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Teens, Employment, and the Minimum Wage
More than 104,000 teens (16- to 19-year-olds) work and actively contribute to the Massachusetts economy. As working teens, they learn job skills and gain experience and responsibility. Many working teens also play important roles in helping meet financial needs for not only their families but also for themselves, like paying for college. This brief looks at who teen workers are, their contributions to family income, how a sub-minimum wage could affect teen workers, and whether there have been adverse effects on teen employment from minimum wage increases.
The State Budget for FY 2018 Including Veto Overrides
This Budget Monitor describes the funding decisions in each major section of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2018. It includes the vetoes and overrides as well as supplementary funding since the Legislature’s budget. The document compares these current FY 2018 funding levels with final FY 2017 levels and, in some cases, historic funding.
Excellence for All: Supporting English Language Learners in Massachusetts
Massachusetts policy since 2002 has emphasized English immersion as the primary approach to educating English Language Learners. A balanced review of the research reveals, however, that there is generally more evidence supporting bilingual programs. The evidence also suggests that the most important factor for helping ELL students to succeed is the quality of the programs offered.
State and Local Impact of Raising the Minimum Wage to $15 in Massachusetts
Phasing in an increase of the minimum wage to $15 by 2021 would boost the incomes of 29 percent of the Massachusetts workforce. This report analyzes the effect of such an increase across 52 regions in the state, finding that at least 15 percent of workers in every region of Massachusetts would see their wages rise, and in some regions more than 40 percent of wage earners would benefit.
MA Poverty Down, Incomes Up Substantially in 2016
An examination of new Census data on incomes and poverty in 2016. The Massachusetts poverty rate is nearing its pre-recession level, with only seven states presently having lower rates. This brief also examines Supplemental Poverty Measures, which show how much particular programs have reduced the poverty rate.
Improvements for our Children: Fewer in Poverty, Almost All Insured
Examines new Census data on children’s poverty and health coverage for 2016, and trends in Massachusetts and the nation.
How Paid Family and Medical Leave Impacts Working Mothers
This report examines the data on the current availability of paid family and medical leave (PFML) in New England, as well as how mothers are often the primary or sole source of income in a family with children. It looks at other outcomes in states with PFML laws, including the lengths of leaves taken and the effects on wages.
Massachusetts Ranks About Average for Taxes in FY 2015
This fact sheets examines where Massachusetts ranks compared to other states in terms of the level of state and local taxation in 2015, the most recent year for which data is currently available.
Where does the Taxachusetts Label Come From, 2017 update
Massachusetts’ taxes are about average for the United States. Where then does the label ‘Taxachusetts’ come from? The answer has much more to do with history than reality.
Documenting Success: Health Reform in Massachusetts and the Nation
New data from the U.S. Census show the results of commitments made by Massachusetts and the nation to improving health care security for our people. The rates of health coverage have increased steadily since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2006.
