State Policy Reports

December 2020, Volume 38, Issue 23-24

Index of State Economic Momentum

The Index of State Economic Momentum ranks states based on their most recent performance in three key measures of economic vitality: personal income growth, employment growth, and population growth. Reports updates the index each quarter. In the final update of 2020, Utah claimed the top spot, while Illinois, Virginia, and North Carolina most closely approximated the national average economic performance.

The Continuum of State Fiscal Stress

Reports developed the Continuum of State Fiscal Stress to highlight four measures that can signal a rocky road ahead. This edition focuses on fiscal year 2020, when things changed.

November 2020, Volume 38, Issue 22

The State-Federal Balance of Payments in FY 2019

State officials are often curious about where their state lands on the giving-versus-receiving spectrum in their “balance of payments” with the federal government. The New York State Comptroller’s office has released its most recent analysis addressing that question.

November 2020, Volume 38, Issue 21

The 2020 Census: What’s at Stake?

More than $1.5 trillion in annual federal spending relies on Census-derived data.

Going to Pot

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, including four states that voted in favor of legalization this month.

October 2020, Volume 38, Issue 20

Transfer Payments and Second Quarter Personal Income

The Bureau of Economic Analysis has released data showing the effects of pandemic response programs on state personal income.

Ascendant Energy Sources

The country is moving away from coal and toward natural gas and renewable energy, but the rate of transition is uneven across the states.

The Perilous State of UI Trust Funds

Many states have been forced to take out loans to cover their unemployment insurance claims this year.

October 2020, Volume 38, Issue 19

State and Local Finances in FY 2018

The Census Bureau has released its state and local finance series for fiscal year 2018, which allows an apples-to-apples comparison of tax structures and burdens among the states. This issue highlights the new revenue data.

September 2020, Volume 38, Issue 18

Index of State Economic Momentum

The Index of State Economic Momentum ranks states based on their most recent performance on three key measures of economic vitality: personal income growth, employment growth, and population growth. Reports updates the index each quarter. In this update, Idaho remained in the top spot, while Minnesota most closely approximated the national average economic performance.