The library contains IGPA's publications. Please enter a filter term to narrow which publications are displayed. Filter terms include: Policy Forum, Working Paper, Opinion Paper, Special Publications, Conference-related Information, Critical Issues, Annual Report.

  • The Illinois Report 2008 - Poverty and Inequality in Illinois

     The poverty level in the United States has not changed significantly in quite a long time. The poverty rate of 12.3 percent in 2006 differs little from 1996's rate of 13.7 percent or 1986's rate of 13.6 percent and is identical to 1975's rate.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:15pm
  • The Illinois Report 2008 - Deficient Bridges in Illinois

     Though the status of major bridges in Illinois compares favorably to those in neighboring states, Illinois nonetheless faces challenges in the form of increasing traffic on many bridges which were not designed for such high demand.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:13pm
  • The Illinois Report 2008 - Illinois Energy Outlook

    The two major issues in Illinois’ energy use in 2007 are gasoline prices and the cost of electricity.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:10pm
  • The Illinois Report 2008 - Health and Healthcare

    Illinois is close in nearly all dimensions to the national average in terms of health and health-care utilization.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:09pm
  • The Illinois Report 2008 - The Illinois Economy

     Although the structure of the Illinois economy often mirrors or parallels the economy of the nation, Illinois often experiences the business cycle a little out of phase with the rest of the country. Nevertheless, rising oil prices, the sub-prime mortgage rate crisis, and rising unemployment rates all create uncertainty for both the nation and the economy of the state of Illinois.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:08pm
  • The Illinois Report 2008 - Illinois' Fiscal Future

     Any state’s fiscal plan must answer two basic questions:  What should the state spend? And how should the state raise the revenue necessary to support this spending? Fundamentally, spending for state services ought to be determined by comparing the benefit from the spending to the cost of raising the necessary revenue.  On the spending side, states ought to use whatever revenue-raising vehicle imposes the least burden on taxpayers.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:06pm
  • The Illinois Report 2008 - Introduction

    It is essential that Illinois lawmakers and state leaders are fully informed and apprised of the condition of the state.

    Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:05pm
  • Robert Rich Testimony to Illinois Reform Commission, Jan. 22, 2009

    IGPA Director Robert F. Rich testified before the first meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission on Jan. 22, 2009, to discuss the priorities for reforming government in Illinois.

    Monday, January 26, 2009 - 9:39am
  • Inertia and neighboring effects in local tax policy: Illinois’ experience with a local option tax on telecommunications

    Illinois radically reconfigured the legal basis and constraints for municipal telecommunications taxes in 2003. The state assigned initial tax rates to many municipalities based on a formula without the direct input of municipal officials and effectively dictated initial (2003) tax rates. After 2003, local officials determined their own tax rate between zero and six percent.

    Friday, January 16, 2009 - 2:27pm