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Hot Off the Press
Fighting For Our Health
The presidential campaign and a Supreme Court case are keeping the two-year-old Affordable Care Act in the forefront of our national conversation. Few people are in a better position than Institute Fellow Richard Kirsch to tell how health-care reform came to be the law of the land, and what its passage means for politics and policy. Kirsch does just that in Fighting For Our Health, published by the Rockefeller Institute Press.
A Handbook of Government Finance, Oxford University Press Four Institute researchers are contributors to a comprehensive volume on government finance. The Oxford Handbook of State and Local Government Finance features "The Social Safety Net, Health Care and the Great Recession" by Thomas Gais, Donald Boyd and Lucy Dadayan, and "Achieving Fiscal Sustainability for State and Local Governments" by Robert Ward. |
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Latest Research
States' Revenues Rise, but Still Below Peak 
States' tax collections grew for a seventh straight quarter and are now topping pre-recession levels, though they remain below peak levels seen after the recession's start, according to this Institute report. Looking forward, revenue growth may slow in light of broad economic trends.
Giving and Getting in New York State's Budget
Downstate gives more to New York State in taxes and revenues than it gets back in expenditures for services and other assistance. Upstate, on the other hand, gets more than it gives, according to this report.
Surprise! New York's Economy Bests Nation's
New York State's economic performance has lagged the nation's for decades. But here's a surprising fact: Employment trends in the Empire State beat the national average for four straight years before, during and after the Great Recession. Two questions: Why? And, what does this suggest for economic-development policy? Read the brief.
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Public Policy Events
New York in the World
No place has achieved greater advantages or suffered worse losses due to globalization than New York City and State, according to a report from the SUNY Levin Institute and Center for an Urban Future, discussed at this forum.
The Legacy of Governor Hugh L. Carey
This forum considered the impact on New York State of Governor Carey, who died in August. Speakers reflected on his leadership, which is credited with saving New York City and the state from fiscal catastrophe in the 1970s. Recollections by members of the Carey administration were marked by candor and wit. Chasing Criminals vs. Chasing Terrorists The events of September 11, 2001 perhaps changed no field more profoundly than law enforcement. This forum featured security experts and a defense attorney, who talked about how the rules of their jobs have changed over the last decade.
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Publications and Presentations
New York by the Numbers 
The New York State Statistical Yearbook provides more than 700 pages of data, tables, graphs and maps on the state's people, economy and government, and selected comparisons with other states. The latest edition is now available in print and online.
Where States Spend More, Children Do Better
State spending on children correlates with actual child well-being, Institute Director Thomas Gais showed at a briefing in Washington, D.C. co-sponsored by children's advocacy groups and Senator Robert Menendez (NJ).
Why Americans Don't Like 'Obamacare'
The health reform law known as "Obamacare" was enacted two years ago. But several key provisions don't go into effect for another two years. This is causing many Americans to believe the law achieved little, writes Institute Fellow Richard Kirsch.
'Systemness' and Higher Ed's Iron Triangle
How can college be kept affordable, accessible and productive in the face of severe funding cuts? State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher says the answer lies in "systemness" ---- the combined strength of SUNY's 64 campuses.
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Regional Impacts of the Great Recession Economic conditions during the Great Recession have exacerbated longer-term trends, hitting Southern and Western states particularly hard, Gais told a conference of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts in Austin, Texas. These states may face increased gaps between resources and needs. Funding the Safety Net Before and After the Great Recession Gais presented an analysis of safety net funding to the National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics. The increase in federal stimulus funding of safety net programs was critical to state and local governments, he showed.
The City and 'Burbs versus Albany
Deputy Director Robert Ward wrote in the New York Post about regional disparities in the New York State budget. An imbalance, he said, is not necessarily unfair.
Reconciling Two Paradigms for Health Reform
Taking the next step to reform health care is, Senior Fellow Richard Nathan states in this brief, a public management challenge of the highest order. He suggests blending the best of liberal and conservative ideas to create a "Health Choices System."
An Era of Fundamental Change for Public Finance
States' revenues are now growing, but challenges remain in light of an outlook for slow economic growth, Ward told a conference of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and New England Public Policy Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Manufacturing in New York
Manufacturing remains a powerful economic force in New York, especially upstate, Ward said in presentations to the Workforce Development Institute and the Council of Industry of Southeastern New York. The data updated a September 2010 report.
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Our Researchers
Education Experts Blog for The Chronicle
Jason Lane, director of education studies for the Institute, and Kevin Kinser, a new Institute Fellow, are now regular contributors to the The Chronicle of Higher Education's WorldWise blog. They co-direct the Cross Border Education Research Team at UAlbany.
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Desai
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Desai Joins Institute
Swati Desai is now a senior fellow at the Institute. Desai developed the first performance management system for social services while executive deputy commissioner for the Office of Evaluation and Research and Data Reporting at New York City's Human Resources Administration.
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Institute in the News
New York Times: "Republican Governors Moderate Tone"
A story about governors' change in agendas drew on research in the Institute's latest State Revenue Report. Read the story (PDF).
The Economist: "Andrew Cuomo: Next, walk on water"
A "New York governor is actually governing," The Economist says of Andrew Cuomo. Robert Ward is quoted. Read the story (PDF).
Talking Points Memo: "Reform Ally Dishes on White House"
The closely watched political blog reported on Richard Kirsch's book Fighting For Our Health, which describes his behind-the-scenes battle to advance health reform legislation. Read the story (PDF).
New York Now: "Ward on 'Executive Power'" 
Ward discussed how a court ruling in 2004 could affect Governor Cuomo and the legislature as they tackle reforms to controversial topics like pension reform.
New York Post: "Albany shorting city $6B"
The Post covered the release of an Institute report showing the regional distribution of taxes and expenditures in the state budget. Read the story (PDF).
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