May 22, 2026: Have you heard of the Vermont tax? If not, it's a tongue-in-cheek way to explain the calculation many Vermont workers make: do they choose Vermont and a high quality of life, or move away for better wages?

In this episode, Public Assets Institute State Policy Fellow Katrina Menard shares data on the state's income gaps, including rising income inequality, and on what most residents earn relative to the cost of living. She also shares insights on what policy changes could shift the equation.

Read the PAI's brief on income inequality: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/despite-growth-vermonts-lowest-wages-arent-livable

The JFO's Basic Needs Budget: https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Subjects/Basic-Needs-Budgets/WLegislative-Joint-Fiscal-OfficeBasic-Needs-Budgets-and-Livable-Wage-Report1-15-2025.pdf

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net