Pennsylvania is a microcosm of the United States. The state that sparked the American Revolution and fueled the nation’s industrial growth is playing an outsized role in public policy and socioeconomic trends. Its culturally distinct regions—from large metro hubs and sprawling suburbs to Rust Belt cities and rural counties—serve as a crucial bellwether in electoral politics.
From energy and technology to demographics and urban affairs, the Commonwealth figures prominently in national policy discussions. The Covid-19 crisis will only further showcase Pennsylvania as a battleground for public policy.
This page features noteworthy research, analysis, commentary, and news stories curated from Pennsylvania-based media outlets, national publications, and think tanks. We will examine the most important policy questions confronted by Pennsylvanians.
RealClearPublicAffairs is a new series of sponsored curation designed to provide coverage of important and trending public policy issues. More About
Essential Reading
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An ordinance passed by Allegheny County Council on March 9 would have imposed a paid sick leave mandate on businesses in Allegheny County with 26 or more employees. The ordinance was...
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Monthly revenue and expenditure reports from the Pittsburgh City Controller’s office show that the city collected $551.6 million in revenue and spent $596.3 million—a deficit of $44....
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To reduce the burden on social assistance programs, alleviate poverty, promote the values of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility, and meet workforce requirements, it is crit...
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Employer payroll data for the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties) for 2020 show the devast...