The unseen costs of Amazon’s HQ2 Site Selection
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. Earlier this year Amazon narrowed down the list of potential cities to site its second headquarters. Applicants are now waiting out the selection process. It’s unclear when Amazon will make its choice, but that hasn’t stopped many from speculating who the likely contenders…
The use of locally-imposed selective taxes to fund public pension liabilities
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. Many eyes are on Kentucky policymakers as they grapple with finding a solution to their $40 billion state-reported unfunded public pension liability. As talks of a potential pension bill surface, various proposals have been made by legislators, but very few have gained traction. One…
State tax refunds and limiting spending growth
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. This fall eligible Alaskans will be receiving a check of $1,100 from their state government. Although the amount of the check can vary, Alaskans receive one every fall – no strings attached. Other state residents are probably more familiar with IRS tax refunds…
A public sector retirement plan for Millennials
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. According to the Center for Retirement Research, about 52 percent of households are “at risk of not having enough to maintain their living standards in retirement” and that the retirement landscape is making “the outlook for retiring Baby Boomers and Generation Xers far…
What’s going on with Alaska’s budget?
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. Alaska is facing another budget deficit this year – one of $3 billion – and many are skeptical that the process of closing this gap will be without hassle. The state faces declining oil prices and thinning reserves, forcing state legislators to rethink…
High-speed rail: is this year different?
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. Many U.S. cities are racing to develop high speed rail systems that shorten commute times and develop the economy for residents. These trains are able to reach speeds over 124 mph, sometimes even as high as 374 mph as in the…
Decreasing congestion with driverless cars
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. Traffic is aggravating. Especially for San Francisco residents. According to Texas A&M Transportation Institute, traffic congestion in the San Francisco-Oakland CA area costs the average auto commuter 78 hours per year in extra travel time, $1,675 for their travel time delays, and an…
Solving the Public Pension Crisis
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. Last week I had the pleasure of attending a public policy conference that brought together many scholars who study public pensions to share what they have learned from their research. The crisis – growing unfunded pension liabilities and resulting fiscal distress for states…
Eight years after the financial crisis: lessons from the most fiscally distressed cities
This is republished content originally hosted on the Mercatus’ Center former blog, Neighborhood Effects. You’d think that eight years after the financial crisis, cities would have recovered. Instead, declining tax revenues following the economic downturn paired with growing liabilities have slowed recovery. Some cities exacerbated their situations with poor policy choices. Much could be learned…
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Olivia Gonzalez 