COVID-19 Related Research

As the fight against COVID-19 changes our daily lives, the Wisconsin Policy Forum maintains its commitment to providing the highest level of nonpartisan public policy research on state and local issues in Wisconsin. We have shifted our research agenda to produce several crisis-related reports.

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Impartial Research For Informed Debate

The Wisconsin Policy Forum is a nonpartisan, independent statewide policy research organization with offices in Milwaukee and Madison. Our mission is to provide informed, nonpartisan analysis of critical policy issues affecting local governments, school districts, and the state of Wisconsin. Our research and facilitation activities encourage elected officials and community leaders to find effective, data-driven solutions to pressing policy challenges, and promote productive discussion among the public and private sectors.

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Upcoming Events

Featured Research

Nov

17

2021 Salute to Local Government

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Italian Community Center
631 E Chicago St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
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Featured Research

It is widely known that the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for restaurants and bars in Wisconsin, but the extent of the damage to those businesses and their employees is less clear. Our analysis of employment and sales tax revenue data shows strong recovery in the sector, thanks in part to support provided through federal relief funds. Yet, employment in the sector remains down by roughly 9%, its recovery in Wisconsin lags that of other industries and the nation, and a surge in new coronavirus cases suggests continued challenges ahead.

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Northwestern Mutual

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Event Recap

Forum Friday: Back-to-School Challenges and Opportunities

For the September 2021 installment of our virtual event series, Forum Friday, we focused on the array of issues facing Wisconsin school districts as students return to the classroom after the unprecedented events of the last 18 months. Helping us explore these and other back-to-school issues were our Forum FridayRead More

In The News

Alcohol tax revenues surge during pandemic

Sun Prairie StarRead More

In The News

Wisconsin communities face police funding challenges

Spectrum NewsRead More