Fortifying Main Street analyzes public pension benefit dollars as a percentage of both Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and total personal income at the county level. The report examines data from 2,922 counties across 43 states. The counties are classified into four categories: state capitals, metropolitan, small town (micropolitan), and rural.

The research finds that small town counties experience the greatest relative economic impact from the flow of public pension benefit dollars into the county. Rural counties have the highest percentages of their populations receiving public pension benefits. Meanwhile, counties that contain a state capital see higher-than-expected impacts compared to other metropolitan counties.

What is the impact in your state? Click on a state to download a Fact Sheet with maps detailing the impact.