public-policy resource

2018 Prosperity Now Scorecard

February 15, 2018

Last week, Prosperity Now released the 2018 Prosperity Now Scorecard, “Whose Bad Choices? How Policy Precludes Prosperity and What We Can Do About It?”which details the latest data and emerging trends about how residents in all 50 states are faring financially and what state governments can do to help. This year’s main findings report argues that, contrary to popular narratives asserting that poor people make poor choices that trap them in cycles of poverty, it is actually the impossible choices forced by public policy that precludes families from achieving prosperity. The Prosperity Now Scorecard examines more than 100 measures on issues ranging from savings to debt and credit to housing costs and more. It also assesses all 50 states and DC on steps they can take to improve outcomes for residents, including adoption of state EITCs, expansion of Medicaid and more. Explore the interactive version or download this year’s report.