Recent Research

Research & Commentary: Illinois Cigarette Tax Won't Fix Medicaid

John Nothdurft
May 17, 2012

After raising the state’s personal income and corporate tax last year, Illinois is considering a $1 per pack hike in the state’s cigarette tax.

Research & Commentary: Crop Insurance Reform

Matthew Glans
May 15, 2012

Farmers buy crop insurance for protection against the financial impact of natural disasters affecting their crops and the loss of revenue caused by declines in agricultural commodity prices.

Research & Commentary: School District Budgets

Joy Pullmann
May 10, 2012

School districts often finalize budgets in the spring, so it’s an opportune time to consider how they can convert the “new normal” of budget cuts into benefits for schools and children.

Research and Commentary: Pet Insurance as a Policy Model

Deborah Bailin
May 8, 2012

According to 2011–12 statistics from the Humane Society of the United States, U.S. residents own approximately 78.2 million dogs and 86.4 million cats.

Research & Commentary: Levees and Flood Mitigation

Matthew Glans
May 2, 2012

For more than a century, the United States has attempted to control water almost entirely with levees and other “structural” means.

Research & Commentary: Medicare Physician Reimbursement

Kendall Antekeier
May 2, 2012

Physicians were given insight into their cost-effectiveness last month when the federal government sent reports detailing the cost and quality of their services.

Research & Commentary: Plastic Bag Bans

April 30, 2012

Following the San Francisco city council’s decision in 2007 to ban the use of plastic bags at grocery stores and chain pharmacies, a number of local governments have implemented si

Research & Commentary: Obamacare Costs Taxpayers $4 Trillion

Kendall Antekeier
April 26, 2012

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, using Congressional Budget Office data, reveals the federal health care law will impose $4 trillion in tax increases by 2035.