September 24, 2021

Mapping America’s diversity with the 2020 census

Rapidly growing racial and ethnic groups—especially those identifying as Latino or Hispanic, Asian American, and two or more races—are spreading to new parts of the country, leaving fewer areas untouched by diversity. In an analysis of census 2020 data with interactive maps, William H. Frey breaks down key population shifts taking place in the United States.

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State resilience and recovery: Strategies to reduce inequality and promote prosperity by creating better places

John Ratliff emphasizes that conditions facing American communities were the predictable result of decades of deliberate policy choices at all levels of government. Ratliff writes that changes to state policy are critical for paving the way to a different future. As state leaders implement strategies for long-term recovery, they should exercise all of their authorities and focus their resources on building stronger neighborhoods.

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5 ways regional leaders can prepare future infrastructure workers now

Rather than scrambling to fill short-term jobs in the infrastructure industry, now is the time to start developing and testing new approaches to strengthen a long-term talent pipeline. Regional leaders should not sit idle if they want to maximize the reach of any new federal infrastructure funding. That is especially true when it comes to seizing an infrastructure workforce opportunity that may not come for another generation, Joseph Kane says.

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More from Brookings Metro

In overturning the eviction moratorium, the Supreme Court continues its history of harming Black households. Last month, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s attempt to extend the nationwide moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. The Court’s decision exemplifies the long pattern of American jurisprudential interventions that ignore Black suffering, Carl Romer and Kristen Broady argue. 

Five charts that reveal the geography of the AI economy. The artificial intelligence (AI) industry is growing rapidly, with newly founded firms that provide AI solutions as a share of all tech startups expanded to more than 5%, from less than 1% a decade ago. Only a few metro areas have developed substantial AI presences, but many more show promise as potential adoption centers. Wide variations in cities’ starting points, research sectors, and business activities require that locations assess their AI positioning and capabilities clearly, Mark Muro and Sifan Liu write.