Cities are essential to the nation’s prosperity—central to the quality of life, the livelihoods, and the long-term prospects of most Americans. Pew’s American cities project conducted original research and analyses to help policymakers understand the challenges facing urban centers and promising policy options that can improve fiscal outcomes for localities. To see new state and local fiscal health research from Pew, please visit States’ Fiscal Health.

City
City
Issue Brief

Fiscal Health of Large U.S. Cities Varied Long After Great Recession’s End

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Issue Brief

This brief focuses on the cities that anchor the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. The fiscal health of the cities varied considerably in fiscal 2013, depending on their circumstances. Still, a number of trends emerge concerning the cities’ revenue, spending, and reserves.

Construction
Construction
Issue Brief

New Money Issuances Are Low in 30 U.S. Cities

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Issue Brief

An analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts finds that borrowing in 30 large U.S. cities since the end of the Great Recession, which ran from late 2007 through mid-2009, was notably different from past recoveries.

atlantic city boardwalk
atlantic city boardwalk
Issue Brief

Atlantic City's Watchdogs

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Issue Brief

This brief describes the history of the state’s intervention program, explains how it works, and details the steps New Jersey has taken to try to help Atlantic City.

Reflection of skyscrapers on windows
Reflection of skyscrapers on windows
Report

After Municipal Bankruptcy

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Report

The recent high-profile bankruptcy filings by Detroit and a handful of other local governments around the country have renewed state and local policymaker interest in strategies to prevent future financial crises as well as in the choices states face about whether to intervene to help distressed cities and counties.

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