Author: Frank Manzo IV

Frank Manzo IV, MPP is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. He earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Illinois House Testimonies on the Consequences of Repealing Prevailing Wage

Frank Manzo IV

On Tuesday, February 27, the Labor and Commerce Committee in the Illinois House held a hearing titled “Impacts of Repealing the Prevailing Wage.” Frank Manzo IV, MPP, Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI); Robert Bruno, Ph.D., Director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois; and Kevin Duncan, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Colorado State University-Pueblo submitted testimonies.

The following article provides condensed versions of those testimonies.

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NEW STUDY:  Prevailing Wage Laws Close Income Gaps for African Americans in Construction

Frank Manzo IV

Laws help grow incomes across the racial spectrum, and help more workers access middle class La Grange:  Prevailing wage laws reduce income inequality between African-American and white construction workers by as much as 53% and help more blue-collar workers reach … Continue reading NEW STUDY:  Prevailing Wage Laws Close Income Gaps for African Americans in Construction

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Unions Improve Public Budgets and Increase Voter Turnout

Frank Manzo IV

Two January 2018 working papers find that unions have important social impacts in America. The first finds that union members individually contribute about $1,300 more per year to public budgets than non-union workers. The second finds that so-called “right-to-work” laws reduce voter turnout by 2-3 percentage points because working-class Americans are less likely to be contacted through union get-out-the-vote efforts. These studies have important policy implications. Continue reading “Unions Improve Public Budgets and Increase Voter Turnout”

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Tax Plan Could Threaten Illinois’ Most Vulnerable Residents, New Studies Show

Frank Manzo IV

FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS THREATEN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate Community Development Block Grants and Public Service Loan Forgiveness program would hurt economy and adversely impact 500,000 state residents each year. La Grange: The Trump Administration’s proposal to … Continue reading Tax Plan Could Threaten Illinois’ Most Vulnerable Residents, New Studies Show

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Public Universities and Community Colleges Boost the Illinois Economy by $16 Billion Every Year

Frank Manzo IV

A recent report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (PMCR) assesses the positive economic impacts of public universities and colleges in Illinois and measures the costs of the two-year budget impasse.  Continue reading “Public Universities and Community Colleges Boost the Illinois Economy by $16 Billion Every Year”

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Tax Dollars Should Be Spent on Broad-Based Investments, Not Corporate Subsidies

Frank Manzo IV

Illinois has spent at least $4.9 billion in state and local business subsidies since 2000, after adjusting for inflation. This equates to $288.5 million per year. While these subsidies have saved or created some jobs in the state, Illinois could have created even more jobs and more economic growth if tax dollars had instead been invested in public infrastructure and public education.

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