Prosperity

Pa.’s Troubling and Continued Population Decline

• December 22, 2022

December 22, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Pennsylvania lost over 40,000 residents between July 2021 and July 2022. These population…

Press Release

Op-Ed: The Tax Bill Benefitted All Pennsylvanians. Will that Matter on Election Day?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 23, 2020

To be sure, these numbers preceded the COVID-19 pandemic and economic lockdowns, which devastated job growth and earnings. Pennsylvania hit its lowest unemployment rate ever in 2019, but then skyrocketed to…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Loses 54 People Every Day

• Nathan Benefield
• January 30, 2020

How long before Pennsylvania becomes one big ghost town? New Census data shows that Pennsylvania lost a net of 19,588 residents to other states in 2019—that’s a loss of 54 people…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

The Not-So Secret Trick to Raise Kids out of Poverty

• Andrew Cuff, Elizabeth Stelle
• October 10, 2019

Innassa, a Pittsburgh native, was a stay-at-home mom for her two sons while her husband worked. Then, he got injured—and three surgeries later, still hasn’t recovered. “He’s talking and can…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Where Are Americans Moving?

• September 12, 2018

Millions of people move throughout the United States each year. Some make a home on the next street over. Others move across the country. This is a normal and healthy…

Media

Taxes & Economy

A Severance Tax “Like Other States”? Not so fast

• Nathan Benefield
• July 17, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf and special interest groups continue to insist Pennsylvania needs to enact a severance tax because “other states have one.” This, of course, ignores the fact that Pennsylvania…

Media

State Budget

The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 21, 2015

If the proposed sales tax expansion contained in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal becomes law, Louise Bell's nursing home costs will jump by $3,000—essentially adding a 13th month to her…

Commentary

Regulation

Five Steps Toward a Balanced Budget

• February 5, 2015

The consequences of overspending have plagued Pennsylvania for years. This year is no different. Lawmakers are tasked with eliminating a projected budget deficit of nearly $1.7 billion, according to forecasts…

Memo

Taxes & Economy

The Harmful Effects of a Minimum Wage Increase

• April 7, 2014

In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama proposed increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. Although it sounds beneficial to low-wage workers, minimum wage…

Fact Sheet