MOST RECENT
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Saving Futures: Expanding College Access Through Financial Literacy, Behavioral Policy, and Investment Infrastructure
October 9, 2026 |
Madalyn Paltzik
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Analyzing Student Proficiency and Instructional Spending: A Voter’s Guide to Proposition 320 and Public-School Spending in Arizona
October 1, 2026 |
Zachary Milne
, Andrew Smith
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Arizona Jobs and Labor Force Update
September 18, 2026 |
Fernando Dollero
, Zachary Milne
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Our Mission
It's Just Common Sense.
CSI’s mission is to examine the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws so that Arizonans are educated and informed on issues impacting their lives. CSI employs rigorous research techniques and dynamic modeling to evaluate the potential impact of these measures on the Arizona economy and individual opportunity.
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Research
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Saving Futures: Expanding College Access Through Financial Literacy, Behavioral Policy, and Investment Infrastructure
ABSTRACT This paper argues that the central failure of American college savings policy is not simply that many families save…
Analyzing Student Proficiency and Instructional Spending: A Voter’s Guide to Proposition 320 and Public-School Spending in Arizona
Introduction On November 3, Arizona voters will decide whether to adopt Proposition 320, a measure designed to improve the state’s…
Arizona Jobs and Labor Force Update
Introduction Arizona lost 4,100 non-farm jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis month-over-month (MOM) in August (-0.13%), ranking 43rd among all…
Inflation in Arizona- August 2026 Update
Introduction The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Phoenix MSA rose 2.5% year-over-year (YOY) in August – down from the recent 3.0% peak in April and 2.8% reading in June. The energy category of the CPI rose 19.1% YOY in August – an increase…
NEWSROOM
Common Sense Institute: Spending, not revenue, to blame for fiscal shortfall
Chamberbusinessnews
June 12, 2025
PODCASTS
Homelessness in America— Rethinking Homelessness Policy
Listen to the episode on your preferred platform or WATCH on YouTube.
Arizona’s Urban Desert Miracle featuring Glenn Farley
Rapid economic and population growth in Arizona’s dry central valley has created tremendous wealth and opportunity. Rapid development also has…
Trends in Arizona’s K-12 Education Enrollment
District school closures have dominated the headlines in recent weeks. Why is this the case? And what are the differences…
Reforming Arizona’s Homeless Service Ecosystem featuring Julie Katsel and Ted Maxwell
Earlier this year, the Common Sense Institute released a thorough review of homelessness spending at all levels – non-profits, state…
EVENTS
Coffee & Common Sense: Arizona’s 2026 Election Debrief
Join Common Sense Institute and Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at Coffee and Common Sense Institute. Details on speakers coming…
