One and a Half Decades of Apartment Loss and Condominium Growth: Changes in Chicago's Residential Building Stock

CURL researchers used data from the Cook County Assessor to document the decline in Chicago apartments and growth in condominium units from 1989 to 2004 in the following report. The analysis that follows uses parcel level data collected for the purpose of assessing property taxes by the Cook County Tax Assessor in 1989-1990, 1995-1997, 2002 and 2004.

The Earth isn’t Flat, and Neither is Illinois’— or any other state’s— Income Tax

In her book, Flat Earth: The history of an infamous idea, 1 Christine Garwood explains that from medieval times, long predating Christopher Columbus’ famous voyages, educated people knew that the earth was not flat. Nevertheless, the flat earth myth persisted for centuries and even has some, possibly (non)ironic, modern adherents (see R. Brazil 2020).2 Simplistic and wrong-headed ideas often persist despite unassailable evidence to the contrary and a consensus among those who have carefully considered the question. The exaggerated dichotomy between “flat tax rate” and “graduated tax rate” states is a current manifestation of this phenomenon. Many members of the public, and some people on the fringes of the policymaking world, overstate the differences between these cases and conclude that only graduated rate states can deliver “progressive” tax policy that results in tax liabilities rising with incomes.3 Tax policy professionals realize that tax liabilities depend not only on the structure of tax rates but also on many other facets of the tax system including the definition of the tax base and myriad rules about tax credits, exemptions, and interactions between different tax systems (e.g. state and federal tax systems).4 In this short paper, we demonstrate that tax rates are just one of many determinants of state personal income tax liability. We also quantify the various ways in which tax liability can vary across states with a consistently defined measure of incomeOpe

One and a Half Decades of Apartment Loss and Condominium Growth: Changes in Chicago\u27s Residential Building Stock

We use data from the Cook County Assessor to document the decline in Chicago apartments and growth in condominium units from 1989 to 2004. While the total number of housing units in Chicago remained approximately constant at a little over one million, we find that at least 44,637 and perhaps as many as 97,894 apartment units were removed from Chicago’s housing stock during this period. Over the same period 102,408 condominium units have been added to the housing stock. We provide tables and maps that show the changes by in small apartments (less than six units), large apartments (7+ units) and condominiums by community area. Loss of small and large apartment buildings has been widespread across the entire city. Condominium growth has been most intense on the Northeast, Near South and Near West Sides. Some, but not all, of the community areas that lost large numbers of apartments gained condominiums. On average, across the city as a whole, for each 1,000 additional condominium units a community area gained, it lost 27 small apartment buildings and about 6 large apartment buildings

What Policymakers Should Know About the Fiscal Impact of COVID-19 on Illinois

We model the fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home orders on Illinois’ fiscal situation. Prominent forecasters’ recently published estimates range from short and modest declines in U.S. GDP to declines of almost 6%. We model the impact of these economic disruptions on the revenues of the individual income, corporate income, and sales taxes considering what we know about the past history of the revenue sources. We estimate revenue losses from $6.4 billion in the severe pandemic scenario to$1.9 billion in the low severity scenario. We also expect large increases in public health expenditures but a modest impact on Illinois’ fiscal situation since these expenditures are a small portion of the budget. Over the next several years, annual Medicaid expenditures could increase by $4 to$5 billion (21% to 26%). We expect increases in expenditures on human services as economic pressures require residents impacted by the pandemic to rely on these services. Potential declines in the value of public pension funds’ assets could result in increased unfunded liabilities and required state contributions. However, these increased contributions would be phased in gradually due to “asset smoothing,” and immediate fiscal effects would be modest. Local governments with a sales tax are likely to see immediate revenue shortfalls resulting from the sharp COVID-19 related economic downturn. Economic disruption may result in decreased property tax collections, but these impacts would lag significantly. To date, federal responses have been significant but are unlikely to fully insulate Illinois from the fiscal damage.Ope

