Policy Briefs & Reports
Policy reports and shorter policy briefs are integral aspects of our publications and often stem from our academic publications. These practitioner-centered works provide valuable insights into the policy landscape and promote actionable, evidence-based recommendations.
The Effect of Start-up Charter Schools on Nearby Property Values
CSLF Report, Publication No. 34. May 5, 2017, Peter Bluestone, David Sjoquist and Nick Warner
This is the second in a three-part series of studies commissioned by the State Charter Schools Commission and performed by the Center for State and Local Finance that analyze the economic impact of start-up charter schools on the communities they serve and on the state of Georgia as a whole. This second report examines the effect that start-up charter schools have on property values of nearby homes.
The Loss of the Middle Class
CSLF Report, Publication No. 33, April 11, 2017, Chandrayee Chatterjee, Lakshmi Pandey and David Sjoquist
This study provides a brief but detailed analysis of the shrinking middle class in every U.S. state between 2000 and 2013. It includes a descriptive table summarizing the change in share of low-income and high-income households for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as specifics about Georgia's middle class.
Outcomes and Characteristics of TANF Leavers
CSLF Report, Publication No. 32. March 15, 2017, Carolyn Bourdeaux and Lakshmi Pandey
This study examines the characteristics of Georgians who exit the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), focusing on the population that left TANF after the recession (2009-15). Data is highlighted for short- and long-term outcomes, including whether participants were able to hold stable employment and transition out of poverty.
The Fiscal Architecture of Georgia
FRC Report, Publication No. 292. Jan. 12, 2017, Rahul Pathak and Sally Wallace
Economic and demographic factors have important implications for public finances in Georgia. This report provides detailed information on major economic and demographic changes in Georgia and their impact on the fiscal health of the state.
Georgia's Taxes: A Summary of Major State and Local Taxes (2017)
Tax Handbook 23rd Edition, Jan. 12, 2017, Robert Buschman
A handbook on taxation that provides a quick overview of all state and local taxes in Georgia.
Georgia's Rankings Among the States: Budget, Taxes and Other Indicators (2017)
FRC Report, Publication No. 291. Jan. 12, 2017, Robert Buschman and Wesley Jones
This annual publication is a collection of metrics and state rankings that compare Georgia to other states. Several comparisons focus on total state or local government revenue and expenditures, but the guide also includes measures that compare either expenditures or state characteristics within specific functional areas, such as education, health and transportation.
Georgia's Budget: The Big Picture (2016)
CSLF Presentation, Nov. 15, 2016, Carolyn Bourdeaux
This briefing gives a high-level overview of the Georgia budget, looking at fiscal years 2017 and 2018. The presentation addresses structural revenue dilemmas, current economic constraints, areas of concern in the state’s expenditures, as well as key topics: K-12 education, higher education, Medicaid and transportation.
Welcoming Cities: Immigration Policy at the Local Government Level
CSLF Report, Publication No. 28, Sept. 13, 2016, Xi Huang and Cathy Yang Liu
As of July 2015, 50 cities in 31 states had joined an initiative called Welcoming America's Welcoming Cities, a national grassroots cooperative for immigrant-welcoming communities to share resources and ideas. In this new study, researchers examine these cities' characteristics, as well as the cities' programs for immigrants and motivations for starting a "welcoming city."
Jobs in Georgia’s Urban and Rural Regions and Counties: Changes in Distribution, Type and Quality from 2007 to 2014
CSLF Report, Publication No. 27, Sept. 13, 2016, Peter Bluestone and Mels de Zeeuw
This report is an update to an earlier study on Georgia's jobs in urban and rural regions and counties from 2000 to 2012. This new report examines the immediate outcome of the recession, which began in 2007, and the subsequent economic recovery until 2014. Job growth, job quality and job type are compared in the regions studied.
Modeling Georgia Fundamental Tax Reform Using REMI
FRC Report, Publication No. 288, Aug. 30, 2016, Peter Bluestone
The study uses Regional Economic Models, Inc., or REMI, to examine the effects of tax reform on different sectors of the state economy, including labor force participation, savings and investments, and consumer spending, among others. The report finds that fundamental tax reform -- using the REMI model -- has a modest effect on the areas studied.