National recessions and federal tax and spending changes can affect budgets in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. And big policy questions, such as whether to increase teacher salaries or expand health care access, can pop up in many states at the same time.

But each state faces unique economic, political, cultural, and historical pressures that affect how fiscal issues emerge and how problems are resolved. As a result, state budgets are more than numbers: they reflect priorities, challenges, and history.

That’s why the Urban Institute‘s State and Local Finance Initiative put together 51 State Fiscal Briefs–one for each State, and for the District of Columbia–to provide insights into the dynamics that influence major policy issues in each state.

Follow this link to read the State Fiscal Briefs.