Badger Institute

Wisconsin Tax Options: A Guide
to Fair, Simple, Pro-Growth Reform

A new book by the Badger Institute and the Tax Foundation details how Wisconsin’s overall tax structure remains behind competitor states in simplicity, tax rates and business climate for residents and investment.

Transportation funding dilemma

A primer on Wisconsin's unsustainable transportation revenues. The state's funding challenge is exacerbated by its past reliance on borrowing. Report by Dale Knapp.

Dental Therapists: A Solution to Wisconsin's Costly Dental Access Problem?

Dental therapists could improve access, use and outcomes, while reducing economic costs associated with the dental care monopoly and unnecessary ER visits for dental treatment. Policy brief by Jason Hicks and Morris M. Kleiner.

Overcoming a mountain of occupational regulation in Wisconsin requires more than baby steps

New state report doesn’t include comparisons with other states and policy recommendations. By visiting fellow Ed Timmons.

Breaking the cycle of incarceration

When law enforcement and ex-offenders come together, good things can happen. Partners in Hope is a Milwaukee prisoner reentry program where cops, federal agents and prosecutors (among others) offer training, mentorship and friendship to people returning from prison or jail. The result is changed perspectives and transformed lives on both sides.

Watch Video

What's new from the Badger Institute

How Wisconsin policy punishes low-income families for getting married

Policy brief: The state should make common-sense changes to Wisconsin Earned Income Tax Credit to mitigate the marriage penalty.

'Banning the box,' or boxing people out?

Policy brief: Fair-chance hiring policies may hurt the job-seekers they aim to help.

Wisconsin Tax Options: A Guide to Fair, Simple, Pro-Growth Reform

A new book by the Badger Institute and the Tax Foundation is based on a year of over 100 interviews with Wisconsin taxpayers, businesses and lawmakers, as well as a top-to-bottom study of the Badger State’s tax code history and trends.

Expungement Reform: Pathways to Employment

Wisconsin legislators and stakeholders held a news conference on Jan. 29 to unveil the "Expungement Reform: Pathways to Employment" bill. The bill would allow individuals with misdemeanors or Class H and I felonies to also seek expungement after they serve their sentence, remove the age 25 restriction and would apply retroactively to those who served time before the new legislation.

Institute grows team, moves to larger office

The Badger Institute's growth will allow even greater impact on key policy issues, President Mike Nichols says. Recent personnel changes include: Julie Grace, policy analyst in the Institute's Center for Opportunity; Kirsten Golinski, development associate; Brad Wassink, policy consultant; and Dr. Ed Timmons, visiting fellow.

How federal grants are turning state governments against their own people

Almost a third of the money in many state government budgets now comes directly from Washington, D.C. But why are federal taxpayers paying for Wisconsin’s bike paths? By Mike Nichols and Dan Benson, published in The Federalist.

A journey of second chances

Imagine a prisoner reentry program where the mentors include an FBI agent and a former federal prosecutor. Or a graduation ceremony where ex-offenders are encouraged, cheered and hugged not just by family and friends but by police officers, prison officials and judges. Imagine what could happen if the law enforcement community partnered with nonprofit organizations and employers to increase the likelihood of successful transition back to the community, breaking the cycle of incarceration. This video tells the story of Partners in Hope, a new reentry program in Milwaukee that has made this vision a reality.

Wisconsin: A Blueprint for More Workers

Report provides an overview of labor force participation in Wisconsin. Increasing the rate by just 1 percentage point would increase state GDP by $667 annually per resident. By Badger Institute visiting fellows Ike Brannon and Andrew Hanson.

Rethinking Wisconsin’s Highways

The Badger Institute hosted transportation expert Bob Poole to discuss Rethinking Wisconsin’s Highways. Poole promoted public-private partnerships and user-based tolls to address the congestion, maintenance, funding battles and pork barrel spending associated with the status quo. Watch video here.

Licensure reform helps barbers, cosmetologists

Madison — Barbers, cosmetologists and other beauty professionals are now able to practice their professions with fewer regulatory burdens after reforms were signed into law that reduce complicated and costly licensing requirements. Read more here.

Project for 21st Century Federalism

The Project for 21st Century Federalism is the Badger Institute's multi-year investigation of the growth in federal grants and their effect on state and local governance. Highlights of the project: