Economic Impact Reports

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  The Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples in Australia

  By M.V. Lee Badgett, Jennifer Smith
  February 2012
  

  Extending marriage to Australian same-sex couples would boost the country’s economy by $161 million over three years. This estimate is based on a projection that 54 percent (or 17,820) of Australia’s approximately 33,000 same-sex couples would marry.

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  The Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples in Washington State

  By Angeliki Kastanis, M.V. Lee Badgett, Jody L. Herman
  January 2012
  

  Total spending by resident same-sex couples and their guests will add an estimated $88 million boost to the state and local economy over the course of three years. This economic boost is likely to add $8 million in tax revenue to state and local coffers.

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• Estimating the Economic Boost of Marriage Equality in Iowa: Sales Tax

  By Angeliki Kastanis, M.V. Lee Badgett, Jody L. Herman
  December 2011
  

  Total spending on wedding arrangements and tourism by same-sex couples and their guests added an estimated $12 to $13 million boost to the state and local economy of Iowa. Economic boost is likely to have added $850,000 to $930,000 in tax revenue to state and local coffers.

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• Spending on Weddings of Same-Sex Couples in the United States

  By Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett, Brad Sears
  July 2011
  

  The extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples in various jurisdictions will generate economic gains for the businesses in those jurisdictions due to increased spending on weddings. This memorandum estimates the total spending by resident and out-of-state couples on their weddings in states that recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples, in the first year after equal marriage rights were introduced.

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• The Cost of Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of Massachusetts

  By Jody L. Herman
  April 2011
  

  Transgender residents of Massachusetts have reported experiencing discrimination in employment. Loss of employment due to anti-transgender bias often means lost wages, lost health insurance coverage, and housing instability. This study estimates that the impact of discrimination is likely to cost the Commonwealth millions of dollars each year.

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• The Impact of Creating Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples on Delaware’s Budget

  By Jody L. Herman, Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett
  March 2011
  

  This report analyzes the impact on Delaware’s state budget of introducing civil union rights for same-sex couples. It estimates that a law recognizing civil unions between same-sex partners will cost the State $1.18 million over the three years following the measure, or only $390,000 per year. The annual effect is a tiny fraction of the State of Delaware’s annual $3.3 billion budget over three years.

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• The Impact on Rhode Island’s Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry

  By Jody L. Herman, Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett
  February 2011
  

  This analysis estimates the impact on Rhode Island’s state budget of introducing marriage rights for same-sex couples. Using the best data available, we estimate that a measure recognizing marriage between same-sex partners will garner the State $1.2 million in 2010 dollars over the three years following the measure.

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• The Fiscal Impact of Creating Civil Unions on Colorado’s Budget

  By Jody L. Herman, Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett
  February 2011
  

  This analysis estimates the impact on Colorado’s state budget of introducing civil union rights for same-sex and different-sex couples. Using the best data available, we estimate that a law recognizing civil unions for same-sex and different-sex partners will garner the State $4.8 million over the three years following the law’s implementation.

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• The Economic Value of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

  By M.V. Lee Badgett
  October 2010
  

  In the five states and the District of Columbia that allow same-sex couples to marry, tens of thousands same-sex couples have taken advantage of the opportunity. The demand for marriage shows same-sex couples find marriage to be a valuable status, and studies of same-sex couples suggest they are quite similar to different-sex couples in both the economic and social needs that lead them to marry.

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• Potential Impact of HB444 on the State of Hawai’i

  By Naomi G. Goldberg, Brad Sears, M.V. Lee Badgett
  June 2010
  

  This memo summarizes current research about the potential impact on the State of Hawai’i of HB444 HD1 SD1: Relating to Civil Unions on the state economy and budget. The fiscal effects of allowing civil unions in Hawai’i include a boost the state economy from increased spending and jobs, and a positive impact on the state budget through increased revenue and savings.

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• The Impact on the New Mexico Budget of Offering Domestic Partnerships to Same-Sex Couples

  Brad Sears
  February 2010
  

  This analysis presented before the Finance Committee of the New Mexico Senate estimates the impact on New Mexico’s state budget of allowing same-sex couples to register as domestic partners.

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• The Effect of Oregon’s Potential Budget Cuts on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People and Their Children

  By Christopher Ramos
  January 2010
  

  This report examines the effect of Oregon’s potential budget cuts on LGBT people and their children. Such cuts would negatively affect many individuals and families in Oregon’s LGBT community, particularly those who are poor, families with children, the elderly, youth in institutionalized settings, the disabled, and those living with HIV/AIDS.

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• The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the New Jersey Budget

  By Brad Sears, Christopher Ramos, M.V. Lee Badgett
  December 2009
  

  This analysis estimates the impact of extending marriage to same-sex couples on state and local government revenues in New Jersey. Using the best data available, we estimate that allowing same-sex couples to marry will result in approximately $15.1 million in new revenue over the next three years.

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• Federal Estate Tax Disadvantages for Same-Sex Couples

  By Michael D. Steinberger
  November 2009
  

  Using data from several government data sources, this report estimates the dollar value of the estate tax disadvantage faced by same-sex couples. In 2009, the differential treatment of same-sex and married couples in the estate tax code will affect an estimated 73 same-sex couples, costing them each, on average, more than $3.3 million.

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• The Impact of Inequalities for Same-Sex Partners in Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

  By Naomi G. Goldberg
  October 2009
  

  This report analyzes the impact of unequal treatment of same-sex partners in the context of retirement plans and estimates the cost for employers of adopting a policy of equal treatment. We find that same-sex couples face inequalities when it comes to their ability to accumulate wealth, plan for their futures, and pass on wealth.

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• Testimony on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009

  By M.V. Lee Badgett
  July 8, 2009
  

  Williams Institute Research Director Lee Badgett’s written testimony delivered to the Congressional Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia on HR 2517: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act of 2009. If passed, the legislation would extend federal employee benefits to domestic partners of federal workers.

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• The Effect of California’s Budget Cuts on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People and Their Children

  July 2009
  

  California faces a $26.3 million budget shortfall for the approaching fiscal year. In an effort to balance the budget, cuts are likely to some of California’s most vital services and programs including Medi-Cal, the State’s healthcare option for low-income children, families, elderly, and disabled. This research note explores the potential consequence of the severe downsizing or elimination of some of California’s public benefits programs on the often overlooked low-income lesbian, gay, and bisexual population.

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• The Business Boost from Marriage Equality: Evidence from the Health and Marriage Equality in Massachusetts Survey

  By Naomi G. Goldberg, Michael D. Steinberger, M.V. Lee Badgett
  May 2009
  

  This brief draws on two sources of data, a survey and state-collected tax revenue data, and finds that marriages have had a positive economic effect on Massachusetts – likely providing a boost of over $100 million to the state economy.

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• Marriage Equality and the Creative Class

  By Gary J. Gates
  May 2009
  

  Data from the American Community Survey suggest that marriage equality has a small but positive impact on the number of individuals in same-sex couples who are attracted to a state.

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• The Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples in the District of Columbia

  By Christopher Ramos, M.V. Lee Badgett, Brad Sears
  April 2009
  

  This analysis estimates the impact on business revenue and local government revenues if D.C. were to extend marriage to same-sex couples. Extending marriage to same-sex couples will boost the District of Columbia’s economy by over $52.2 million over three years, which would generate increases in local government tax and fee revenues by $5.4 million and create approximately 700 new jobs.

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