The Summer 2026 issue of MassBenchmarks addresses critical challenges to the Commonwealth's sustained prosperity. The issue examines the state economy's resilience amid vulnerabilities, the barriers facing middle-class households, the federal research ecosystem supporting innovation, and the role of productivity growth.

THE CURRENT ISSUE'S HIGHLIGHTS

Notes from the Board
A discussion by the members of the Editorial Board of MassBenchmarks about the current state of the Massachusetts economy.

State of the State Economy
Mark Melnik
The Massachusetts economy in 2026 has remained broadly resilient with continued GDP growth and strong productivity gains, but vulnerabilities associated with an aging workforce, decreased immigration, and uncertain federal policy threaten future labor growth.

The Price of Middle-Class Life in Massachusetts Today
Elise Rapoza and Benjamin Forman
Housing, childcare, healthcare, and higher education have become the entry fees to the middle class, with costs falling unevenly across household types and by race and ethnicity.

Federal Research Funding and the Innovation Ecosystem: Massachusetts at a Critical Crossroads
Branner Stewart
Early-stage federal grants catalyze a pipeline supporting more than one million jobs statewide, but cuts in federal research funding and dramatic changes in federal policy now threaten that ecosystem, with far-reaching implications for the economy.

Endnotes: Continued Economic Growth in the Commonwealth Will Depend Largely on Productivity
Alan Clayton-Matthews
With the labor force projected to continue shrinking, productivity growth and policy investments in education, training, and the retention and attraction of skilled workers will be critical to the state's economic health.