Wisconsin's Reforms Boost Border County Growth
Reforms since 2011, including tax cuts, right-to-work, and Act 10, have boosted prosperity compared to Illinois and Minnesota border counties. The state attracts higher-income migrants, but gains face threats from proposed tax hikes. Badger Institute analysis supports market-oriented policies.
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Wisconsin's border counties have seen stronger economic growth since 2011 reforms like tax cuts, right-to-work laws, and Act 10, outpacing neighboring areas in Illinois and Minnesota.[4] Private sector output in Wisconsin's six Illinois-border counties more than doubled from 2010 levels, compared to a 68% rise across the border, with annual growth 1.4 percentage points faster.[4] The state has also drawn higher-income migrants, retaining working-age taxpayers better than its neighbors.[4]
These market-oriented changes reversed prior trends, where Wisconsin border counties lagged Illinois and matched Minnesota.[4] Post-2011, manufacturing growth accelerated 1.3 points faster than Illinois, and non-metro Minnesota-border counties showed a full percentage point edge for Wisconsin.[4] Statewide, real per capita personal income hit $58,273 in 2024, ranking 25th nationally, while counties like Brown reached $20 billion in GDP.[1][3]
For Milwaukee residents, this means more jobs nearby—Kenosha added 1,575 positions recently—despite local declines, and protection from Illinois-style stagnation.[1][4] Attracting affluent workers boosts tax bases without heavy reliance on manufacturing alone.[4]
Proposed tax hikes now threaten these gains, potentially reversing migration trends and slowing prosperity just as data centers promise thousands of construction jobs.[4][9]