—As the last day of the debt ceiling debate plays out in Washington, 63 percent of Massachusetts residents now view Congress unfavorably, a 22 point rise in unfavorables since January.  The MassINC Polling Group’s MassPulse Quarterly Poll also shows that residents are considerably more pessimistic about economic conditions than they were even as recently as April,

Poll: Massachusetts young adults are optimistic about economic prospects and discerning about potential jobs, despite tough market

Despite high unemployment rates and a sluggish economy, Massachusetts residents 18 to 29 years old are optimistic about their economic situation, according to a poll by the MassINC Polling Group released today.  A total of 36 percent of residents in this age bracket believe their financial situation will improve in the year ahead and another

Boston’s “diversity density”

Monday, July 11, 2011 Have you checked your “diversity density” lately? Coined by former MassINC colleague Robert Sullivan, diversity density is an indicator of not only of the range of diversity in a city bit also the likelihood that city residents actually encounter each other around town. Sullivan, writing in the Boston Sunday Globe says

Summer jobs programs serve Gateway Cities

Research from Andy Sum and Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies documents the important connection between holding down a job in high school and attachment to the labor force in later years. Professor Sum’s research tells us that high Gateway City teen unemployment rates could have economic consequences that persist well into the future.

New Census data show growing number of residents living in concentrated poverty

Concentrated poverty is a big problem for many urban communities, including a number of the state’s Gateway Cities. Studies show that concentrating poor families in neighborhoods with other extremely low-income residents magnifies the negative effects of poverty. Crime, high school dropout rates, teen pregnancy rates, and substance abuse are all higher than they would otherwise

New report spotlights skilled immigrants in Gateway City regions

New research by the Brookings Institution adds to our understanding of immigrants in Gateway City regions. The report looks at the balance between low-skill (those without a high school degree or equivalent) and high-skill immigrants (those with a BA or higher) in the nation’s 100 largest metro areas. Findings show that high-skill immigrants in Greater

Evidence for asset building

Increasing homeownership is a core asset building strategy because research shows that owning a home can create positive economic and social capital for families and individuals. Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are a common approach to help lower income families become homeowners. IDAs encourage savings toward a downpayment through matched savings accounts. While IDA programs are

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