The Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy (CROWE) supports and disseminates economic policy research, with a particular focus on the Wisconsin economy and state-level economic policy issues.
Will Tariffs Make Wisconsin Rich?
Sustained tariff hikes against Canada, China and Mexico and retaliatory tariffs will have a negative impact on the Wisconsin economy.
Economics of Climate Change - What they rarely teach you in college
Speaker: Stephen Einhorn, Capital Midwest Funds
Tuesday, April 15
5:00-6:00pm - lecture
6-7pm - nacho bar
Grainger Hall - Plenary Room
975 University Ave.
Madison, WI
DEI on College Campuses - Underrepresentation vs Discrimination
Watch the recording of the Fireside Chat with Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute on DEI on College Campuses.
Who Are Moving In and Out of Wisconsin?
The net inflow of income to Wisconsin due to interstate migration remained negative over the past decade.
Speaker Robin Vos on UW budgets, autonomy, DEI & more
Watch the recording of the Fireside Chat with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on UW budgets, autonomy, DEI & more.
Administrative Rules in Wisconsin
Fewer administrative rules have been adopted in Wisconsin since 2011, when the rulemaking ability of state agencies was limited by a series of acts and executive orders under Governor Walker.
Public Expenditures on K-12 and Student Outcomes in Wisconsin Before and After Act 10
Act 10 improved the efficiency of Wisconsin's K-12 system, allowing student performance to improve relative to other states.
Tax Cuts vs. Public Spending in Wisconsin
This CROWE report finds that lowering income tax rates has a significantly positive impact on Wisconsin’s economy.
Marginal Income Tax Rates in Wisconsin
The effective marginal tax rate on income faced by Wisconsin households is the 15th highest in the country.
Wisconsin's Share of Federal Contract Dollars
This brief analyzes the distribution of Federal contract and grant awards in the Midwest.
White Paper #6: UW-Madison Unbound
The sixth, and final, white paper in the series explores the internal and external constraints faced by UW-Madison and the reasons these constraints exist.
White Paper #5: Is the Wisconsin Taxpayer Stingy?
The fifth white paper in the series addresses the question: Is the Wisconsin taxpayer rather ungenerous in funding higher education?
White Paper #4: Administrative Intensity at UW-Madison
The fourth white paper in the series present measures of administrative intensity for UW-Madison and comparisons with peer institutions.
White Paper #3: Is UW-Madison in Decline?
The third white paper in the series presents a time series of undergraduate and graduate rankings of UW-Madison.
White Paper #2: The Return to Majors at UW-Madison
This second paper in the white paper series estimates the value of different majors at UW-Madison. Students have incorrect and incomplete information about returns to majors and can benefit from such information.
White Paper #1: The Return to A Bachelor’s Degree from UW-Madison
This multi-part white paper series covers issues of salience to UW-Madison and the state of Wisconsin. The first white paper in the series estimates the value of a UW-Madison bachelor’s degree.
Business Formations in Wisconsin for March 2025
This CROWE data brief discusses business formations and applications in Wisconsin.
The Economic Impact of the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Plan to Cut Income Tax Rates
Wisconsin State Legislature recently unveiled a tax cut plan which (among other initiatives) expands the state’s second income tax bracket to cover higher earners. We present a comprehensive model of the Wisconsin economy and its tax system to account for the behavioral responses from households and firms.
Business Dynamism in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's rates of business entry and exit lag those in the U.S. as a whole and continue to decline.
Forecasting the U.S. and Wisconsin Economies in 2024
We forecast Wisconsin GDP growth near 1.3 percent; the unemployment rate to remain near 3.4 percent.
The Economic Impact of JFC's Plan to Cut Income Tax Rates in Wisconsin
In this report we evaluate the plan to cut the state's individual income tax rate that was passed on June 22 by the Wisconsin State Legislature's Joint Finance Committee (JFC).
Five Options to Lower the Income Tax Rates in Wisconsin
In this report we evaluate five options to lower the income tax rates in Wisconsin, which are higher than the rates in most other states.
The Economic Impact of Lowering Income Tax Rates in Wisconsin
This CROWE report presents a model of the Wisconsin economy and its tax system, and shows that reducing the state’s individual income tax rates will increase output and household consumption
significantly.
Wisconsin's Sales Tax Regressivity
Wisconsin’s sales tax is less regressive than you think.
Fundamental State Tax Reform: Eliminating the Income Tax in Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin has the oldest continuously operating state income tax in the United States. We develop and analyze a plan to dramatically change that history. v
The Wisconsin State Income Tax
A primer on the Wisconsin income tax, including the current distribution of taxes and effective tax rates.