Discussion Paper
Fiscal Drag from the State and Local Sector?
Haughwout, Andrew F.; Fitzpatrick, Nora; Setren, Elizabeth (2012-06-27)
With July just around the corner, most cities and states are preparing for the start of a new fiscal year. Since the start of the recent recession, some have worried that fiscal stress on the sector would result in massive municipal bond defaults. At the end of 2011, many breathed a sigh of relief as aggregate state government revenues finally re-attained the peak they had achieved before tumbling during and after the recession. Unfortunately, relief may be premature. When adjusted for inflation, 2011 state tax revenues were still below their levels of four years ago, and local tax revenue ...
Liberty Street Economics , Paper 20120627

Journal Article
COVID-19 Poses Risks for State and Local Public Pensions
Felix, Alison (2020-08-19)
If the coronavirus pandemic leads to a protracted recession, public pension funding could weaken further in the years to come. During the 2001 and 2007–09 recessions, investment returns failed to reach pension plans’ longer-term assumed returns, and shortfalls in state and local government budgets led some employers to temporarily reduce contributions. If pension funding falls during the current crisis, state and local governments may choose to adjust plan structures as they did after the Great Recession.
Economic Bulletin

Journal Article
COVID-19 Challenges State and Local Government Finances
Felix, Alison (2020-05-13)
As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the U.S. economy, state and local governments will not be immune from the pain. In the near term, governments face liquidity challenges, as many tax deadlines have been postponed. In the longer term, governments will experience large revenue declines that may lead to significant budget cuts.
Economic Bulletin , Issue May 13, 2020 , Pages 4