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Discussion Paper
The housing bust and housing affordability in New England
This discussion paper updates the Center's 2006 housing affordability working paper, drawing on housing market data through 2008 to provide an in-depth analysis of housing affordability after the recent housing market bust. The paper looks at affordability in the New England states, their largest metropolitan areas, competitor metropolitan areas, and for the nation. The results show that as New England's housing prices have declined, affordability has been returning to the pre-housing crisis levels of the early 2000s. However, declining prices nationwide continue to make owner-occupied ...
Discussion Paper
Smart places, getting smarter: facts about the young professional population in New England states
Each of the New England states is wrestling with how to retain a skilled workforce and sustain economic competitiveness while facing an aging population. In particular, each state fears that it is losing young, educated workers to other states and regions. This paper builds on earlier research about trends in the region?s young professionals: it looks at the supply of young professionals in each state to better understand trends in that population. The analysis reveals that, while there are some differences between the New England states, all are facing slow growth or no growth in its ...
Discussion Paper
School finance in Vermont: balancing equal education and fair tax burdens
An education finance system that is constitutional under the Brigham ruling mandates sacrifices on the part of taxpayers for a public good?educated citizens. It remains to be seen if current proposals can make that sacrifice more palatable or ensure that those bearing the burden have the most stake in the outcomes of the system.
Discussion Paper
New England migration trends
Recent studies and reports have called attention to the issue of population migration patterns in New England. To provide more targeted and regional data on this issue, NEPPC has developed a series of findings and maps that, for the first time, present a comprehensive, county-by-county portrait of New England population movements. The maps were constructed using data from the Internal Revenue Service, which annually tracks changes in the number of tax exemptions at the county level.
Discussion Paper
State business tax incentives: examining evidence of their effectiveness
State governments commonly use business tax credits to promote economic development. Whether these incentives are successful at generating new economic activity - and whether they do so in a cost-effective manner - are important concerns, particularly in times of fiscal and economic stress. This paper explores the use and effectiveness of a selected group of incentives, namely tax credits geared toward capital investment, research and development, job creation, and film production. The paper examines the various credits offered by New England states and their structural features, and reviews ...
Discussion Paper
New Hampshire’s quest for a constitutionally adequate education
A September 8, 2006, ruling by the New Hampshire Supreme Court that the Granite State?s current education financing system is unconstitutional was the latest in a long string of court decisions, legislative responses, and subsequent court opinions that have made school funding one of the state?s most contentious issues. In its opinion, the Supreme Court gave New Hampshire lawmakers until July 2007 to define a constitutionally adequate education, implying that legislative failure could lead to a court-mandated system. This report summarizes how the issue of defining and funding an adequate ...
Discussion Paper
Is New England experiencing a \"brain drain\"?: facts about demographic change and young professionals
Recent news articles and studies have generated concern among New England policy makers and others that the region?s supply of young, highly educated professionals is disappearing. The fear is that comparatively high housing and other costs may be driving away many within this highly mobile group. This paper explores trends in the stocks and flows of young professionals, defined as people 25 to 39 with at least a bachelor?s degree. The goal is to help policy makers better understand this important demographic story, giving them the facts about how various factors, including migration, are ...
Discussion Paper
The potential economic impact of increasing the minimum wage in New Hampshire
This paper estimates the potential economic impact of New Hampshire?s new state minimum wage law on the state?s aggregate employment and wages. According to the analysis, the minimum wage increase would raise the wages of 26,000 workers in the state and would have a negative impact on employment ranging from 300 to 1,500 jobs, which is between 1 percent and 6 percent of workers directly affected by the law. On net, the combined impact of both stages of the increase would raise aggregate wages by approximately $17.4 million. The analysis here focuses on workers with hourly wages between $5.15 ...
Discussion Paper
The struggle for tax reform in Maine, 2003-2009
Tax reform has been among the most prominent topics of public policy discussion in Maine in recent history. The current tax system has been described as antiquated, imbalanced, burdensome, unfair, uncompetitive, archaic, and volatile. Over the 2003-2009 period, many reform proposals were advanced; and some reforms were enacted, including a significant restructuring of the income tax system in 2009. This paper lays out the issues motivating tax reform efforts in Maine, provides a historical review of the tax reform struggle as it has unfolded, and offers a descriptive summary of the major ...