We will collect audited financial and socioeconomic data for a large sample of local governments between 2008 and 2016 to create a fiscal scoring system for cities and counties based on our previous work, work done by Pew and the leading academics. City and county scores will be reported on a...

The Great Recession produced a wave of fiscal crises in American cities and counties. In addition to the high profile bankruptcies in Vallejo, Stockton, San Bernardino, many local governments were compelled to declare fiscal emergencies, raise tax rates, lay off or furlough workers, and...