Economy content

“Ghost jobs” — online postings for roles that don’t actually exist — are adding unnecessary stress to today’s job hunt. This brief explores why employers use them, how they erode…

Learn More

Indiana continually evaluates whether its tax incentives are truly driving the economic and social benefits they were created to achieve. This review highlights where programs like the Earned Income Tax…

Learn More

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is designed to revitalize communities, but its effects on school funding are more complex. When rising property tax revenue is diverted to redevelopment instead of school…

Learn More

Emerging economies need trillions in additional investment each year to meet sustainable infrastructure goals, but private capital remains limited due to heightened risk perceptions. This report explores how guarantees and…

Learn More

This research explores how expanded unemployment insurance during COVID-19 impacted worker behavior. The authors find that while higher benefits modestly increase reservation and re-employment wages, the biggest shift comes from…

Learn More

Self-employment is far more widespread than traditional labor surveys suggest, with over 33 million Americans operating nonemployer businesses. The paper analyzes IRS tax data to track how people move between…

Learn More

The most recent Census data shows that homeownership rates vary significantly across demographic groups, regions, and age brackets. While overall ownership remains steady, younger adults and minority households continue to…

Learn More

Manufacturing profits shifted unevenly from Q1 to Q2 of 2025, with some industries gaining ground while others saw declines. Sectors like pharmaceuticals, machinery, and aerospace showed noticeable changes, while key…

Learn More

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is refining how it tracks where U.S. multinational investment ultimately lands, beyond the first country in the ownership chain. Many U.S. firms route funds through…

Learn More

The Health Inclusive Poverty Measure (HIPM) provides a deeper look at economic well-being by incorporating the value of health insurance into both poverty thresholds and household resources. In 2024, the…

Learn More

This executive order establishes the “Gold Card” visa program, designed to attract foreign entrepreneurs and investors who make a substantial financial gift to the United States. Individuals contributing $1 million—or…

Learn More

The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey shows that median household income in the U.S. rose 2% from 2023, reaching $81,604. Income growth varied across states and metropolitan areas, with…

Learn More

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is facing calls for reform as broadband deployment goals are largely met. This report argues that continuing to subsidize Internet service providers’ operating costs wastes…

Learn More

Federal investments in research and development are a cornerstone of U.S. innovation and economic growth. This report shows that cutting R&D by 20 percent would save $620 billion in the…

Learn More

The Census Bureau’s 2025 release of Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) presents county- and school district-level income and poverty data for 2023. Median household income across U.S. counties…

Learn More