Mass. built an R&D powerhouse that supports 1 million workers. Trump — and the high cost of living here — are threatening it.
Mark Melnik, director of the institute's Economic & Public Policy Research group, talks about recently released research on the impact of the research and development industry and its surrounding ecosystem.
"'Research is the engine of the economy,' Melnik said. 'It insulated us from some of the worst pain of past economic downturns.' Massachusetts has enjoyed a wonderful economic life for much of the past five decades, in large part thanks to our R&D prowess. But other states are catching up. If Massachusetts doesn’t find ways to lower the costs of living and doing business, more of our smartest people will be going elsewhere. Maybe not to Buffalo — but to Austin, Miami, or Raleigh."
Read article: Mass. built an R&D powerhouse that supports 1 million workers. Trump — and the high cost of living here — are threatening it.
March 26, 2026
