February 16, 2010 | Policy Brief by ELIZABETH BRYAN, KATRINA CURRIE

Business Guide to Electric Choice & Competition

In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by a monopoly utility provider per designated region. Then federal regulations changed to allow electricity markets to develop. The state legislature responded with the Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act, signed in December 1996, promising lower prices and better service through generation competition and consumer choice.

January 12, 2010 | Policy Brief by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Climategate & Penn State

The Case for an Independent Investigation

Just days after news broke about what has been dubbed "Climategate," Penn State University (PSU) announced that it would investigate the conduct of Michael Mann, a professor in PSU's Department of Meteorology and a prominent figure in the Climategate emails.

January 5, 2010 | Policy Brief by ELIZABETH BRYAN, KATRINA CURRIE

Citizen's Guide to Electric Choice & Competition

In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by a monopoly utility provider per designated region. Then federal regulations changed to allow electricity markets to develop. The state legislature responded with the Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act, signed in December 1996, promising lower prices and better service through consumer choice and generation competition.

October 29, 2009 | Policy Brief by JOHN PULITO, ANTONY DAVIES PHD

Government-Run Liquor Stores: The Social Impact of Privatization

Evidence from 48 states over time shows no link between market controls and these social goals.  Divestiture of Pennsylvania's state liquor stores would represent a financial windfall to the state, while posing no threat to public safety, as it would not result in the social ills many opponents of privatization fear.

July 31, 2009 | Policy Brief by PAVEL YAKOVLEV, ANTONY DAVIES

Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell you

The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee contracted with Economics Research Associates (ERA)1 to analyze Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit (FTC).  In general, the ERA report, “Pennsylvania’s Film Production Tax Credit and Industry Analysis,” fails to provide legislators and citizens with a reliable assessment of the program by not counting all the costs associated with the film tax credit and falling short in its tax revenue claims.

April 6, 2009 | Policy Brief by RICHARD DREYFUSS

A Tale of Three Cities: Pennsylvania's Retiree and Medical Liability Challenges

Pennsylvania maintains over 3,000 public pension plans at the state, city and municipal levels, the most of any state and approximately 25% of all such plans in America.  Over 2,200 of these plans are of the often financially and politically problematic “defined-benefit” genre.  According to the Pennsylvania Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC), over 67 percent of these plans have fewer than 10 members.

December 5, 2008 | Policy Brief by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

High Costs of Higher Education: Reforming how Pennsylvania Taxpayers Finance Colleges and Universities

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has long been considered a leader in higher education, touting a publicly supported system that includes community colleges, state, state-related, and state-aided universities.  However, as with all large institutions, a number of serious problems exist. 

Despite significant increases in state appropriations and financial aid programs, higher education is less affordable today than it has ever been.

November 12, 2008 | Policy Brief by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE, JESSICA RUNK

Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians & Increasing Taxes

Originally founded as the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association in 1852, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) has transformed itself from a professional development organization for educators into one of the wealthiest, largest, and most politically active labor unions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

With more than 185,500 members, an annual income of more than $84 million through compulsory dues and fee payments and other sources, and 281 full-time employees, the union’s success depends on its ability to:

September 17, 2008 | Policy Brief by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Paying for Our Paving: Why Leasing the Turnpike Makes Good Economic and Public Policy Sense

Introduction

How should Pennsylvania pay for its transportation infrastructure, now that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s application to toll Interstate 80?  Gas taxes?  Vehicle fees?  Tolls?

August 21, 2008 | Policy Brief by DAVID ANDERSON

A Pennsylvania School Report Card

How the Commonwealth’s Public Schools Stack Up to the Rest of the Nation

Politicians and school officials frequently point to student performance  on state tests as a primary measure of the quality of public education.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) “is a standards based criterion-referenced assessment used to measure a student’s attainment of the academic standards while also determining the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of the standards.”