The House Chamber at the Kentucky State Capitol is shown as the legislature tries to wrap up its session
Topic

Strengthen State Government

Overview

States and cities are the “laboratories of democracy” in America—the places where lawmakers and governors look for new ways to help their communities succeed. Whether in Pew’s hometown of Philadelphia or any of the 50 state capitals, we help elected leaders respond to the needs of their citizens, use public dollars wisely, fix outdated policies, and build a better future for all.

Pew uses data and evidence to develop proven, nonpartisan strategies to address important issues such as housing, health care, court procedures, and infrastructure--all within the constraints of responsible fiscal management and a balanced budget.

Featured

Philadelphians’ Views on the Opioid Crisis Are Shifting

The opioid crisis remains a pressing issue in Philadelphia, which continues to have one of the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths among large U.S. cities and counties.

Local Governments Face Billions in Infrastructure Maintenance

Are states investing enough in roads and bridges to prevent them from falling apart and to avoid leaving future generations on the hook for a costly repair bill? Historically, a lack of consistent information on the condition and needs of this infrastructure in states has limited policymakers’ ability to answer this question, prevented governments from making fully informed investment decisions to address maintenance backlogs, and hindered public accountability and transparency about whether decisions are fiscally sustainable.

States Underuse Court Date Reminders

State courts bear the immense responsibility of handling about 66 million cases a year, many of which require people facing civil or criminal matters to go to court for at least one hearing, and often several, to resolve their cases.

Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis

Fiscal 50 is an interactive platform that provides clear, data-driven portraits of state fiscal conditions. Users can view, sort, and analyze data on key trends that shape states’ fiscal health now and over the long term. Fiscal 50 also features research and analysis to help users understand how these trends interact and fit together—and how they relate to real-time developments playing out in state capitols across the country.

Pennsylvania's Housing Slowdown Leads to Shortage, High Costs

Housing costs rise when there are not enough homes to meet demand. Pennsylvania, in part because of restrictive zoning regulations, ranked 44th among the 50 states on rate of housing built from 2017 to 2023. The average rent in the 23 Pennsylvania counties tracked by Zillow’s rent estimate was $1,013 in 2017 and $1,476 in 2023, a 46% increase. That is much larger than the increase in wages and prices for other goods and services from 2017 to 2023.

Fact of the Matter

3
U.S. STATES
have lost population over the past 15 years, amid a national slowdown that’s reshaping state finances.
11
U.S. GOVENORS
created efficiency commissions or task forces this year to address fiscal pressures.
80%
OF U.S. STATES’ TAX REVENUE
came from levies on personal income, general sales of goods and services, and corporate income over the past decade.
25%-35%
OF U.S. PUBLIC LANDS
for office-to-apartment conversions can be cut by switching to dormitory-style layouts.

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Our Work

Professional psychologist doctor listening and giving the consult to female patients

Good health is important to everyone. Pew conducts research and provides information and fact-based recommendations to state agencies, hospitals, researchers, and other health partners to help them provide better care. We find and share evidence-based practices to improve Americans’ health and well-being, including services that can prevent suicide, improve mental health care, and treat substance use disorder.

Bustleton Free Library in Philadelphia, PA, on Thursday September 12 2024.

Communities throughout the country share common needs: affordable connections to broadband Internet, modern and reliable energy infrastructure, effective responses to mental health challenges, and ways to resolve legal disputes more quickly and fairly. To address these issues, Pew collaborates with states and local governments to find and promote evidence-based solutions that help provide stability and opportunity.

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High angle helicopter shot of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. at twilight on a clear evening in Fall, with Pennsylvania Avenue beyond.

Nonpartisan, fact-based improvements in federal policy can create jobs, lower costs, and help the nation prepare for the future. When our research shows that small changes can have a big impact, we work across party lines to improve national challenges like housing affordability, internet access, energy reliability, and health care.

Sunshine

Economic opportunity is the foundation of American society. Pew supports national, state, and local efforts to expand opportunity and promote financial well-being. Our work helps people pay off student loans, navigate court proceedings such as debt collection, buy or rent a home, access affordable internet, and save for their retirement.

Turkish world record-holder free-diver and divers of the Underwater Federation Sahika Encumen dives amid plastic waste in Ortakoy coastline to observe the life and pollution of Bosphorus in Istanbul,

The global ocean teems with life, and it contributes to the vital cycles that keep people and our planet healthy. But the seas are vulnerable to overfishing, loss of habitat such as seagrasses and mangroves, ineffective fisheries management, plastic pollution, and declining biodiversity. These mounting losses affect the coastal communities that depend on the ocean for food and jobs.

The House Chamber at the Kentucky State Capitol is shown as the legislature tries to wrap up its session

States and cities are the “laboratories of democracy” in America—the places where lawmakers and governors look for new ways to help their communities succeed. Whether in Pew’s hometown of Philadelphia or any of the 50 state capitals, we help elected leaders respond to the needs of their citizens, use public dollars wisely, fix outdated policies, and build a better future for all.

A view of steep cliff, grand canyon and Colorado river from Toroweap overlook.

Conserving natural spaces conveys benefits far beyond the gains to wildlife and their habitats. As scores of studies show, protecting and restoring lands and waters, particularly when done in close partnership with local communities, also improves people’s lives—and local economies—by increasing tourism and outdoor recreation.