On the last Friday of each month, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute’s research team shares a curated list of books, research papers, podcasts, and more that are helping to shape our understanding of the economic wellbeing of the Granite State and beyond.

Here are our picks for May 2026:

Affordable Care Act Enrollment in New Hampshire 2026: What Happened, What It Means, and What Comes Next – New Hampshire Health Cost Initiative

“If New Hampshire follows the broader national trend, and roughly one in seven enrollees ultimately drops coverage due to nonpayment, the state could see more than 10,000 additional residents lose or drop insurance before the year is over.”

Universal Free Lunch: Why Not New Hampshire? – University of New Hampshire, Carsey School of Public Policy

“Select data from Maine indicate that the implementation of the School Lunch for All Act has been successful. For example, one Maine school district increased meals served from 1,600 lunches a day to 2,400 lunches a day over the four-year period.”

Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025 – National Women’s Law Center

“This analysis of child care assistance policies as of February 2025 offers warning signs—while a few states made notable strides forward on their policies, a number of states have taken steps backward, and many states have made little or no progress in addressing the gaps in their policies.”

New IRS Data Points to Affordability and Not Taxes as the Cause of Massachusetts Outmigration – Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

“For every five Massachusetts households that moved to New Hampshire, three New Hampshire households chose to move to Massachusetts.”

The Hidden Cost of a Gas Tax Holiday – Bipartisan Policy Center

“BPC projects that a five-month gas tax suspension would increase federal deficits by approximately $12 billion.”

 Have you read something that should be on our radar? Share it with us at info@nhfpi.org— we’d love to hear from you!