Fellow
Dr. Laura Schultz has an extensive research portfolio studying how innovation creates economic opportunity. While at the Bureau of Economic Analysis, she developed measures used to assess levels of innovation in the US economy and their contribution to gross domestic product. As a faculty member at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, she worked with collegiate entrepreneurs as a commercialization adviser to guide them through the early stages of validation and venture formation. She has studied how university and state policies can foster or hinder an entrepreneurial ecosystem. At the Rockefeller Institute, she explores how state and local governments can support innovation and generate economic growth. As executive director of research, Dr. Schultz evaluates the fiscal and economic impacts of federal, state, and local policies and emerging economic trends. She is working to develop new channels to communicate her team’s research findings to a broader audience through blog posts, interactive data visualization tools, and podcasts.
November 2, 2023
Individuals with disabilities face difficult employment decisions as work status can impact access to benefits. This brief examines the "benefits cliff" for individuals with disabilities in New York State. Continue Reading...
Highlights from “The Innovation State: New York’s Future in Advanced Manufacturing” Conference
June 8, 2023
Our conference on advanced manufacturing set the table for what comes next in New York's advanced manufacturing sector. Here are the takeaways. Continue Reading...
New York’s Balance of Payments with the Federal Government (2023)
March 23, 2023
This report examines where Federal funds are generated and spent, the balance of payments differential that exists between states, the primary explanations for those differences, and how these gaps may change over time. Continue Reading...
Beyond Treatment: Understanding the Impact of Supporting Recovery at Second Chance Opportunities
March 16, 2023
This report details the impacts of Second Chance Opportunities, Inc. (SCO), a New York Capital Region-based substance-use disorder (SUD) recovery service provider. Continue Reading...
The Role of NYSPSP and Its Affiliated Agencies in the New York State Economy
March 8, 2023
This report evaluates the jobs supported and output generated by the New York State Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers who are Blind (NYSPSP) and its 11 affiliated agencies. Continue Reading...
What to Watch in New York’s Adult-Use Cannabis Retail Market
February 22, 2023
Five trends to keep an eye on as New York State's adult-use cannabis retail market develops in 2023. Continue Reading...
November 30, 2022
A look at the factors at play when semiconductor manufacturing companies select a location and why these facilities are sought after by local, state, and federal policymakers. Continue Reading...
Veterans at Work in the State of New York
November 11, 2022
A look at where New York's more than 675,000 veterans live and work. Continue Reading...
How COVID-19 Shifted the Balance of Payments between the States and Federal Government
April 19, 2022
COVID-19 dramatically disrupted the fiscal balance between the states and the Federal government. In this follow-up to the Institute's widely cited Balance of Payments report, Executive Director of Research Laura Schultz examines how COVID-19 relief spending was distributed, explores the impact of COVID-19 on social safety net spending, and demonstrates how this historical increase in spending impacted states’ balance of payments with the Federal government. Continue Reading...
Ep. 48. New York State Budget Roundup
April 13, 2022
The Rockefeller Institute highlights what you need to know about New York State's $220 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year. Continue Reading...
March 17, 2022
This blog provides an overview of the test optional movement, the impact of COVID on the application process and college admissions decisions, and the role standardized tests may play in the future of the college admissions process. Continue Reading...
New York’s Balance of Payments with the Federal Government (2022)
March 11, 2022
This report examines where Federal funds are generated and spent, the balance of payments differential that exists between states, the primary explanations for those differences, and how these gaps may change over time. Continue Reading...
Behind the Fiscal Curtain: Forgotten Lessons from the 1970s NYC Fiscal Crisis
February 14, 2022
This blog presents key highlights from the Institute's webinar, "Behind the Fiscal Curtain: Forgotten Lessons From the 1970s New York City Fiscal Crisis." Continue Reading...
The Role of Disability Service Providers in the New York State Economy
December 13, 2021
This report quantifies the economic impacts of New York’s disability service providers in New York State. Overall, in 2019, nonprofit disability service providers generated $14.3 billion in economic output in the state, supported 194,977 full-time jobs, and contributed $2.2 billion in federal and state tax revenue. Continue Reading...
Key Takeaways from New York’s 2022 Budget: A Blueprint for Rebuilding
August 25, 2021
Highlights from the Rockefeller Institute's July 28 event which brought together the three leaders who shaped New York's FY 2022 Budget to discuss the process and outcomes of the last two years of budgeting. Continue Reading...
Test-Optional Admissions Policies: Evidence from Implementations Pre- and Post-COVID-19
June 24, 2021
Research into test-optional admissions policies finds that purposeful data collection is needed to determine the long-term impacts of test-optional policies on student enrollment, diversity, and success. Continue Reading...
The American Rescue Plan Act: State and Local Funding Breakdown
March 24, 2021
This analysis provides an overview of state and local aid in the American Rescue Plan Act and visualizes the distribution of funding to state and local governments. Continue Reading...
New York’s Balance of Payments with the Federal Government (2021)
January 18, 2021
This report examines where Federal funds are generated and spent, the balance of payments differential that exists between states, the primary explanations for those differences, and how these gaps may change over time. Continue Reading...
