At Pioneer, Steve Poftak has led research projects and authored a number of papers on transportation policy, government efficiency, municipal finance, and job creation. His op-eds run regularly in newspapers across the state and he appears on TV and radio frequently. Previously, Poftak worked at the Commonwealth’s Executive Office for Administration and Finance, where he managed the $1.3 billion capital budget. He's a Boston resident, married, and has kids.

The Struggles of 38 Studios
Posted on 5/15/2012 at 4:01PM | No Comments

File under: how the government shouldn't use public money.

The state of Rhode Island is working hard, very hard, to make sure that Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios remains a going concern. It appears the state is on the hook for $50 million+ if 38 Studios defaults on its loan that is backstopped by a state guarantee. And let me ... READ MORE
Massachusetts Health Care Reform in Record Time
Posted on 5/11/2012 at 8:01AM | No Comments

Why is the Legislature in such a rush this time around?

The House and Senate are moving through the health care legislation at lightning speed. (Photo via Hamera/Thinkstock.) If you blinked over the past seven days, you might have missed the roll-out of two major pieces of legislation that will dramatically restructure health care delivery in Massachusetts. While the Governor put ... READ MORE
In Massachusetts, Manufacturing Still Matters
Posted on 5/9/2012 at 11:35AM | No Comments

With these good jobs (and good wages), it's curious why we spend so much time on casinos.

Way back in 2006, Pioneer was interested in manufacturing. Our Measuring Up study on the cost of doing business in Massachusetts showed that manufacturing was still an important employer in the state and, importantly, was a source of good wages in the places it was located. More recently, we’ve been ... READ MORE