The Pew Center on the States'

The nation finally may be clawing out of the longest recession since the 1930s. But states still are groping to find the bottom of a fiscal crisis prolonged by historic revenue drops, eye-popping budget deficits, double-digit unemployment in more than a dozen states and rising demands for social services.

In State of the States 2010, the Pew Center on the States looks beyond the acute problems caused by the Great Recession to examine larger trends that have the potential to change state government in lasting ways.

Both policy makers and voters will make key choices this year that will help determine the shape of state government in this new decade and beyond. The latest in a series of annual publications, State of the States 2010 can help inform those choices with its nonpartisan, analytical look at the recession's effects on policy and politics in the 50 states.

You can order your print copy of the report or download a PDF now.

Addressing "How the recession might change states," Pew examines:

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press Recession could reshape state governments in lasting ways Changing the face of government A full recovery will take years Furloughs, virtual meetings and four-day workweeks Finding cheaper, more creative ways to govern Cost-shifting and tax reform Targeting Medicaid, corrections and pensions Short-term governing versus long-term solutions States to watch

Photo courtesy of Getty Images Is it time for a new balance in the federal and state fiscal partnership? President Reagan's “swap and turn back” plan National programs crowding into states’ budgets How President Obama is leaning The history of federal-state cost sharing Can states continue to afford Medicaid? States to watch

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press 2010 Elections: New faces, daunting problems Bruising budget battles and testy voters Parallels to the 2002 election Incumbents in both parties will be tested Budget woes loom over governors’ races History is not on the Democrats’ side States to watch Elections Guide Changes aim to make every vote count—and cost less

Photo courtesy of iStock.com State policy on Pew's radar Maximizing government performance Investing in human capital—children Ensuring states’ fiscal health