Austerity Versus Reinvestment: A Roadmap for a Broad-Based Connecticut Economic Recovery

In the face of a public health emergency, an economic recession, and widening of social inequities, Connecticut has continues to reduce its public investment in services such as education, healthcare, housing, and transportation. Downsizing the public sector and failing to adequately invest in public services has led to exacerbated income and wealth inequality, economic decline, and slowed economic recovery. Data shows that states that took the opposite approach, increasing investments in public services and structures, have done far better in addressing economic challenges than states like Connecticut that relied primarily on cuts. In response, this report argues that greater public investments are key to Connecticut's economic prosperity, as they help boost productivity, help workers rejoin the economy, lead to greater health and environmental impacts, and more.