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  • Housing appreciation (depreciation) and owners’ welfare: A diagrammatic analysis

    This paper extends Frank’s (2006) very simple model to analyze the welfare effects of appreciation and depreciation in a world with property taxes and moving costs. It is shown that appreciation can make homeowners worse off but that depreciation can not make homeowners who intend to stay in their house worse off. Our model provides a simple framework that can be used discuss the rationale for alternative policies to aid homeowners during periods of both appreciation and depreciation.

    Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 4:40pm
  • Policy Forum 21:1 - Wall Street Weakly, or How and When Obama Won the Presidential Race

    At least as far back as spring 2007, some observers regarded the 2008 presidential election as a foregone conclusion. With President Bush’s approval rating hovering around 35 percent and large
    majorities of the public unhappy about the situation in Iraq, anything but a booming economy would make the Democratic nominee’s job an easy one. So ran conventional wisdom

    Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 1:51pm
  • The Impact of the University of Illinois on the Economy of Our State (2009)

    The University of Illinois serves nearly 70,000 students at three campuses and two satellite medical campuses, employs more than 30,000 faculty, staff and graduate assistants and operates with an annual budget of more than $4 billion. The State of Illinois’ investment in the University is substantial. This report examines the benefits of the University to the state.

    Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 11:26am
  • Beyond Health Insurance

    IGPA faculty members Robert Kaestner, Lorens Helmchen and Anthony T. Lo Sasso have compiled information from IGPA's 2007 conference, Beyond Health Insurance: Public Policy to Improve Health, into a book, which has been published by Emerald Books.

    Read the information sheet.

    Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 11:28am
  • Conference Highlights: 2007 Beyond Health Insurance Conference

    The Institute of Government and Public Affairs and the College of Medicine of the University of Illinois sponsored a conference, entitled Beyond Health Insurance: Public Policy to Improve Health, in November 2007.

    Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 11:24am
  • An Essay on the Constitutional Convention Question - 2008

    The US Constitution is justifiably celebrated as a model of brevity and durability—it has been amended only 27 times in two centuries. No wonder—it was crafted by giants, including Madison, Hamilton, Franklin, Washington, and (weighing in from afar) Jefferson. Such a concentration of talent comes about rarely indeed—perhaps once a millennium.

    Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 3:52pm
  • Will Illinois Hold a Constitutional Convention?

    Ann Lousin, a professor at the John Marshall Law School, drafted "Will Illinois Hold a Constitutional Convention?" in mid-2008. Lousin, a researcher at the 1970 constiutional convention, assisted in drafting nearly every article of the current Illinois Constitution. The opinions expressed are her own. The attached paper is printed here with her permission.

     

    Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 12:29pm
  • Con-Con: Procedures and Process

    If the voters approve the call for a Constitutional Convention, the next step would be to elect delegates and provide funding. The Constitution specifies that two delegates will be elected from each of the 59 legislative districts (118 total) Delegates must meet the same eligibility requirements as those for members of the General Assembly (21 years of age and 2 years of residence in the district). The General Assembly would be required in the 2009-2010 session to pass a law (which requires the Governor’s signature) which:

    Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 11:54am
  • Cigarette Tax Avoidance in the Chicago Area: A Contribution to the Litterature

     The large tax differentials between Chicago and neighboring jurisdictions provide an incentive for smokers to buy cigarettes outside Chicago. By examining a random sample of discarded cigarette packs, I can see whether Chicago taxes have been paid on the cigarettes consumed in Chicago. I find a startling amount of tax avoidance: three-quarters of the packs found on the streets of Chicago did not display a Chicago tax stamp.

    Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 11:44am