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Looking For Impacts Of The Tax Climate
The relationship between taxes and the economy is a complex one. Since most taxes collected in the country are levied by state and local governments, and states have very different systems and rates of taxation, the impacts of taxes on economies and societies will vary around the country.
latest features
Young—But Not That Young
It is quite possible that young people who want to start families are leaving the Seattle area in substantial numbers, but the implications are not really clear. Do we have a normal underlying, stable demographic with this churning of young adults layered on top?
Is the Country Following Seattle’s Lead on Growth?
Since passage of the Growth Management Act in 1990 the state and region have been in the forefront of what came to be know as the Smart Growth movement. If we have been leaders, do we have any followers?
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Where the College-Bound Kids Are
If you live in one of the well-educated neighborhoods of Puget Sound, you might wonder what the fuss is about. All the kids in the neighborhood are on a college track. Just where are all these seniors who are seeing their education come to an end upon graduation?
Why Don’t More Washington Kids Go to College?
Going out-of-state has not been much of a solution to the problem of too few seats in Washington’s public and private higher education network. Washington has among the lowest rates of college enrollment by recent high school graduates.
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Washington: Productivity Good, Employment Not So Good
In the newly released figures on GDP by state for the second quarter Washington got better news than nearly every other state. Washington is the third most productive state in the nation, after New York and Massachusetts
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Prisons and Incarceration Rates
Washington’s incarceration rate, at about 26 prisoners per 10,000 population, is on the low end nationally. Oklahoma, the state with the highest rate, incarcerates people in their state system at 2.7 times the rate of Washington.
New Growth Data Is In!
Will 2019 prove to be the high water mark for the dense urban living envisioned by the GMA? Or will the slow, but unmistakable trends of the past decade reassert themselves once the pandemic passes?
short takes
Old–But Not That Old
The first of the Baby Boomers turn 75 years old this year. As they have done with every stage of their lives, the Boomers will have an impact on economic geography as they enter the 75-plus age group.
Retailing Settles In
Overall, retailing of merchandise is higher than pre-pandemic levels, as households spend more of their money on goods and less on services.
The Job Machine Sputters
Economists have been predicting that the recovery from the pandemic recession would hit a wall, and we have hit that wall in Washington.
Who Is Still Unemployed?
After six months we have a pretty good idea what sectors are are going to struggle for another year or two. Focusing on occupations makes it easier to encourage the unemployed to take their skills to new sectors that have stronger growth prospects
Prisons and Jails—The Local View
About 40 percent of the people behind bars in Washington State are housed in county jails. These people might be in jail for only a day or two before posting bail or may be serving a sentence of up to one year.
Apartment Rents Keep Dropping—And Not Just in Seattle
The income situation for apartment owners in the Seattle area continues to deteriorate. And, of course, renters are getting a break for the first time in years. Conditions vary around the region, but rents in the more expensive markets are mostly dropping.
Continue Reading Apartment Rents Keep Dropping—And Not Just in Seattle
Same Story: Lots of Money, Too Little Spending
Total personal income in the nation in August was still higher than in February, in spite of the loss of the extra $600 per week in benefits to the unemployed. Folks are just not spending.
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How Green Is Your Transit–Part 2
Modern fast ferries can be quite energy efficient, but the total energy profile depends on ridership. Ferries face larger energy use penalties for operating at low occupancies
recent features
Washington’s Undersized Higher Ed System
Washington State is getting a really good deal: get other taxpayers and families to pay for the educations that employers in Washington will benefit from.
How Green Is Your Transit?
Public transit is generally assumed to be a positive for energy use and environmental quality. We look at the numbers behind these assumptions to see just how green our transit is.
Software Is Eating The Information Sector Too
Software is part of the larger information sector, and it has been eating that sector as well.
Continue Reading Software Is Eating The Information Sector Too