New Jersey

Illinois’ emergency reserves lowest in nation

By Bryce Hill
03/06/2025
Illinois is dead last of the 50 states in its ability to handle a financial crisis. It couldn’t last a month. The rainy-day fund that should be its primary reserve, and that Gov. J.B. Pritzker lauded himself for refilling, could barely cover two weeks.

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

By Joe Tabor
02/10/2025
Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

Ranking: Illinois 10th worst state for getting ahead

By Chris Coffey
02/05/2025
Illinois lags both the nation and the Midwest on key indicators of social mobility. The state scores poorly on entrepreneurship, economic growth, institutions and the rule of law.

Market-oriented housing reforms gaining traction in Illinois

By LyLena Estabine
02/03/2025
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed an executive order to increase access to housing for middle-income families. While many of the proposed solutions still miss the mark, there are some important supply-side reforms that could mark a positive shift for Illinois.

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...
Load More

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Illinois’ tax code stands in the way of the state’s economic competitiveness. The combination of high tax burdens and a poor tax structure contributes to the loss of jobs and investment to other states. From a place of former economic dominance, Illinois now ranks 45th in gross state product (GSP) growth over the past decade...

View Report

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016