Trends to Watch

It’s no surprise to anyone that the world is changing.  But the facts of just how the world is changing still have the power to startle—and elude us.

This is why the Pew Center on the States offers Trends to Watch, which seeks to help state policy makers, the media, and the general public follow the major trends that determine if states thrive—or not—and track where the 50 states stand relative to each trend.

The site will be updated continuously, and new data and analyses will be added as they become available and as new trends emerge across a wide range of public policy concerns, including economic competitiveness, education, the environment, the democratic process and government performance.

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HOW TO USE TRENDS TO WATCH

Trends to Watch starts with an overview of eight major economic, technological, social and environmental trends and issues likely to be profound determinants of the prospects of states in the next 10 years. The story of each trend provides broad context and offers answers to such questions as: What is my state facing? What should I be thinking about?

Soon you'll be able to explore the data and policies behind each trend. Trends to Watch will offer:

50-State Comparisons

These assessments will showcase how each state and the District of Columbia is doing, especially compared with other states. Data will be presented through interactive 50-state maps, bar charts, and trend lines that show performance over time, and also through traditional 50-state data tables and report cards that rank states. In other words, this will be a good place to find answers to such questions as: Is my state a winner in the migration of talent? Is its economy based on “right-brain” creative work or “left-brain” routine work? Does it have a stake in the biosciences or alternative energy race?

State Fact Sheets

In addition to fact sheets for each state and the District of Columbia, short summaries will show how each state stacks up in each of the “trends to watch” areas.

Policy Options

For some, answering the question of how a state is doing won’t be enough. Some users will also want to know, “What exactly is a state supposed to do?”  How do states such as Arizona, Connecticut, or Missouri ride rather than just react to big forces? So, the final section will highlight policy choices, focusing on current policy activity and using 50-state maps to highlight key policy measures that states and the District of Columbia have in place or are now considering. This section will also provide references for those seeking additional information or policy recommendations.

The inaugural "trends to watch" are: