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
-
Bottom line: The unintended consequences of federal regulations have had a significant impact on Pennsylvania's economy. Between 1997 and 2015, the effective federal regulatory burde...
-
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) increased tolls again in 2021. It has increased tolls annually since 2009 to satisfy a funding requirement under Act 44 of 2007, which was ...
-
Pittsburgh Public Schools’ (PPS) board of directors approved a 2021 general fund budget that spends more than it collects in revenue ($673.8 million to $631.9 million). By taking mon...
-
This report was prepared to shed light on disparities in COVID-19 impacts across gender, age, racial, and other relevant demographic groups. First, it explores statewide and nationwi...
