While “Closing the Racial Divide” delivers sobering warnings about how significant and pervasive racial disparities remain in Massachusetts and the nation, it also documents the enormous economic and fiscal benefits that would flow from ending them. By continuing to measure progress ever more rigorously in these efforts, we can make Massachusetts a true Commonwealth: One society, united, diverse, and equal.

The business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said its 29-page report marks its first exploration of the issue and statistically documents inequities in wealth, income and employment, education, criminal justice, and health care. If Black and Hispanic residents graduated from college at the same rate as white peers, the report said, Massachusetts would realize $20 billion over a decade in increased tax revenues and reduced public-assistance spending.

This report is MTF’s first foray into the topic of racial disparities. Our interest stems from MTF’s commitment to a Commonwealth for economic opportunity for all. Our approach to this report was to research, compile and analyze as much data as we could from credible sources in five key areas—(1) income and wealth, (2) educational attainment, (3) economic opportunity, (4) criminal justice, and (5) healthcare—to provide a baseline of where things currently stand.

If Massachusetts could close the wealth gap in Black and Latino communities, the state could grow its economy by $25 billion over five years, the equivalent of adding up to 100,000 jobs, according to an analysis by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. The 29-page report, to be released on Wednesday, is an unusual one for the fiscal watchdog group, which typically weighs in on topics such as the state budget or MBTA finances.

Doug Howgate, executive vice president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said he thinks the state is right to take a careful approach with its federal aid and that it’s important legislators consider how the American Rescue Plan’s additional funding, such as for education and child care, will be used. “You don’t want to make decisions in a vacuum with the $4.5 billion,” Howgate said, “without thinking through where all those other resources are going as well.”

The job loss related to COVID-19 has placed an unprecedented strain on our economy and our unemployment insurance (UI) system. The strain on the UI system creates two major policy challenges that require near-term action. First, unemployment taxes on employers are scheduled to skyrocket at the end of March, further hindering job retention and creation. Second, the state needs to repay federal loans (and associated interest) that have propped up the state’s unemployment system over the last year while also ensuring the state’s trust fund remains solvent and can meet benefit demand.

“There’s absolutely a concern,” says Eileen McAnneny, the president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which published a recent report on the impact of telework on Massachusetts. “People have more choices than they did before the pandemic.”

The rise in the number of people suddenly seeking unemployment is expected to add to the per-employee cost of unemployment insurance. This insurance is paid by employers — at a rate that's already among the highest in the nation — and it could go up by 60% next year, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Even then, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation projected the state’s tax collections in fiscal year 2021 could fall $6 billion short of earlier estimates.

On April 28, Governor Baker announced the formation of a 19-member Advisory Board to determine the best ways to open the economy. Chaired by Lt. Governor Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Michael Kennealy, along with representatives from businesses, public health and municipal government, the Board’s role is to advise the Governor on how to balance the economic and public health concerns caused by the pandemic.