The Problem Illinois’s minimum wage, already high at $8.00 an hour, is set to increase by another 25 cents on July 1, 2010. This ill-timed hike in the minimum wage will hurt low-skilled workers and the small business owners who want to employ them. With each of Illinois’s neighboring states having a lower minimum wage,...
by Brian Costin Private sector employment fell during the 2000’s and was 3 percent lower in 2010 than it was in 2000. Public sector had no such difficulties. This graph originally posted on the Cato @ Liberty blog shows how public sector employees have show strong growth over the last decade, especially on the state & local level....
by Kristina Rasmussen Governor Pat Quinn fancies himself the “jobs governor.” Let’s see if the numbers hold up. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quinn’s first month in office: February 2009 February 2009 employment: 6,035,873 Illinoisans February 2009 unemployment rate: 8.7 percent Quinn “jobs governor” claim: June 2010 April 2010 employment (latest available): 5,943,140 Illinoisans April 2010...
Illinois continues to impose a high minimum wage rate, putting itself at another disadvantage and giving businesses and entrepreneurs one more reason to leave Illinois and set up shop elsewhere.
An interactive migration map from Forbes helps us understand Illinois's population migration.
What is the best way for government to help people in need of jobs?
Left-leaning economist Jeffrey Sachs tells MSNBC that the simulus was all for naught.
Illinois
The Problem Want to be a hair braider? Get a license. Already a pizza restaurateur? Raise your prices. Starting a business? First prove to the state there is a “need” for your product. Like flowers? Don’t even think about trying to sell them on the street—it’s not allowed. And, don’t dare try to start a...
by Kate Piercy According to a USA TODAY analysis of government data, “paychecks from private business shrank to their smallest share of personal income in U.S. history during the first quarter of this year.” On the other hand, government-provided benefits, including Social Security and unemployment insurance, for example, rose to record high levels during the first three...
The average 2009 score for Illinois
Illinois is ranked the 6th-worst place to do business in the country by Chief Executive magazine.
Illinois falls further behind in the 2010 ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness review of the states.
Gov. Quinn should rethink his minimum wage position. Advocating for a higher minimum wage is a short-term political gimmick that does long-term detrimental harm to the people it pretends to help.