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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This month marks seven years since pension reforms for Allegheny County’s Retirement System took effect. These reforms included lengthening the vesting and final average salary peri...
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The coronavirus pandemic hammered Pennsylvania’s economy in 2020. With recently released state employer payroll data for December, the extent of the damage can clearly be seen. Thou...
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Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) had a bad year in 2020 in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft operations—takeoffs and landings. PIT is owned and operated by the Allegheny ...
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The New Deal is among the most widely recognized pieces of legislature ever implemented in the United States. It was a system of public works projects, financial reforms, social welf...
