In a recently released analysis, MTF concludes that the burden of taxes and fees in Massachusetts relative to other states has fallen substantially since the mid-1990s and now ranks in the bottom tier of states. The tax comparison updates a key part of the Foundation's February 2003 business cost…

Despite a decade of progress, high business costs in key areas continue to hold back the Massachusetts economy, and more must be done to make the Commonwealth competitive. That is the conclusion of the latest update in MTF's series comparing business costs in Massachusetts with those in other…

In a unique collaborative report, MTF and the United Way call for several major changes in the state's welfare program to help recipients achieve long-term economic independence and self- sufficiency, a goal that serves the interests of families, employers and taxpayers. The primary recommendation…

Legislative Testimony: MTF testimony in opposition to legislation that would weaken the competitive position of Massachusetts employers by undoing the successful reforms of the workers' compensation system enacted in 1991. By increasing benefit levels, weakening utilization review and encouraging…

Op-ed piece: A series of forces-including new spending pressures, slower economic expansion, and major tax-cutting ballot questions-are combining to create uncertainty about the state's financial future. By Edward H. Ladd and David A. Spina, the present and immediate past chairmen of MTF. Published…

This major study concludes that Massachusetts is divided into two distinct economies: a high-tech, knowledge-driven economy in the east that fueled the state's strong economic performance in the 1990s and an economy highly dependent on a strong manufacturing sector in the rest of the state. The…

This report on the state's procurement rules and regulations for design services cites sharp differences between private sector and public sector practices in building construction and design. The study concludes that architectural and engineering selection and management procedures for public…

This report, which launched a major effort by MTF to highlight the competitive cost disadvantage faced by Massachusetts businesses, has helped spearhead a number of positive reforms to reduce business costs and taxes in the Commonwealth. The survey compared six key costs-health care, electricity,…