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Iowa's Free Enterprise Report: 2025 Edition

The Free Enterprise Report is a marquis report that provides an objective, non-partisan, fact-based analysis of the Iowa economic landscape and the state’s most pressing issues. The study is a year long undertaking and includes the CSI Economic Performance Index as well as a Free Enterprise Competitiveness Index across eight different policy areas.

Both indices provide an opportunity to look backwards and better understand where Iowa has been and what direction we are moving. We can better understand how we are performing relative to other states and we can equip policy makers, civic and business leaders with the best understanding of how our state is performing, where we are winning, where we are losing and how free enterprise principles can get us back on track.

 

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Education
Regent University Athletic Budgets - Then and Now

In FY26, Iowa’s three regent universities will collectively manage $326 million in athletic department revenues and expenses.

September 18, 2025 Andrzej Wieciorkowski
Jobs & Our Economy
Inflation in the Midwest - August 2025

In August, year-over-year inflation in the Midwest rose to 2.8%, up from 2.6% in July.

September 11, 2025 Andrzej Wieciorkowski
Crime & Public Safety
The Impact of Financial Fraud in Iowa

CSI estimates reported fraud alone will have a $225 million reduction in state GDP on Iowa’s economy in 2025

August 21, 2025 Ben MurreyThomas Young
Education
The Back-to-School Spending Burden in Iowa

Iowa families in 2025 face the lowest financial burden from back-to-school spending in over a decade, relative to their incomes.

August 20, 2025 Wyatt Bailey