Recent Research

Research & Commentary: Silica (Frac) Sand Mining

October 19, 2012

Activists recently have been pressing local and state governments in Wisconsin and Minnesota to ban silica sand mining.

Research & Commentary: Illinois’ Pension Problem and How to Fix it

October 18, 2012

The pension system in Illinois is broke, both literally and structurally. Funding Illinois’ pension system is becoming increasingly difficult.

Seven Educational Reasons to Oppose San Antonio’s Pre-K Plan

Jill C. Thrift, Ph.D.
October 18, 2012

On November 6, San Antonio voters will decide whether to increase their sales tax by 1/8th cent to generate $280 million over a period of eight years.

Research & Commentary: Chicago Municipal Wi-Fi

October 12, 2012

The City of Chicago recently unveiled plans to create a municipal wi-fi system allowing free access to high-speed wireless Internet services.

The Leaflet - The Future of State Tax Policy

October 11, 2012

Earlier this week the non-partisan Tax Foundation released its

Research & Commentary: Zero Interest Rate Policy

October 11, 2012

Since the 2006–07 financial crisis the Federal Reserve has taken several steps to stimulate the economy and unfreeze credit markets, which had ground to a halt after the bursting of the housing bub

Research & Commentary: Uranium Mining

October 10, 2012

Recent moratoria on uranium mining in states such as Virginia and Arizona have sparked debates about whether the benefits of uranium outweigh its costs.

Research & Commentary: Idaho Medicaid Expansion

October 10, 2012

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (popularly known as Obamacare), Idaho, like other states, must now decide whether to expand its Medicai

Research & Commentary: Sequestration Impact on Education

October 8, 2012

In the 2011 federal budget deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, Congress set up automatic cuts to federal spending that would kick in if they could not agree on how to cut each department speci

Research & Commentary: Arkansas’ Mediocre Education Quality

October 4, 2012

As significant education reforms sweep the country, Arkansas has made few consequential reforms in the past decade.