MOST RECENT
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Inflation in the Midwest – August 2026
September 11, 2026 |
Andrzej Wieciorkowski
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Outside the Classroom Door: Where Iowa’s Education Dollars Go
September 1, 2026 |
Andrzej Wieciorkowski
, Isaac Flores
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Economic Impact of the Iowa State Fair 2026
August 24, 2026 |
Andrzej Wieciorkowski
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Our Mission
It's Just Common Sense.
Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Iowa's economy. CSI is at the forefront of important discussions concerning the future of free enterprise in Iowa and aims to have an impact on the issues that matter most to Iowan's.
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Research
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Inflation in the Midwest – August 2026
All the data referenced in this report come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) database.…
Outside the Classroom Door: Where Iowa’s Education Dollars Go
Introduction Public education is the largest single line in Iowa’s state budget. Kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) spending alone accounts…
Economic Impact of the Iowa State Fair 2026
Introduction Held from August 13-23, 2026, the Iowa State Fair welcomed 1,218,834 attendees this year, the most in its 172-year…
Iowa Jobs and Labor Force Update – July 2026
Summary Iowa shed 3,100 nonfarm jobs in July, with government employment falling by 2,100 and private-sector employment falling by 1,000.…
NEWSROOM
CSI report: Midwest inflation eases in July, Iowa households still feel the pinch
Corridor Business Journal
August 18, 2026
PODCASTS
Iowa’s DOGE Prototype and Its Results featuring Ben Murrey
The state of Iowa does not have a Department of Government Efficiency, however, Iowa lawmakers began improving government efficiency through…
Iowa’s Healthcare Landscape featuring Dr. Chelsea Lensing
Iowa’s policymakers, providers, and insurers operate within a state comprised of an aging population and large rural areas. According to…
Caitlin Clarkonomics and the Impact on Iowa featuring Ben Murrey
University of Iowa’s homegrown star, Caitlin Clark, began her college basketball career playing in empty arenas at the height of…
Announcing the Launch of CSI Iowa featuring Joe Murphy and Ben Murrey
In January, CSI made a bold move to kick off 2024 and launched in two new states: Iowa and Oregon.…
