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.
Featured
Our featured stories from CROWE are showcased here at the top of our page. If you are looking for additional research, please continue down this page or use our search feature.
The Tax No One Voted For
What inflation took from Wisconsin households and who keeps the change?
UW–Madison’s In-State Tuition Is Too Damn Low
UW–Madison is a top research university charging a resident price that ranks 12th-lowest of the 38 public AAU universities, because for a decade that price was frozen by political decision rather than set by the economics of the enterprise.
Rising Health Care Costs in Wisconsin: The Case for Price Transparency
Hospital prices have risen far faster than wages or general inflation, placing real burdens on Wisconsin employers, workers, and the state’s long-term competitiveness. This report takes a measured look at the data and a practical policy path forward.
Additional Research
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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.
Three-Year (90-Credit) Bachelor’s Degrees at UW
Economic Opportunities, Trade-offs, and Statewide Impacts
NIL and Badger Football’s Decline
Wisconsin football posted back-to-back losing seasons (5-7, 4-8) for the first time since 1991-92. This report traces the collapse to the NIL era’s structural transformation — and the economic effects are already emerging in Dane County.
The Economic Impact of Exact Sciences on Dane County and Wisconsin
Exact Sciences’ relocation to Madison has driven a total economic impact of ~20,650 jobs and $6-7 billion in added GDP for Wisconsin — roughly 1.7-2% of the entire state economy. Released just ahead of the Abbott acquisition.
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.
The Economics of UW-Madison: A CROWE White Paper Series
This multi-part white paper series covers issues of salience to UW-Madison and the state of Wisconsin.
The Economic Impact of Badger Football’s Declining Performance
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Badger Football program serves as a critical revenue engine for the Athletics Department, generating roughly $60 million in annual profits. Yet, its on-field performance has declined sharply, with winning percentages plummeting from over 90% in 2017 to below 50% in 2024—the program’s worst record since 2001. If the poor performance persists, it could reduce the program’s profit by around $20 million per year, threatening other subsidized sports, alumni donations, student applications, research output, and the university’s overall ranking.
Degrees of Deception: UW-Madison Leads Where Earnings Matter Most
Headline rankings got it wrong. UW-Madison crushes in majors that actually pay: #1 in Wisconsin in all 15 fields over $96k, and leads 48 of 72 overall. Majors > myths.
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.