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April 2019 Summary of Select Trends
Click on the source in (parenthesis) to visit the full article MEDICINE Alternate therapies for pain. The use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Expanded window to treat stroke patients. These are some of the innovations that will enhance healing and change healthcare throughout 2019, according to a distinguished panel of doctors and researchers. (Cleveland Clinic) HOUSING While the U.S. housing market is cooling in some ways, certain markets are red hot – fueled by rapid home value and rent appreciation, job opportunities, income growth and low unemployment. (Zillow) TECH TRENDS The story of emerging technology trends is inseparable from the story of the public sector. Governments and other public entities play a role in foundational research and put new tools into widespread use. Today’s pace of nonstop disruption affects government as much as any other sector. As missions grow broader and more complex, leaders feel constant pressure to make the most effective use of the newest advances. (Deloitte) TAXES With the first year of the new federal income tax scheme under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in the books, individuals, organizations, local politicians and tax professionals are still sorting out the implications for property taxes and other areas. (LexisNexis) HEALTHCARE Medicaid expansion has helped West Virginians gain access to medical treatment to help fight the opioid crisis in the state. West Virginia has experienced a particularly devastating blow with the opioid epidemic, as the drug overdose death rate is three times the national rate, and relatively high uninsured rates. Since Medicaid expansion, opioid use disorder diagnoses doubled and those receiving prescription treatment increased sixfold by those in covered by the healthcare program from 2014 to 2017. (The Vox) DEMOGRAPHICS April 2nd was Equal Pay Day. Here are some facts to consider: Although the gender wage gap has narrowed since 1980, women still make only 85 cents to the dollar men make. And the wage gap is smaller in younger adults. (Pew Research Center) INFRASTRUCTURE What do you think of charging surge prices for commuters driving in certain areas at certain times of day in your city or town? A $4 per car in Downtown Manhattan at 5PM would help cut down on rush hour traffic. Stockholm became the 2nd major European city to experiment with congestion pricing, and voters supported the measure into law after a brief lift of the tax brought congestion back to the center city. US cities like NYC and LA are considering their options. Companies Uber and Lyft are pushing for congestion pricing to benefit them also. (Governing) TAXES Relying on property taxes translates to a better-funded retirement pension systems as opposed to state aid reliance, a new study finds. For every 1% increase in reliance on property taxes corresponds with a $3.22 per capita drop in unfunded pension liabilities. Reliance on property taxes varies from state-to-state and much of the funds go to government units. Think it in terms of a short-sighted, volatile source of revenue (the state) and the long-term mindset a steady stream of revenue (property taxes) allows. (Governing) WORKPLACE Open office floor plans are pre-teens, and the pimples have started to rear their ugly, red heads. Naturally, you’d think tearing down physical walls between workers would help break down walls of miscommunication, the blame game, and us vs. them in the office. Unfortunately, a recent HBR study shows demo day in the office isn’t the best idea. Fixer Upper Office Edition, much? Workers and scholars alike agree that open office floor plans can’t accomplish cost savings and productivity improvement at the same time alone. (UrbanLand) ENVIRONMENT More green space equals less spending on Medicare at the county level. Scientists took the average of different types of land cover and the per capita Medicare spending in a county and compared these two while controlling for several socioeconomic and demographic factors like age, sex, race, median household income, health care access and health behaviors. (ScienceDaily) |
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Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].