Earlier this year, I pitched my editors on a series of stories that would take a deep dive into why the state’s competitive edge is fading and what can be done to reverse it. They bought it — and on Tuesday, my introductory commentary went online. Emma Platoff followed with a story about a Massachusetts entrepreneur who moved his biotech to the Bay Area, and my colleagues have more stories in the pipeline.
Five key takeaways from my piece:
- Once a star performer, Massachusetts is losing ground to other states on job growth and new business creation, while the Trump administration is seeking to undermine the state’s higher education and research institutions.
- Tens of thousands of residents are leaving the state each year in search of cheaper housing and better job opportunities.
- The rise of remote work turned our white-collar job mix into a liability, untethering educated workers from their offices and making it easier for them to move out of state.
- Our political leaders are complacent and ineffective, the business community is detached, and an ongoing rift between the state and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has stalled action on issues like the fallout from declining commercial property values.
- Massachusetts has turned its economy around before, reinventing itself in the 1980s as a knowledge-based economy.
My assertion that “Massachusetts has lost its mojo” struck a chord with readers.
“This should be the No. 1 priority and focus of the Senate primary and general election this year,” Jim Bacon said in an email.
Several themes emerged in your emails. (Note: Spelling and grammar have been edited to conform with Globe style.)
Blame the politicians
“Massachusetts political leaders need to pay more attention to these challenges and listen to the business leaders. I remember the days of the Vault. They knew how to fix things.” — Craig Carlson
“Our single-party state is corrupt and poorly led. My mayor in Boston cares more about bicycle lanes than public safety.” — Chip Elfner
“Many other dark blue states and especially Democratic-run cities have the same and even worse problems. A big part of Massachusetts’ mess is the noncompetitive elections.” — Tobe Berkovitz
President Trump isn’t the problem
“Don’t blame Trump. That’s a total bailout. We have brought all these problems on ourselves and we never learn.” — Richard Chapman Jr.
“How does Trump figure into the Massachusetts economy? Don’t you think it could be turned around at the state level? I just don’t see that happening unfortunately.” — Dave Sweeney
I replied to Dave: “The administration’s cuts to science and medical grants have a significant effect on universities and research organizations, a key sector of the Massachusetts economy. So does its decision to rescind green technology grants to any state that didn’t vote for the president. And its immigration policy will choke off the only source of labor force growth. That said, obstacles such as high taxes, zoning restrictions, and energy policies are the state’s purview.”
The bigger picture
“The loss of so many residents combined with an aging population are symptoms of the coming global paradigm shift from one of endless growth in both business and population to one in which the population will continue to shrink to a more sustainable level while economists, political, and business leaders struggle to come up with some sort of new ‘steady-state’ economic model.” — Clifford Shatz
“I’ve seen this writing on the wall for some time and over the past year have become worried we’re about to enter a flat spin (airplane technology — I’m a pilot) that is unrecoverable.” — Charlie Tillett
Taxes
Several readers said high taxes are driving people out of the state.
“When my husband died, my trust lawyer said he was filling out the forms for me to become a resident of Florida. I’m not very rich but [am] above the Massachusetts threshold of $2 million for [the] inheritance tax. There are thousands like me in Massachusetts. I don’t want to leave, but for my children’s sake, I must consider it.” — Patricia Donovan
From what I’ve heard over the past couple of years, the estate tax is a bigger problem than the millionaires tax. Advising residents on how to establish residency in another state is a booming industry for lawyers.
Final thought
The state’s economy isn’t circling the drain, but the trend is moving in the wrong direction.
As Art Eddy put it: “The party is over! Massachusetts must stop the arrogance! The best and brightest are eagerly leaving!”
Larry Edelman can be reached at larry.edelman@globe.com.
