It is no secret Illinois faces significant financial challenges. A new Policy Brief [PDF] by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute discusses the costs of unfunded pension liabilities and infrastructure deficits in Illinois. Full Report: Illinois’ Two-Headed Beast: Unfunded Pension Liabilities and … Continue reading Illinois’ Two-Headed Beast: Pensions and Infrastructure
Repealing Kentucky’s prevailing wage law would weaken the state’s economy, according to a new study.
Eliminating prevailing wage would cause a pay cut for middle-class workers, qualify more workers for public assistance, slash apprenticeship training, and result in more of Kentucky’s tax dollars going to out-of-state or foreign contractors. Veterans, who populate construction trades at a higher rate than non-veterans, would be particularly impacted if Kentucky were to repeal its prevailing wage standards.
Continue reading “Prevailing Wage Repeal Would Hurt Kentucky’s Economy”
Episode 4 of the For A Living podcast has been posted on iTunes and on SoundCloud. The episode investigates the pros and cons of international trade. Continue reading “Podcast: International Trade Costs and Benefits”
Episode 3 of For A Living focuses on “right-to-work” laws. The podcast is available on iTunes and on SoundCloud.
What are so-called “right-to-work” laws? What is the historical background of these laws? What are their policy implications for the working class? Where are current political and legal battles occurring?
Professor Robert Bruno, Professor Emily E. LB Twarog, and I are joined by Dale Pierson, a Chicago-area labor lawyer who has served as General Counsel of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 since 2002, to answer these questions.
Thanks for listening!
Continue reading “Podcast: “Right-to-Work” Regulations and Unions”
Episode 2 of For A Living, is now available on iTunes and on SoundCloud.
NOTE: We will also do our best to improve overall sound quality in Episode 3. Continue reading “Podcast: Policies that Work for Workers”
I am pleased to announce the launch of For A Living, an educational podcast jointly provided by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Each episode, For A Living will explore … Continue reading Announcing the For A Living Podcast
A thriving economy is dependent upon affordable, low-carbon energy. As nuclear energy currently serves as a pillar of electricity production in Illinois and is emission-free, it should be looked upon to serve as the foundation of future clean energy. A Policy Brief [PDF] by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute explores nuclear energy’s role in Illinois’ energy future. State policymakers should carefully consider the path to reaching future emissions standards and the ramifications of nuclear plant retirements. Continue reading “Nuclear Energy is the Foundation for a Clean Energy Future in Illinois”
The first item that Illinois voters will see on the ballot on Tuesday is the Safe Roads Amendment. The Amendment would protect– or “lockbox”– all revenue contributed by drivers through motor fuel taxes, tollways, licenses, and vehicle registration fees and require that the money is used solely for transportation purposes.
I surveyed 110 of 578 economics and public policy academics at accredited universities and colleges in Illinois with publicly-available email addresses in August 2016. Among the many topics addressed, I presented the professors and instructors with the following question on the Safe Roads Amendment: Continue reading “More Economists and Policy Experts in Illinois Support the Safe Roads Amendment than Oppose It”
A new report by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute finds that prevailing wage repeal cannot result in “44 percent savings” in Wisconsin. Read More: Some Opponents of Prevailing Wage Are Really Bad at Math Continue reading Some Opponents of Prevailing Wage Are Really Bad at Math
Illinois could potentially receive $10 billion in infrastructure spending over 5 years under Clinton’s proposed comprehensive infrastructure plan, which would annually create over 21,000 new jobs in the state. Continue reading “What Hillary Clinton’s Infrastructure Plan Would Mean for Illinois”
Veterans in Wisconsin’s construction industry are about to be negatively affected by Wisconsin’s 2015-17 Budget Bill.
Continue reading “Weakening Wisconsin’s Prevailing Wage Law Will Negatively Impact Veterans”
A new poll finds that Illinois’ top economics and policy professors strongly support infrastructure investment, public education, immigration, and international free trade agreements. The state’s economic and policy experts also marginally support labor unions and minimum wage laws, with most in favor of raising Illinois’ minimum wage. Finally, a significant majority do not think that politicians have a strong understanding of economic principles. Continue reading “Survey Says: The Views of Top Economics & Policy Professors in Illinois”
The Illinois Update 