Note: This was first published as a newsletter to our email subscribers. Be the first to see new content like this by signing up for emails! It’s October, and early voting in Tennessee is well ...

State and local zoning and building policies affect nearly every aspect of housing development and can affect the supply and cost of homes available to meet Tennessee’s growing demand. State law gives ...

Governments often subsidize sports venues in an effort to attract or retain professional teams and large events – which they expect to generate other benefits. Pro sports stadiums rarely create enough ...

In FY 2019, Tennessee distributed $1.1 billion in federal funds to school districts across the state — or about 11% of total district revenues that year. Each of Tennessee’s 142 school districts ...

Basic needs in Tennessee cost significantly more than federal poverty thresholds. Incomes and the costs of some basic needs in Tennessee have increased faster than inflation since 2019. Rates of ...

After accounting for inflation, Tennesseans’ 2023 median household income remained relatively unchanged, while the poverty rate grew. Compared to white Tennesseans, the difference in poverty rates ...

The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion has been a topic of debate in Tennessee since the U.S. Supreme Court made it optional in 2012. This post quickly introduces the issue and offers 6 ...

Criminal fees, fines, and other financial obligations serve as both punishment and a source of funding for the criminal justice system. Many policymakers, however, may not fully appreciate the extent ...

The U.S. Census Bureau released new data in September 2025 on income, poverty, education, housing status, and health insurance coverage from 2024. (1) These metrics paint a picture of the social and ...

Between 2021 and 2022, Tennessee’s uninsured rate declined overall and across most demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Men, Hispanics, younger adults, the unemployed, and people with less ...

Local tax dollars are a major source of K-12 education funding in Tennessee. In fact, how the state and local governments split these costs is a central issue in current discussions about reforming ...