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OUR FOCUS IS ON THE FACTS.

We believe sound fiscal and economic research is essential to uphold Arizona's economic vitality, future, and individual opportunity.  

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.

 

Research
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Education
Echoes in the Halls Arizona School Districts’ Growing Problem with Empty Buildings and Empty Buses

The market value of the excess space held by Arizona district schools is $12.2B, enough to cover 10 years of capital expenditures or save $1B annually in maintenance and operations if divested.

August 07, 2025 Glenn Farley
Housing & Our Community
Housing Affordability in Arizona Q1 2025 Update

Arizona’s counties and cities have made only marginal progress in addressing their housing shortages. Although new housing makes up a larger share of the supply in today’s market, it’s clear based on the sl

July 08, 2025 Zachary Milne
Education
ESA’s in Arizona Q2 2025 Report

CSI expects the ESA program to grow to 91,500 students next year and enroll between 86,500 and 89,500 this Fiscal Year (as of May 2025).

June 05, 2025 Glenn Farley
Housing & Our Community
Building Faster; Building Smarter. Data-Driven Lessons from Arizona’s Permit Freedom Act

Obtaining permission to build a home is a long and onerous process. Planning starts long before the first permit application, and the consequences of early-stage decisions are reflected in those permit appl

Jobs & Our Economy
Arizona's Job Killers: Breaking Down the Economic Threats

Get ready for a hard-hitting dive into the policies set to crush Arizona's job market in 2024.

August 20, 2024 Katie Ratlief
Crime & Public Safety
Can Arizona Conquer the Fentanyl Crisis?

With nearly 150 lives lost daily to fentanyl overdoses across the U.S., no state is immune.

August 05, 2024 Katie Ratlief
Ballot Issues
A Breakdown of the 2024 Arizona Legislative Session featuring Katie Ratlief and Wayne Schutsky

Joining Chairman and Host Earl Wright to unpack these issues are Katie Ratlief, Executive Director of Common Sense Institute, and Wayne Schutsky, a field correspondent with KJZZ. The three unpack the detail

May 14, 2024 Katie Ratlief
State Budget
Understanding and Solving Arizona's Budget Deficit featuring Danny Seiden and Glenn Farley

Host and National Chairman of CSI Earl Wright welcomes President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry Danny Seiden and CSI Arizona's Director of Policy and Research Glenn Farley to discuss th

January 17, 2024 Glenn Farley