Laura Schultz

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.

Laura.Schultz@rock.suny.edu

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Latest

Navigating the Benefits Cliff: The Role of Benefit Eligibility in the Decision to Work and More for People With Disabilities in New York State

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...


The Fierce Fight for Fabs

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’s Test-Optional Madness

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...


Economic First Responders: Three Ways Economic Development Organizations Mitigate the COVID-19 Economic Crisis

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...


AI and Pi(zza)

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...


Ep. 5. Who Gives and Who Gets

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...


Ep. 4. Mankind v. Machines

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...