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...

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

By Ravi Mishra

08/08/2025

As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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...

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

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

By Josh Bandoch

01/25/2024

Published Jan. 25, 2024

Pritzker’s ‘Family Relief Plan’ offers Illinoisans $35 while inflation takes $90

By Perry Zhao

08/09/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker boasted about financial responsibility and sympathy towards working families, but the average family of three can expect to save only $35.52 per month as inflation eats away $90 from that family’s budget.

TAGS: Illinois Family Relief Plan, inflation, JB Pritzker

Pritzker’s strict COVID-19 policies slowed Illinois’ job recovery

By Bryce Hill, Jim Royal

02/23/2022

A new Fed report shows strict COVID-19 policies and enhanced unemployment benefits likely contributed to Illinois’ sluggish recovery from the pandemic recession.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, JB Pritzker, jobs

Pritzker seeks credit upgrades despite growing pension debt, budget deficits

By Adam Schuster

08/17/2021

Pension debt is a record $144.2 billion while Illinois’ short-term debt is on track to reach $22 billion in three years, exceeding the record $16.7 billion hit during the budget impasse.

TAGS: credit rating, debt, JB Pritzker, pensions

Nearly 1.5M Illinois workers risk layoffs or reduced hours from COVID-19 economic fallout

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

04/03/2020

A quarter of Illinois’ workers are staring down the economic impacts of a global pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, GDP: gross domestic product, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Federal Reserve Bank Of St. Louis

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

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

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

Pritzker’s ‘Family Relief Plan’ offers Illinoisans $35 while inflation takes $90

Pritzker’s strict COVID-19 policies slowed Illinois’ job recovery

Pritzker seeks credit upgrades despite growing pension debt, budget deficits

Nearly 1.5M Illinois workers risk layoffs or reduced hours from COVID-19 economic fallout

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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