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Chris Brown

Vice President of Policy & Research

For media inquiries, please contact cinamon@csinstituteus.org

Chris Brown is the Vice President of Policy and Research with the Common Sense Institute. Chris joined CSI in 2017 and leads the research efforts to provide insightful, accurate and actionable information on the implications of public policy issues throughout the state of Colorado.

With an extensive background in economics and public policy, Chris has made significant contributions to understanding complex economic issues within Colorado and beyond. Highlights of his work include reports on the economic effects of major ballot measures and legislation including, Proposition HH on property tax reform, Proposition 118 on the creation of a state paid leave program, predictive scheduling legislation, the Colorado option health plan among many more. Prior to joining CSI, Chris spent close to a decade working for REMI (Regional Economic Models Inc), establishing their Washington D.C. office.

Chris lives in Parker with his wife, three crazy boys and boxer Diesel. When not chasing around his kids he relishes a quiet Saturday morning watching English Premier League soccer and drinking coffee.

Expert's Work
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Housing & Our Community
2023 Domestic Migration Data

Colorado is no longer a top ten state for migration. Colorado ranked 16th for domestic + natural population gain in 2023 out of 30 that had a net increase. It ranked in the top ten through the 2010s, includ

October 22, 2024 Chris Brown
Jobs & Our Economy
Weighing Minimum Wage Increases Across Boulder County

By 2030, for every one person estimated to be drawn out of poverty from new minimum wage policies in Colorado, between 4 and 12 people would lose a job.

September 18, 2024 Chris Brown
Ballot Issues
Ballot Guide 2024

The Common Sense Institute's 2024 Ballot Guide highlights the potential economic and fiscal impacts of key ballot measures in Colorado.

Housing & Our Community
Unlocking Housing Affordability in Denver

Is Inclusionary Zoning Solving or Perpetuating the Problem?

September 03, 2024 Peter LiFariChris Brown
Jobs & Our Economy
Study weighs potential minimum wage increases across Boulder County
Colorado Biz

Restaurants would be among the most challenged, Common Sense Institute analysis concludes.

September 19, 2024 Chris Brown
Housing & Our Community
Denver housing ordinance is limiting building permits, CSI study says
Colorado Biz

A Denver housing ordinance dubbed Expanding Housing Affordability is actually limiting new permits by one-third.

September 06, 2024 Peter LiFariChris Brown
Energy & Our Environment
Banning Oil and Gas in Colorado
Petro Nerds

PetroNerds special focuses on the proposed bill and ban on oil and gas permits in Colorado by 2030, an effective ban on all new oil and gas drilling.

March 20, 2024 Trisha CurtisChris Brown
Housing & Our Community
Denver homeownership costs have grown 3 times rate of wages: report
KDVR

Owning a home in Colorado is not nearly as affordable as it used to be.

February 01, 2024 Chris Brown
Jobs & Our Economy
Understanding Inflation: How much misery is inflation causing?

In this episode, host DJ Summers sits down with Chris Brown, Vice President of Policy & Research at the Common Sense Institute, to break down the multi-year inflationary cycle that’s become a central issue

October 21, 2024 Chris BrownDJ Summers