Research

Common Sense Institute (CSI) strives to develop insightful and educational research on the most critical debates facing Colorado. CSI employs rigorous research techniques and dynamic modeling to evaluate the potential impact of issues on the Colorado economy and individual opportunity. CSI provides elected officials, policy makers and Coloradans with facts and data-driven analysis to help make informed decisions about the biggest issues facing the state. CSI research has also sparked innovative policy solutions and bipartisan, solutions-based discussion about the future of Colorado.

Education

Energy & Our Environment

Healthcare

Housing & Our Community

Infrastructure

Jobs & Our Economy

State Budget

Taxes & Fees

The Decline of Condominium Construction in Colorado: Addressing Litigation Reform to Alleviate the Housing Affordability Crisis

2023 Research, 2024 Research, Featured Research, Housing & Our Community, Recent Research, Research

Condo development has grinded to a near halt in Colorado.

Inflation in Colorado – November 2023

2023 Research, Featured Research, Inflation Reports, Recent Research, Research

Between September and November, prices in Denver fell by .34%. This was the first two-month period of deflation since September of last year.

Colorado’s Free Enterprise Report – 2024 Edition

2023 Research, Featured Research, Research

The Free Enterprise Report is a marquis report that provides an objective, non-partisan, fact-based analysis of the Colorado economic landscape and the state’s most pressing issues.

Colorado Budget: Then and Now

2023 Research, Featured Research, Research, State Budget

Colorado Budget Then and Now illuminates the changes in Colorado state budget appropriations over the last twenty years. The figures included in the report provide a summary overview of revenue allocated to state departments through the budgeting process. The trends in appropriations reflect the shifting priorities brought on as a direct result of the laws and budgets passed each legislative session.

EXPLORE CSI RESEARCH

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Older posts

Colorado Housing Competitiveness Index

April 25, 2024 • 7 min read

Colorado’s housing affordability gap widens! Since 2011, it now takes over double the hours to afford the average mortgage, outpacing wage growth.

Tags: competitiveness, Competitiveness Index, DJ Summers, Housing Competitiveness Index, Housing Report, Steven Byers

Denver Migrants Spending and the City Budget

April 19, 2024 • 2 min read

Denver’s proposed budget cuts to fund its migrants response take about $17 million away from public safety spending.

Tags: costs of migrants, denver, Denver Migrants, migrants

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update – March 2024 Update

• 3 min read

Colorado’s unemployment rate has increased every month since the beginning of 2024, growing from 3.3% in December of 2023 to 3.7% in March of this year, a growth of 12%.

Tags: colorado jobs, Colorado Jobs Report, jobs, Jobs Report

The Limitations of House Bill 24-1363 on Colorado Charter Schools Why Muzzle High Performing Schools Now?

April 11, 2024 • 4 min read

According to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), The CDE mentioned that “if all charter schools were organized within a single district, it would be the largest school district in the state,” exemplifying the vast presence of charter schools in Colorado.

Tags: Charter, charter schools, Jimena Sanchez, kelly caufield, schools

Inflation in Colorado – March 2024 Update

April 10, 2024 • 2 min read

Fuels and utility prices have increased by 10% between March ‘23 and March ‘24 while the U.S. average was only 3.3%.

Tags: denver, inflation, Metro Denver, prices

Colorado Property Tax Primer: Where do property taxes stand and where are they going?

April 9, 2024 • 7 min read

Many Coloradans pay higher than average taxes, even adjusted for income. Despite effective tax rates being lower than average, the rapid increase in home values in Colorado over the past decade has made an impact.

Tags: property taxes, taxes, Taxes and Fees

Colorado’s Healthy Meals for All Proves Unhealthy for the State Budget

April 2, 2024 • 5 min read

After just one year, the “Healthy School Meals for All” program is expected to reach CSI’s budget deficit projection
5 years early.

Tags: Healthy Meals For All, school meals

Colorado Government Budget Competitiveness Index

March 27, 2024 • 11 min read

While Colorado ranks lower on state and local government employment as a percentage of population and debt service as a share of tax revenue, it ranks in the top 10 of state and local government spending as a percentage of GDP.

Tags: budget, Budget Competitiveness Index, colorado, Colorado Government Budget, Competitiveness Index

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update – February 2024 Update

March 22, 2024 • 3 min read

Colorado’s unemployment rate increased to 3.5% in February and is now at its highest rate since February of 2022.

Tags: colorado jobs, Colorado Jobs Report, Jobs Report

The Metro-Wide Accumulated Costs of Migrants

March 20, 2024 • 2 min read

As of March 18, just under 1,400 migrants were staying in Denver shelters, down from a height of 5,210 in January. Occupancy of city shelters has not been this low since late September 2023.

Tags: costs of migrants, Denver Migrants, migrants

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