Economic development is the answer. But what is the question?
Virginia Economic Development Week recently brought a burst of energy and optimism from the Virginia Economic Developers Association. Their message […]
It’s budget season. But are local budgets written for citizens?
Spring is budget season across Virginia. In counties, cities, and towns across the Commonwealth, local governments are releasing their advertised
When perception diverges from reality: fiscal illusion and Virginia’s roads
Public debates about government spending are often shaped less by data than by perception. One of the most enduring examples
Don’t tax me, don’t tax thee, tax the man behind the tree
How Virginia’s fiscal system redistributes in all the wrong ways American political debates about taxes and public services are often
Virginia’s fiscal system: the “hellish version” of a state-local tax system
There is an old European joke about how the continent might be organized. In an ideal Europe, the British are
Making invisible government funding flows visible in Virginia: Why the analysis of intergovernmental finance matters
Most Virginians have a clear sense of how much they pay in taxes. Income taxes appear on pay stubs, property
Has the United States entered an era of authoritarian federalism?
Or have we simply forgotten how federalism is supposed to work? For the past 250 years, federalism has been at
Is it better to give than receive? Exploring the distributional dimension of Virginia’s budget
Who pays and who benefits? A new statewide study reveals Virginia’s intergovernmental Balance of Payments A new analysis in the
A Fairfax Economist’s Wish List for 2026
Most people’s wish lists in the run-up to the New Year include things like losing weight, better health, planning a