Ep. 33. Policy and the Election
October 28, 2020
Rockefeller Institute researchers and fellows share remarks on the important policy issues facing the winner of the presidential election. Continue Reading...
Paycheck Protection Program: Early Data Provides Insights
August 13, 2020
This analysis examines preliminary data from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to see how the program evolved over two rounds of funding, which sectors received the most funding, and the impact of the PPP on unemployment in New York State. Continue Reading...
Takeaways from the Rockefeller Institute’s Reimagining Healthcare Webinar
July 13, 2020
This recap offers takeaways from the Rockefeller Institute's June 26th webinar, "Reimagining Healthcare Systems after COVID-19." Continue Reading...
Ep. 24. COVID-19: Calculating the Balance of Payments
June 15, 2020
Laura Schultz, executive director of research at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, discusses the methods used in the Institute's Balance of Payments report and how federal economic relief for COVID-19 is likely to impact state balance of payments and rankings. Continue Reading...
Introducing the COVID-19 State Relief Dashboard
May 13, 2020
This analysis and data dashboard track how federal COVID-19 relief spending is being dispersed across the states. Continue Reading...
April 30, 2020
This analysis examines the support offered by economic development organizations (EDOs) to businesses navigating the economic uncertainty imposed by COVID-19. Continue Reading...
Ep. 18. COVID-19: Government Economic Relief
April 13, 2020
Laura Schultz discusses the outlook of the economy and steps federal, state, and local governments are taking to support businesses and individuals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading...
March 14, 2020
On Pi Day, we look at automation in the food service industry and what recent changes might mean for New York. Continue Reading...
Defining and Measuring Gig Work
March 2, 2020
This policy brief reviews the size and composition of the gig economy. Continue Reading...
New York’s Balance of Payments with the Federal Government
January 22, 2020
This report examines where Federal funds are generated and spent, the balance of payments differential that exists between states, the primary explanations for those differences, and how these gaps may change over time. Continue Reading...
Introducing New York’s Rural Economies
October 11, 2019
New York is a large state with a diverse population and economy. However, examining New York as an aggregate economy can be misleading. Continue Reading...
Reimagine the Canals Community Engagement Report
October 7, 2019
On May 17, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the Reimagine the Canals Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the Erie Canal for the 21st century. This report details the five community engagement sessions that are part of this initiative. Continue Reading...
NYSID’s Economic Impact on New York
September 4, 2019
In 2018, NYSID managed a portfolio of $254 million in contracts that employed 6,565 disabled individuals. Collectively, these contracts generated $368.9 million in economic output in New York State. Continue Reading...
Déjà Vu AI: What Can We Learn from the Digital Revolution?
August 26, 2019
At the dawn of the digital revolution, economists questioned whether or not we were entering the next industrial revolution. They forecasted dramatic leaps in our personal productivity, automation of mundane tasks, changes in the workforce, globalization, and self-employment. These are many of the same predictions being made today as artificial intelligence lays on the horizon. Continue Reading...
Is New York Prepared to Lead AI?
May 30, 2019
Does New York have the workforce required to lead the development of this emerging sector? What can New York do to prepare itself to take advantage of the growth and opportunity created by AI? Continue Reading...
The Economic Impact of Developing the Adult-Use Cannabis Industry in New York
April 24, 2019
A legal adult-use marijuana industry in New York State could generate a total economic output of $4.1 billion and total employment of 30,700. It could also attract hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investment shortly after legalization as investors pour in to take advantage of the new market. Continue Reading...
How Drones Are Changing the Role of the Electric Utility Worker
March 27, 2019
We explore how new technologies are changing the nature of jobs in the electric utility sector and how the sector is adapting to reflect those changes. Continue Reading...
Who Are the Getters? The Federal Workforce and Low Income States Get the Most
February 1, 2019
These ten states account for 9.4 percent of all taxes to the federal government, but receive 14.9 percent of federal expenditures. Continue Reading...
January 18, 2019
We speak with the authors of our new report, Giving or Getting? New York’s Balance of Payments with the Federal Government, about the factors that shape these funding flows. Continue Reading...
January 10, 2019
The Rockefeller Institute break down the 20-year outlook of artificial intelligence and automation technology in the labor force with Laura Schultz. Continue Reading...
New York’s Balance of Payments with the Federal Government (2019)
January 8, 2019
This report examines where Federal funds are generated and spent, the balance of payments differential that exists between states, the primary explanations for those differences, and how these gaps may change over time. Continue Reading...
AI Policy Forum: The Big Takeaways
December 6, 2018
Rockefeller Institute Senior Economist Laura Schultz outlines six major takeaways from the joint Rockefeller Institute/SUNY AI Policy Forum, which examined how policymakers and educators can prepare for the transition to an AI world. Continue Reading...
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Force in New York State
November 13, 2018
Fifty-three percent of jobs in New York could be automated with technology available today or anticipated in the near future. Learn how the state's major occupation categories will likely be affected. Continue Reading...
The Economic Impact of the State University of New York
November 1, 2018
The State University of New York (SUNY) is one of the nation’s largest public systems of affordable quality higher education. What is the economic impact of SUNY as an employer and manager of sixty-four campuses and three hospitals across New York? Continue Reading...
