The retailer’s discount is a generous corporate welfare program that Illinois can no longer afford. A new report [PDF] finds that Illinois currently dishes out $142 million per year in subsidies to retailers through it 1.75 percent retailer’s discount rate.
Continue reading “The Retailer’s Discount Costs Illinois Taxpayers Over $100 Million a Year”
Obesity costs residents and taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Adult obesity alone costs Illinois $4.5 billion a year. To reduce adult obesity, Illinois should adopt policies that promote middle-class jobs, support high levels of education, advocate for a healthy lifestyle, and provide subsidies for healthy foods. These actions would have positive health, well-being, and economic benefits for the state. Continue reading “Reducing Obesity Benefits the Economy”
This report is the third in a five-part series on the “State of the Unions” for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. All five reports will be available at this link over the next month. A new study released today … Continue reading The State of Iowa’s Unions in 2016
State of Illinois needs to invest more – not less – in higher education. A new ILEPI Economic Commentary examines the rising costs of higher education in Illinois’ public 4-year universities and the potential economic gains associated with lowering tuition costs. … Continue reading Illinois Would Benefit from Affordable Tuition
Inequality is on the rise. A recent ILEPI Economic Commentary shows Illinois’ growing inequality in two simple graphs. In Illinois, The Top 10 Percent and the Top 1 Percent of workers have experienced substantial increases in hourly earnings since 1985. Over … Continue reading Rising Wage Inequality in Illinois in 2 Graphs
Educators are the backbone of a strong, well-educated society. High quality and productive educators improve the economic prospects of future generations. It is critically important that students are provided the best environment for learning. Teachers’ unions are an institution that can have … Continue reading Teachers’ Unions Are Associated with Higher Student Test Scores
Both Texas and Illinois have crumbling roads and bridges that require revenues to repair their current transit systems. Which state does it better? It is sometimes claimed that Texas has better infrastructure than Illinois, but a new ILEPI Economic Commentary finds that … Continue reading Transportation Infrastructure in Illinois vs. Texas
Happiness levels of Americans vary across the country. However, there are steps that all states, even those with the highest happiness levels, can take to increase the aggregate well-being of their citizens. Happiness economics is a relatively new academic field … Continue reading Ways to Improve Happiness in America
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), or “Obamacare,” has greatly improved health insurance access and coverage in Illinois, according to a new Economic Commentary [PDF] by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Health care coverage increased in all of the 20 most populous counties in Illinois from 2013 to 2015.
The uninsured – who are disproportionately poor, young, and non-citizens – often go long periods of time with illness or injuries before seeking medical treatment due to the high out-of-pocket costs. The Affordable Care Act was enacted with the goal of increasing the quality of, affordability of, and number of residents with health insurance. The law expanded health care coverage opportunities for most Illinoisans by creating a “marketplace” of easily-accessible insurance plans.
Continue reading “How Illinois is Doing Since Health Care Reform”
A new Economic Commentary [PDF] by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute demonstrates how school construction and water quality improvements are both vital to Iowa’s economy.
Investments in school construction allow students to learn in a positive environment, which can improve educational outcomes over the long run. Investments in water quality projects improve health outcomes for Iowa citizens, which can lower healthcare costs over the long run. Continue reading “Iowa Needs Investment in Both School Construction and Water Quality Projects”
State legislators in Iowa could enact “high-road” policies to encourage the private sector to meet the impending skilled construction worker shortage, according to a new Economic Commentary [PDF] by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute. The construction industry has grown since the market … Continue reading Iowa’s Shortage of Skilled Construction Workers
If Motor Fuel Taxes had been adjusted for inflation over the past 23 years, the state would have generated $10 billion in additional transportation revenues, according to a new report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute [PDF]. Despite the 25 … Continue reading $10 Billion Lost Over 23 Years
The Illinois Update 