Unemployment, labor force participation, GDP, income, and poverty are five of the many ways to measure growth and prosperity in Tennessee.
Continue readingMeasuring Prosperity: Gross Domestic Product
While GDP offers valuable insight into Tennessee’s economy, there are many aspects of economic well-being it does not capture.
Continue readingMeasuring Prosperity: Labor Force Participation
Tennessee’s labor force participation rate is consistently lower than the national average, but the gap has narrowed in recent years.
Continue readingMeasuring Prosperity: The Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate measures the share of Tennessee’s labor force without a job, but not all working-age adults count as “in the labor force.”
Continue readingMeasuring Prosperity: Poverty
We measure poverty to gain insights into how many people have trouble meeting their basic needs.
Continue readingMeasuring Prosperity: Personal and Household Income
Measures of household and personal income gauge the financial support Tennessee residents have from wages and some – but not all – other sources.
Continue readingCrowded Jails and Prisons Raise COVID-19 Risks for Every Tennessean
Recent data show 46 Tennessee jails had more inmates than beds. Such close quarters make it hard to slow the spread of COVID-19 and could lead to new outbreaks among the public.
Continue readingWhat Will the Coronavirus Recession Mean for Tennessee’s Budget?
The pandemic has serious health and economic effects, yet Tennessee still has to balance its budget. These are the challenges policymakers face and the tools they have right now.
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