Economic development subsidies should create jobs, increase wages, and promote positive economic growth, but these goals do not consistently prevail. Continue reading “Reforms Needed to Ensure Accountability in Economic Development Subsidies”
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”
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.
Continue reading “Tax Dollars Should Be Spent on Broad-Based Investments, Not Corporate Subsidies”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2017
CONTACT: Todd Stenhouse, 916-397-1131, toddstenhouse@gmail.com
NEW STUDY DOCUMENTS HARMFUL IMPACT OF BUDGET STALEMATE ON ILLINOIS’ PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Continue reading “Illinois Public Universities Were Harmed by State Budget Impasse”
Subsidies play a prominent role in economic development policy at both the state and local levels in Illinois, yet subsidy policies continue to lack the strict scrutiny they deserve. Continue reading “Economic Development Subsidies Not Consistent with Socio-Economic Needs”
Since 1985, state and local governments in Illinois have doled out at least $5 billion in economic development subsidies. In particular, three companies have received over $900 million from Illinois taxpayers: Sears, Mitsubishi Motors, and Motorola. In these three cases, employment eventually fell and plants even closed despite the massive amounts of money provided. Continue reading “Illinois Has Doled Out $5 Billion in Corporate Subsidies Since 1985”
Straight out of college, men working full time earn higher incomes than women working full-time in Illinois. When incomes are evaluated by field of degree, the gender gap persists in most areas of study but disappears in science and education. Continue reading “Recent Female College Graduates Earn Less than Their Male Counterparts in Illinois, With Important Exceptions”
New ILEPI series shows giveaways often don’t deliver as promised, disadvantage underserved communities, and are outperformed by investments in education and infrastructure. Continue reading “Are Illinois Taxpayers Being Shortchanged by Corporate Subsidies?”
A recent Illinois Policy Institute article doesn’t tell a complete story. Continue reading “3 Simple Responses If You See a Post Claiming that 60,000+ Public Sector Workers in Illinois Make $100,000+”
With the State of Illinois finally having a new budget for the first time in two years, the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute evaluated the economic research on policy measures currently under consideration by state lawmakers.
The full report is available here: Public Policies That Grow the Illinois Economy: An Evidence-Based Review of the Current Debate. Continue reading “Education and Infrastructure Grow the Economy. Other Proposals Being Debated in Illinois Don’t.”
If Illinois’ state budget crisis is not resolved by June 30, 2017, all existing Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) road, bridge, and transit projects will be stopped.
Yesterday, Frank Manzo IV, Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) Policy Director, testified before the Illinois General Assembly. Please CLICK HERE to read the full testimony. The following is an edited version of the testimony.
Continue reading “ILEPI Testimony on the Potential IDOT Shutdown”
The Union-Business Case for Firm Relocation and Investment in Illinois and Peoria is available here.
In April 2016, the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute jointly released an economic commentary outlining the top ten reasons for a business to locate to the Peoria area in Illinois. The report, which was originally limited to the Peoria area, is now available to the broader public.
Continue reading “10 Reasons Why Peoria Remains a Great Place to Do Business”
