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
-
Ever since there have been legislatures, there have been complaints and controversies about legislative districts. Pennsylvania in 2021 is no different. What has changed is the legal...
-
In 2020, Allegheny County increased by $15 the fee to record deeds and mortgages to fund the demolition of blighted properties. A state law – Act 152 of 2016 – permits counties to en...
-
The 2020 U.S. Census, conducted with unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that Pennsylvania’s population grew at a slower rate than other states, increasin...
-
Allegheny County levies a 1% local option sales tax with half the revenue allocated to the Regional Asset District (RAD) and half to the county and its municipalities. The tax is lev...
