Manufacturing employment in Illinois has stagnated and even shrunk while Indiana and Michigan – neighboring Right-to-Work states – have boomed.

Illinois is home to a number of policies that reduce the opportunities of minorities, especially men. Forced unionism is one of them.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce seems to hold contradictory opinions when it comes to economic opportunity.

The people of Illinois – workers, entrepreneurs and business owners – have been held back by policy errors that have plagued the state for decades. But with the proper policy framework, the state can come back to life and lead the Midwest.

Since the January 2011 tax hikes, Illinois’ recovery slowed down, the rest of the Midwest sped up and the rest of the U.S. significantly accelerated. The Great Lakes states performed in lockstep with how well they fostered the free-enterprise system.