Warning! Your browser is extremely outdated and not web standards compliant.
Your browsing experience would greatly improve by upgrading to a modern browser.

Cole Anderson

Deputy Director of Policy & Research

For media inquiries, please contact cinamon@csinstituteus.org

Cole Anderson is the Deputy Director of Policy & Research with Common Sense Institute. He joined CSI in June of 2022.
 
Before joining CSI, Cole attended the University of Denver where he double majored in Economics and Public Policy, fostering his passion for pressing policy issues. His work at CSI has covered a variety of topics including crime, healthcare, foster care, and workforce issues among other topics.
 
Cole is an avid skier and enjoys playing tennis in the warmer weather. Growing up in Minnesota, Cole is a diehard Minnesota sports fan and hopes to one day watch his favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, win a Superbowl.
Expert's Work
View All
Jobs & Our Economy
Inflation in Colorado – July 2025 Update

Between May and July, Denver’s price level rose by 0.43%, below the national average of 0.49%.

August 12, 2025 Cole AndersonErik Gamm
Education
Discipline, Absenteeism, and Achievement: A Data-Driven Look at Colorado’s Largest School Districts

In 2022, Colorado’s legislature passed HB22-1376, requiring that schools submit student-level discipline data, including behavior violations and the consequences students received. The 2023–24 school year m

August 07, 2025 Cole AndersonJudah Weir
Jobs & Our Economy
The Child Care Opportunity Index

Child care represents an increasingly large portion of parents’ household income in America. Despite the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ benchmark that affordable child care is not greater tha

Jobs & Our Economy
Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update – June 2025 Update

During June, Colorado lost 1,500 total nonfarm jobs. The state’s private sector lost 1,600 jobs, while government employment grew by 100 jobs.

Common Sense Institute’s Cole Anderson discusses Denver’s Inflation Numbers
KOA Colorado

Cole Anderson discusses Denver's inflation numbers.

April 11, 2024 Cole Anderson
Jobs & Our Economy
Sandiaga Uno Targets Taylor Swift Concert in Indonesia for 'Swiftnomics' Boost
Jakarta Globe

Taylor Swift's two Denver Eras shows contributed an estimated $140 million (Rp 2.18 trillion) to Colorado's GDP.

February 22, 2024 Andy ArchuletaCole Anderson
Inflation in metro Denver took a big drop at end of 2023
The Denver Post

Index has been deflating since December, but rents remain stubbornly high.

February 15, 2024 Cole Anderson
Inflation update: Denver prices up but rising slower
The Colorado Sun

"That inflation is outpacing wage growth means that the difference between the two is shrinking, which is eating people’s savings” Anderson said.

December 16, 2023 Cole Anderson
Housing & Our Community
Mile High Report Card: Denver's State of the City

What is the state of our city? How is Mayor Mike Johnston addressing homelessness? Will housing prices continue to soar unaddressed? Are migrants top of mind for the administration?

July 29, 2024 Cole AndersonDJ Summers
Housing & Our Community
Denver's Multifront Battle: War on Fentanyl, Migrant Influx, and Property Tax Hikes

Welcome to the pilot episode of Colorado Clarity! Join hosts DJ Summers and Cole Anderson from the Common Sense Institute as they dive into the most pressing policy issues impacting Colorado today.

July 17, 2024 Cole AndersonDJ Summers