National Focus
Read reports from our national colleagues about how the smallest state in the union compares when it comes to the economic health of the state and its residents.
RI "trailing behind" in tax incentive evaluations
Rhode Island is among 26 states identified as "trailing behind" when it comes to evaluating whether our tax incentive programs are producing good outcomes for the state and its residents, according to a recent report by the Pew Center on the States titled Evidence Counts. The report highlights how Rhode Island does not conduct effective evaluations of tax incentive programs, which cost millions locally and nationally.
RI ranks favorably in state income tax burdens on working poor families
Rhode Island ranks favorably in The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities national study on state income tax burdens on working poor families. The Ocean State does not tax the income of families living at or below the poverty level, and we have a relatively high threshhold at which we begin to impose a personal income tax on families compared to other states. This study provides a national perspective on how taxing the income of the poor or near poor can be detrimental to the economic progress of working families.
RI ranks 38th in economic security and assets
The newly released
2012 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) shows that Rhode Island ranked 38th worst in the country (and worst in New England) when it comes to families achieving economic security. The report found that 22 percent of residents are asset poor, meaning they lack the financial resources to weather a job loss or emergency. See the full report and recommendations about policies the state could adopt to improve the financial security of its residents.
Read news from either the Economic Policy Institute or the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities by choosing from the drop-down menu below.
Note: clicking on a headline will take you to that organization's website for the full story