Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans
Opportunity stalls in Illinois as the state lags other Midwestern states on four key indicators of social mobility. The state trails the rest of the region on entrepreneurship, economic growth, institutions and the rule of law.
Low-income people are likely to have a tougher time bettering their circumstances in Illinois than they would in any other Midwestern state, according to a recent report.
The report by the Illinois Policy Institute and the Archbridge Institute found Illinois performs poorly on four basics that help social mobility:
- Entrepreneurship and economic growth
- Institutions and the rule of law
- Education and skills development
- Social capital
Illinois scores last or second-to-last on all four indicators. Low social mobility prevents Illinoisans, especially the economically disadvantaged and minorities, from accessing opportunity.
Illinois’ barriers to opportunity are largely man-made. The state is by far the worst performing in the region on entrepreneurship and economic growth thanks to a punishing regulatory and tax environment.
Illinois is home to the most restrictive regulatory language in the Midwest and also imposes some of the highest corporate, property and sales taxes in the region. Those polices have already caused high-profile companies such as Boeing and Tyson Foods to flee to friendlier business environments, taking thousands of jobs with them.
The state also ranked dead last in the Midwest on institutions and the rule of law. As abusive civil asset forfeiture laws net Illinois law enforcement tens of millions of dollars per year, extremely high levels of perceived corruption prevent many Illinoisans from putting faith in their state’s justice system. This discourages investment and depresses economic activity.
Illinois also performs poorly when it comes to providing the education and skills development opportunities essential to building social capital. The state ranks second-to-last among its Midwestern peers, with only Michigan ranking below Illinois.
The Land of Lincoln will continue to suffer poor social mobility unless the state enacts reforms to ease access to opportunity for more Illinoisans. Lawmakers could do this by eliminating unnecessary occupational licenses, investing in youth apprenticeship programs, reducing Illinois’ property tax – the second-highest in the nation – and reinstating and expanding the Invest in Kids Act.