Tax Burden and the Mismeasurement of State Tax Policy

Tax Burden, defined as the ratio of total tax revenues over personal income, is frequently used to measure state tax policy. The authors analyze the empirical relationship between changes in Tax Burden and changes in tax policies from 1987 to 2000 using states’ forecasts of revenue impacts of new tax legislation. Their two major findings have important implications. First, they demonstrate that income-induced, nontax policy changes are a significant determinant of changes in Tax Burden. These income effects are likely to cause misinterpretation when Tax Burden is used as a variable in economic growth regressions. Second, they estimate that approximately half of the total variation in Tax Burden is due to changes in nontax policy factors. This finding quantifies the extent of the “mismeasurement” problem that has been discussed, but not analyzed, in previous literature. In concluding, the authors promote the use of alternative approaches for estimating the economic effects of taxes.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

The Impact of an Urban Wal-Mart Store on Area Businesses: An Evaluation of One Chicago Neighborhood\u27s Experience

Having achieved nearly complete coverage of non-urban and suburban markets, mega-retailer Wal-Mart has turned its attention to urban expansion. Evaluations of Wal-Mart’s impact on urban retail businesses and local employment are necessary to inform policy makers, scholars, and community activists looking to improve economic opportunities for inner-city residents. This study focuses on the Wal-Mart store that opened on the West Side of Chicago in September 2006

Environmental Stewardship: How Semiconductor Suppliers Help to Meet Energy-Efficiency Regulations and Voluntary Specifications in China

Recognizing the role that semiconductor suppliers can playin meeting energy-efficiency regulations and voluntary specifications,this paper provides an overview of Chinese policies and implementingbodies; a discussion of current programs, their goals, and effectiveness;and possible steps that can be taken tomeet these energy-efficiencyrequirements while also meeting products' high performance and costgoals

What predicts regression from pre-diabetes to normal glucose regulation following a primary care nurse-delivered dietary intervention? A study protocol for a prospective cohort study

Introduction Pre-diabetes is a high-risk state for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. Regression to normoglycaemia, even if transient, significantly reduces the risk of developing T2DM. The primary aim of this mixed-methods study is to determine if there are clinically relevant differences among those with pre-diabetes and excess weight who regress to normoglycaemia, those who have persistent pre-diabetes and those who progress to T2DM following participation in a 6-month primary care nurse-delivered pre-diabetes dietary intervention. Incidence of T2DM at 2 years will be examined. Methods and analysis Four hundred participants with pre-diabetes (New Zealand definition glycated haemoglobin 41–49 mmol/mol) and a body mass index \u3e25 kg/m2 will be recruited through eight primary care practices in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Trained primary care nurses will deliver a 6-month structured dietary intervention, followed by quarterly reviews for 18 months post-intervention. Clinical data, data on lifestyle factors and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and blood samples will be collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months. Sixty participants purposefully selected will complete a semi-structured interview following the 6-month intervention. Poisson regression with robust standard errors and clustered by practice will be used to identify predictors of regression or progression at 6 months, and risk factors for developing T2DM at 2 years. Qualitative data will be analysed thematically. Changes in HR-QoL will be described and potential cost savings will be estimated from a funder’s perspective at 2 years. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Northern A Health and Disability Ethics Committee, New Zealand (Ethics Reference: 17/NTA/24). Study results will be presented to participants, published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant conferences. Trial registration number ACTRN12617000591358; Pre-results

‘Trying to bring attention to your body when you’re not sure where it is’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of drivers and barriers to mindfulness for people with neurological disabilities

Objectives Work is beginning to explore the impact of mindfulness in managing the physical and psychological health of people with neurological conditions. However, no previous work has sought to understand what drives people with such conditions to try mindfulness, and what barriers are experienced in accessing mindfulness. Design An exploratory, qualitative, interview design, utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who had experience of mindfulness since sustaining their injury. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using IPA to understand the lived experience of mindfulness post-SCI. Results Analysis suggested that managing physical and mental health, and viewing mindfulness as proactive and protective were key drivers for exploring mindfulness. However, multiple barriers to accessing opportunities and developing capability impeded engagement. These included the focus on areas of the body that participants had reduced sensation in, physical environments that could not be navigated in a wheelchair, social stigma surrounding the use of mindfulness, and a sense of obligation and risk of failure implied by course requirements. Conclusions The results demonstrate the need for specific interventions to accommodate the educed sensory and physical function experienced by people with neurological conditions and to enhance sense of control and autonomy. In addition, recommendations include minimising the stigma surrounding mindfulness, and the potentially demotivating impact of the perception of ‘failing’ to engage