Rhode Island Economy

A water drop and ripples

It’s not a good sign when a museum of government is the best use of prime real estate.

By Justin Katz | February 21, 2024 |

The signs of Rhode Island’s decline are piling up, but here’s a small one worth noting: Once considered a pipe dream, a new $100 million Rhode Island state archives museum is closer than ever to being built. … … McKee’s office has asked to investigate whether the land next door to the Providence Amtrak station…

A hand reaches for chains

Politics This Week: Unions Versus the People in RI

By Justin Katz | July 17, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss evidence of unions’ tightening grip on Rhode Island and other political topics.

Biker on a dirty ATV.

Politics This Week: Hidden Emails, DUI Skeletons, Bikers Gone Wild

By Justin Katz | April 11, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the mysterious ways in which Rhode Island government runs poorly.

Providence, Rhode Island, USA park and skyline.

Politics This Week: Blame, Budgets, and Bailouts

By Justin Katz | April 3, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz walk through the latest comedies in Rhode Island politics and discuss the characters who have been stealing the spotlight.

Fane Tower rendering

Fane Tower Shows Rhode Island Has No Center to Hold

By Justin Katz | March 28, 2023 |

Now that it is no-longer-proposed, we are free to look at Fane Tower renderings in detail, beyond the gut reaction that it is odd and would be misplaced in Providence.  Structurally, the building would have been akin to a tree trunk that began to split near the ground.  The strength comes from the middle, providing…

Mike Stenhouse and Richard August on State of the State 9/27/21

State of the State: Management of COVID-19 Money

By Richard August | September 29, 2021 |

Mike Stenhouse and Richard August discuss the turf battles surrounding money the federal government gave to Rhode Island for recovery from the pandemic.

Rhode Island’s Unique Way Out of the Bottom Three

By Justin Katz | March 29, 2013 |

For many months, Rhode Island has been exchanging places with two other states for worst, second worst, and third worst official unemployment rate in the United States. February marked the milestone of Rhode Island’s breaking free from the dance. The Ocean State’s 9.4% unemployment rate tied with North Carolina for fifth worst, behind California, Nevada,…

Playing With Numbers

By Patrick Laverty | March 23, 2013 |

Baseball is a sport that is built on numbers. How many home runs a player has, how many strikeouts a pitcher has, his ERA or a hitter’s batting average. Most fans understand these numbers, how to figure them out and generally what they mean. A hitter who gets a hit three times out of ten…

The Mysteries of Employment Statistics

By Justin Katz | March 1, 2013 |

According to a news release from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT), there are actually 800 fewer people employed in Rhode Island than previously thought. But that’s a good thing… because even more people gave up looking for work than we thought. Recovery! Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…

02/26/13 – A Conversation with Bruce Katz

By Justin Katz | February 26, 2013 |

Justin liveblogs from Brookings Institution VP Bruce Katz event with the RI Foundation.