America 250: Illinoisans show the promise of liberty

By Lilly Rossi

07/02/2026

State leaders can take the lead of businesses and residents and work to lessen the burden of corruption and high taxes.

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Illinois considers repealing business tax responsible for big headaches, little revenue

By Dylan Sharkey, Bryce Hill

02/24/2025

A new bill would repeal an outdated Illinois business tax. The franchise tax is tough to calculate, most businesses don’t owe it and it generates little revenue in a state that already hits businesses hard with other taxes.

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

01/28/2025

Published Jan. 28, 2025 Illinois Policy Institute Center for Poverty Solutions, in partnership with the Archbridge Institute By Joshua Bandoch, Ph.D., head of policy, Illinois Policy Institute and Justin Callais, Ph.D., chief economist, Archbridge Institute EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A low-income person’s ability to move up in society is worse in Illinois than in any other Midwestern...

Just 3,200 Illinoisans complete apprenticeships each year despite potential to fill nearly 150,000 job openings

By Lauren Zuar

10/24/2024

Declining reading and math scores decrease opportunity for students in Illinois. Apprenticeships, which provide paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction, are an in-demand alternative to a college degree that can build key skills and help meet future employment needs.

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

By Josh Bandoch, Larry Han

10/16/2024

Published Oct. 16, 2024 Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and...

Upward mobility tougher in Illinois than in rest of Midwest, most of U.S.

By Joe Tabor

02/07/2024

Illinois ranked 40th overall and the worst in the Midwest for social mobility, a new report found.

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

By Josh Bandoch

01/25/2024

Published Jan. 25, 2024

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

By Bryce Hill

12/28/2023

Illinoisans moving to other states was the sole reason for population decline in 2023. It’s not a Midwestern thing, because our neighbors are growing.

Minister sees ballot question as property tax threat after nearly losing home

10/14/2022

The Rev. Phalese Binion worked to help people find affordable housing, but she didn’t truly understand the property tax problem until she bought her own home. Now the former union member sees a new property tax threat from Amendment 1.

TAGS: Amendment 1

American Dream

America 250: Illinoisans show the promise of liberty

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Illinois considers repealing business tax responsible for big headaches, little revenue

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

Just 3,200 Illinoisans complete apprenticeships each year despite potential to fill nearly 150,000 job openings

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Upward mobility tougher in Illinois than in rest of Midwest, most of U.S.

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

Minister sees ballot question as property tax threat after nearly losing home

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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