Silence: Chicago in the age of COVID

By illinoispolicy

04/03/2020

Our team wanted to give you a look at the harsh reality of life in downtown Chicago during the COVID-19 crisis.

Stunning data show Illinois economy stalled out before COVID-19 pandemic

By Austin Berg

04/02/2020

The last thing Illinois needs is more bad news for the sake of it. But ignoring this reality threatens to make this crisis worse.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, unemployment

Before COVID-19 downturn, Illinois saw shrinking payrolls and nation’s worst loss of manufacturing jobs

By Bryce Hill

03/31/2020

New data show Illinois lost private sector jobs amid a national economic expansion for the first year on record in 2019, a sign of the state’s deep structural problems in the run-up to the current market downturn.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, coronavirus, COVID-19, economic growth, employment, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

By Bryce Hill

03/27/2020

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population, tax burden, tax hikes, U.S. Census Bureau

Bill would allow licensed, out-of-state nurses to serve Illinois patients

By Joe Barnas

03/20/2020

To prepare for a rise in hospital visits, Illinois should remove interstate barriers for medical professionals.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, Mike Zalewski, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, nurse

Illinois unemployment claims jump by 64K as COVID-19 closes businesses

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Unemployment claims spiked this week as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered bars and restaurants to halt dine-in service, the service industry took major hits and large gatherings were banned to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Bill would lift ban on out-of-state wine delivery

By Ben Szalinski

03/17/2020

Illinois’ strict regulations on wine shipments deprive residents of choice and the state of critical tax revenue. The anti-competitive law may be unconstitutional.

TAGS: competition, consumer choice, cronyism, National Association of Wine Retailers, Sara Feignholtz, three-tier system, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois

Pritzker orders closure of all Illinois bars and restaurants amid coronavirus spread

By Austin Berg

03/16/2020

The order comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Illinois continues to rise.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, small business

Illinois house value growth nation’s 2nd worst in 2019

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

03/09/2020

States with the slowest housing appreciation tend to have worse labor markets, higher taxes and more pension debt.

TAGS: home price index, home values, homeownership, housing market, outmigration, population

Senate committee passes Hayli’s Law so regulators don’t sour young entrepreneurs

By Ben Szalinski

03/06/2020

The proposal is named after Hayli Martenez, a Kankakee girl who was forced to shutter her lemonade stand last summer by county health officials.

TAGS: entrepreneurs, Hayli Martenez, Kankakee, occupational licensing, Patrick Joyce, permits, regulations

Jobs + Growth

Unfair big government contracts hurt Illinois’ economy, cut job creation

Keith Harbison

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students