Removing Barriers for Nebraskans

The Talent Pipeline: How Nebraska’s Child Care Crisis Accelerates the Rural Brain Drain

If you want to understand the future of Nebraska’s economy, you have to look at who is building it. In our previous post, we mapped the geographic reality of Nebraska’s population: steady growth consolidating along the I-80 corridor, while rural counties face compounding demographic declines. But population size is only half the story. The composition...

By Laura Ebke

Research Note: “Freedom Builds Faster” in Arizona

This is the fourth in a series of Research Notes compiled by our summer intern, Ethan Roth. He has been exploring a number of issues related to regulatory issues that can impact housing availability and costs. In 2023, Arizona’s Goldwater Institute successfully passed “The Permit Freedom Act,” which sought to reduce building permit times and...

By Ethan Roth

Research Note: Increased Housing Density can Increase Local Property Tax Revenue

This is the third in a series of Research Notes written by our summer intern, Ethan Roth. This summer, his work focused on housing issues. This post is a review of a study done by the American Enterprise Institute. Local governments face tradeoffs. Increased housing density (and the associated benefits of lower housing costs and...

By Ethan Roth

In The News

Nebraska Examiner: Pillen rescinds ImagiNE Act tax incentives for new Nebraska data centers News Channel Nebraska: Report calls for swift support to data centers Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska’s projected budget deficit grows to $223 million based on June tax receipts Nebraska Public Media: Will caps lower Nebraska property taxes? Think tank execs weigh Unicameral Update: Office of Regulatory Management Proposed–Platte Testifies Omaha World Herald: Platte Institute’s Vokal participates in School Choice Rally KCMI-FM: KCMI’s “The Coffee Break” talks with Laura Ebke about Regulatory Reform KLIN News Talk Radio: Nebraska Think-Tank Mimics “Doge” with “G.O.A.T Initiative” Package Nebraska Examiner: Lawmakers unveil plan to update regulations, cut red tape Norfolk Daily News: Appreciating licensing reforms passed in 2024

Nebraskanomics: Ricky Feir on Childcare in Nebraska

Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome research specialist with the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, Ricky Feir. During the episode Ricky and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss the impact of childcare to growing states, policies to make childcare more cost effective, and how Nebraska ranks compared to other...

By Jim Vokal

The Reality of Childcare in Nebraska

For Nebraska to reach its full potential, we must become a state where young families and workers want to build their futures. No single policy will make that happen. It requires sound tax policy, sensible regulation, greater freedom for individuals and businesses, attractive jobs, strong schools, and an affordable cost of living. For young families,...

By Ryan Kopsa

Public Choice Theory and Land Use Zoning Regulations

This is the second in a series of Research Notes written by our summer intern, Ethan Roth. Ethan had the opportunity to attend a weekend economics conference earlier this summer and incorporated some of what he’s finding in his housing research into what he learned at the conference. I recently had the opportunity to attend...

By Ethan Roth

Case Study: Papillion and Missing Middle Housing

This is the first in a series of “Research Notes” compiled by our summer intern, Ethan Roth. We have him looking at an assortment of things related to housing in Nebraska. We thought others might be interested in some of the things that he is seeing. These findings will add to our base of knowledge...

By Ethan Roth

How Lincoln Raised Property Taxes Without Raising Rates

Lincoln’s new budget levies the same property tax rate as last year, with Mayor Gaylor Baird boasting that “except for voter-approved stormwater bonds, the city of Lincoln has not increased the property tax rate during my administration.” The statement is accurate—and yet Lincoln homeowners’ property tax bills will increase under the new budget. Same rate,...

By Jared Walczak

Where Nebraska Stands on Childcare Regulations in 2026

Nebraska has a lot to be proud of in the Archbridge Institute’s 2026 State Childcare Regulations Index. Ranking a solid 10th nationwide with a childcare freedom score of 5.48 out of 10, the Cornhusker State stands as a competitive leader in keeping childcare regulations manageable. Within the West North Central region, Nebraska ranks 2nd, demonstrating...

By Laura Ebke

Two Nebraska’s: The Growing Divide Between the Metro and Main Street

In our last blog post on the demographics of Nebraska, we looked at how Nebraska is faring in the regional competition for residents, revealing a concerning trend of domestic out-migration. But when we look strictly at the statewide averages, we miss the most important demographic story happening right in our own backyard. Nebraska is not a...

By Laura Ebke

Nebraskanomics: Mark McHargue on Nebraska’s Agriculture Industry

Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome President of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Mark McHargue. During the episode Mark and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss the impact of agriculture in Nebraska, next steps on property tax reform, and what the future looks like for our state’s largest industry. Listen now on...

By Jim Vokal

Free Markets, Local Control, and the Impact of Minimum Wage Policy on Rural Nebraska

Nebraska hit a major wage milestone in January 2026 when the state’s minimum wage rose to $15 an hour, the final step in a voter-approved 2022 plan. But the debate did not end there. Soon after, the Legislature passed LB 258. The law replaced inflation-based increases with a fixed 1.75% annual increase starting in 2027....

By Laura Ebke

Nebraskanomics: Laura Ebke on Second Chances in Nebraska

Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Platte Institute Senior Fellow Laura Ebke. During the episode Laura and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss a new short documentary from the Platte Institute highlighting the impact of the second chances legislation that was a part of LB 16 passed in 2024. “Second Chance:...

By Jim Vokal