In this report, researchers at the University of Illinois’ Project for Middle Class Renewal examine differences in access to quality jobs in Illinois by gender, education, and ethnicity. Using our Employment Quality in Illinois 2.0 (EQ-IL 2.0) survey data of over 5,000 workers across Illinois, we created a measure of job quality that utilizes 30 […]
Our researchers at the University of Illinois Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) have developed a comprehensive approach to identify the factors that determine Employment Quality in Illinois (EQ-IL 2.0). It develops ten dimensions, each with sub-components, including both subjective and objective measures.Following up on EQ-Il 1.0, we use a large survey collected in 2023 of 5,600 employed […]
A Child Tax Credit is a credit for each child or dependent that households can claim on tax returns. The federal Child Tax Credit covers children under 17 years old and was temporarily expanded in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act. The expanded Child Tax Credit increased the amount of the credit, included 17-year-olds, […]
Illinois is at a fiscal crossroads. The state’s General Fund has run a budget deficit for each of the past 22 years—a deficit primarily driven by the lack of revenue growth1. And while many like to blame Illinois’ fiscal woes on profligate spending on services, the data simply does not support that position. In fact, […]
This report draws on the U.S. Census Household Pulse survey to illustrate important diversity in reported CTC-receipt by race, gender, income, family structure, and marital status among households who would be potentially eligible for CTC. We also summarize findings from in-depth interviews and focus groups with parents/caregivers, outreach workers, community organization stakeholders, and tax preparers […]
Researchers at the University of Illinois Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR), in partnership with Illinois Future of Work Taskforce, have developed an indicator of the quality of jobs throughout the state – Employment Quality of Illinois (EQ-IL). The effort was spurred by a partnership with Illinois’ Future of Work Taskforce. This indicator is based […]
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which passed in early 2021, provided critical immediate relief to millions of Americans who have experienced economic hardship due to the economic fallout of the COVID-10 global pandemic. Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress has failed to act upon any broader economic and policy changes outlined in President Biden’s Build Back […]
Executive Summary: The Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), passed in early 2021, is designed to respond to the immediate economic needs of the millions of Americans who have been impacted by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. This report considers one aspect of the ARP: the expansion of the Child Tax Credit […]
The tax code is a powerful tool used to address a myriad of policy goals. Unfortunately, instead of narrowing income and wealth gaps, various tax provisions continue to reinforce historical gender and racial biases in the tax code. Some advocates argue that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the refundable portion of the Child […]