Local Right to Work Zones Ruled Illegal
In a decision on Wednesday, a federal judge in Kentucky ruled that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) prohibits local units of government from enacting “right-to-work” zones.
Tag: costs
The Economic Reasons to Care about Income Inequality
Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Visit ILEPI at www.illinoisepi.org or follow ILEPI on Twitter @illinoisEPI. This post is part of the “Frankonomics” series. Year after year, economic data show that income inequality is rising. … Continue reading The Economic Reasons to Care about Income Inequality
Wages are Higher in Illinois Even After Accounting for the Cost of Living
Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Visit ILEPI at www.illinoisepi.org or follow ILEPI on Twitter @illinoisEPI. A recent report by the Tax Foundation showed the real value of $100 in each state, based … Continue reading Wages are Higher in Illinois Even After Accounting for the Cost of Living
Collaborative Development: The Benefits of Public-Private Partnerships
Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Visit ILEPI at www.illinoisepi.org or follow ILEPI on Twitter @illinoisEPI.
A new ILEPI Policy Brief, released this morning, investigates the pros and cons of public-private partnerships in the construction industry. [Update: The Monitor article].
The report, Collaborative Development: The Pros and Cons of P3s on Construction Projects (PDF), finds that public-private partnerships (P3s)– such as the proposed Illiana Expressway– offer the potential for significant cost savings for the public sector. P3s allow governments to increase internal investment, capitalize on the efficiencies and innovations of private companies, and build infrastructure slightly less expensively and slightly more quickly. For the private sector, P3s provide stable assets (infrastructure facilities) with predictable long-term returns from user fees for portfolio diversification. P3s also allow private entities, backed by the government, to borrow cheaply.
The Policy Brief utilizes case studies to demonstrate how P3s may be mutually beneficial and discusses the expected positive benefits of three potential P3 projects in the Midwest: Continue reading “Collaborative Development: The Benefits of Public-Private Partnerships”
ILEPI Releases Report on the Benefits of Doing Business in Illinois
Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Visit ILEPI at www.illinoisepi.org or follow ILEPI on Twitter @illinoisEPI.
Today, ILEPI released a Policy Brief on The Benefits of Doing Business in Illinois [pdf].
Too often, the public policy discourse is focused on costs. The costs of labor, the costs of transportation, the costs of taxes. Costs, costs, costs. Lost in the discourse is an emphasis on the benefits of policies.
The Benefits of Doing Business in Illinois finds that – despite sluggish economic growth, a high unemployment rate, and moderately high tax rates – Illinois remains a great place to do business. Below are 10 important facts found in the report about Illinois’ pro-business environment:
1. After adjusting for inflation, the Illinois economy has grown by 10.6 percent since 2000. This growth is less than the nation as a whole (19.6 percent), but higher than the rest of Illinois’ neighbors put together (7.6 percent). The Illinois economy has expanded by more than the greater region since 2005 as well.
2. Per capita personal income has grown by $1,510 since 2005 and is now $45,832 in Illinois. The national average is $43,735 while the average for Illinois’ neighbors is just $40,165. Income growth has been about 3.5 percent for all regions. Higher incomes translate into higher consumer demand in the Illinois market. Continue reading “ILEPI Releases Report on the Benefits of Doing Business in Illinois”
The Illinois Update 