Economist explains flight of people, dollars from Illinois
[July 29, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Outmigration has taken a major toll on the
Illinois economy, according to a new report by Unleash Prosperity.
Using data from the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Census Bureau,
analysts found that Illinois lost 881,012 residents from 2012 to 2022.
Economist Stephen Moore said only New York and California suffered more
domestic outmigration than the Land of Lincoln.
“This is the sad story, same thing. New York and California and Illinois
are just being bled to death,” Moore said.
VoteWithYourFeet.net breaks down the Census Bureau and IRS numbers from
2012 to 2022.
The data shows that Illinois was also one of the biggest losers for
personal income, with a net adjusted gross income loss of
$63,478,115,000 from 2012 to 2022. Only New York and California suffered
heavier losses.
“Some of our friends on the left and some of our Democratic friends like
to say, ‘Well, taxes don’t matter that much. They don’t really have an
impact.’ You’re looking at the impact of taxes right here,” Moore said.
Illinois has among the highest property taxes in the country. The state
also has the the second highest gas tax in the country. Gov. J.B.
Pritzker said Illinois’ record-high $55.2 billion spending plan for the
current fiscal year was the state’s seventh straight balanced budget.
The spending increase included several tax increases and changes in
corporate taxes.
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On a call with members of the media about the Unleash Prosperity
report, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said outmigration means fewer
customers.
“And when those people take their money with them and that money
represents a disproportionate amount of your state’s economic
activity, you’ve got a major challenge,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin said if a state is losing money, then it is moving in the
wrong direction.
“If you are shrinking, you are running a deficit. If you are
growing, you are running a surplus, and its just that simple. That’s
the difference between winning states and losing states,” Youngkin
said.
Florida gained the most population and gained the most personal
income.
“Almost $200 billion over the last ten years in net income has
flowed into that state,” Moore said.
Texas finished second in both categories.
Moore said states like Illinois need to change or die.
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