Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative seeks to inform discussions on important issues facing the city and the region and to provide policymakers and other decision-makers with data, analysis, and examples of promising practices that may help them address key challenges.

We regularly release reports that often offer comparisons with other major U.S. cities, and we conduct polling to determine Philadelphians’ views on policy issues, elected officials, and various aspects of life in the city.

We also combine our local capacity with our state- and national-level expertise to convene city and regional stakeholders with experts and officials from around the country to discuss effective, evidence-based solutions being implemented in other jurisdictions and the impacts of those reforms.

Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Issue Brief

How Philadelphia’s Minimum Wage Compares With Other U.S. Cities

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Issue Brief

How Philadelphia’s Minimum Wage Compares With Other U.S. Cities

The notion of raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage—and thereby Philadelphia’s—has been a topic of considerable debate over the past year, both in the state Legislature and elsewhere. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Philadelphia’s minimum wage was $7.25 an hour, where it has remained since 2009.

Baker making doughnuts
Baker making doughnuts
Article

How Might COVID-19 Affect Philadelphia's Workforce?

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Article

The potential economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Philadelphia is only just beginning to take shape. Locally, some sectors are being hit harder than others—and among them are several in which the jobs of city residents are concentrated.

Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Opinion

Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Reverse Philadelphia's Progress?

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Opinion

Every spring since 2009, The Pew Charitable Trusts has gathered data from numerous sources for our “State of the City” report on Philadelphia. But this year, because of COVID-19, the findings must be seen in a different light.

Philadelphia in the rain
Philadelphia in the rain
Article

How Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Philadelphia's Underfunded Retirement System?

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Article

How Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Philadelphia's Underfunded Retirement System?

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a vast and far-reaching impact on cities’ budgets, in terms of both reduced revenues from a widely shuttered economy and increased expenditures for essential services. And in Philadelphia, those expenses include financing the underfunded retirement plan for city workers.

Our Work

State of the City
State of the City
Report

Philadelphia 2020: State of the City

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Report

Philadelphia 2020: State of the City

At the start of 2020, Philadelphia continued to be largely a tale of success, expanding upon years of economic progress and demographic change.

Data Visualization

The State of 10 Cities

A decade of key economic, social, and demographic indicators

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Data Visualization

The State of 10 Cities, an interactive resource from The Pew Charitable Trusts, allows you to analyze data from 10 U.S. cities on key economic, social, and demographic indicators over the past decade.