New report shows “The Lost Decade” has deferred the American Dream for many in Massachusetts

Policy Center
Dec 14, 2011 Policy Center

Working more for less, poor job growth despite education gains, and huge income disparities mark state’s latest economic profile Despite a mild recovery from the Great Recession, the Massachusetts economy is suffering the long-term effects of the lost decade of 2000 to 2010, a period marked by rising income inequality, output growth that lagged behind

New poll shows high participation strong support for arts and culture among Gateway City voters

Policy Center
Dec 1, 2011 Policy Center

Click for the accompanying report and crosstabs. BOSTON—Seventy percent of voters in Massachusetts’ eleven Gateway Cities consider community arts and culture events and activities either very important or extremely important and eighty percent support government funding for such events. About half (49 percent) feel general government funding for the arts should increase, and another 36 percent

First in the nation index tracking the vitality of the middle class predicts more difficult times ahead

Policy Center
Nov 22, 2011 Policy Center

Public opinion poll reinforces index findings, one in three say they are in danger of falling out of the middle class BOSTON—MassINC is unveiling a first-of-its-kind Middle Class Index 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,

Boston Mayor Tom Menino spoofs The Godfather for Serious Fun

Policy Center
Nov 14, 2011 Policy Center

Click here to see more videos from Serious Fun: A Political Party!

Stars of Massachusetts politics and media get ready for Serious Fun

Policy Center
Nov 3, 2011 Policy Center

Senator Scott Brown joins the show BOSTON–Rehearsals were held yesterday at Suffolk University’s Modern Theater in preparation for Serious Fun: A Political Party. Pictured are Lauren Beckham Falcone of WROR, Michael Graham of WTKK and the Boston Herald, and legendary news anchor Chet Curtis. The Serious Fun event, emceed by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan

Good Sports: Stars of politics and media come through on Serious Fun

Policy Center
Oct 18, 2011 Policy Center

Who says elected officials and political journalists in Massachusetts can’t take a joke? Current and former Beacon Hill politicians, and the press who cover them, prove the Bay State is filled with good sports when it comes to a great cause as dozens sign up to participate in Serious Fun: A Political Party. Go to the Serious

MassINC releases new report on student mobility in Gateway Cities

Policy Center
Sep 20, 2011 Policy Center

Extensive research documents the negative consequences that student mobility – the churn of youth entering and exiting classrooms during the school year – has on the academic performance of both students who change schools, as well as those left behind in unstable classrooms. Gateway Cities are heavily impacted by the challenges associated with student turnover.

CommonWealth editor Bruce Mohl appears on WGBH’s Greater Boston

Policy Center
Sep 20, 2011 Policy Center

Bruce Mohl, editor of CommonWealth magazine, appeared on Greater Boston to discuss the recent indictment of former Probation Commissioner John J. O’Brien. O’Brien is accused of jointly organizing a fundraiser for then-gubernatorial candidate Tim Cahill with Cahill aide Scott S. Campbell in return for a lottery job for O’Brien’s wife. You can watch the full

MassINC Polling Group/WBUR poll on upcoming Senate race draws national headlines

Policy Center
Sep 15, 2011 Policy Center

The MassINC Polling Group and WBUR Tuesday released a poll that found undeclared potential Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren trailing Senator Scott Brown by just 9 points among likely voters in the 2012 election. Warren trails Brown by the smallest margin of any in the current Democratic field. The poll, released Tuesday morning on WBUR, made

Gateway Cities to benefit from first major public private investment in “Creative Placemaking”

Policy Center
Sep 15, 2011 Policy Center

BOSTON—MassINC today received a $125,000 grant to drive a revitalization strategy for Gateway Cities that uses arts and culture to jump-start local economies and transform communities. The investment comes from an unprecedented collaboration among 11 major foundations, seven federal agencies and the National Endowment for the Arts. The consortium, called ArtPlace, awarded $11.5 million to

Our sponsors