Platte Institute for Economic Research


The Platte Institute for Economic Research is a free market think tank headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. According to the organization, it is "dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Nebraska by advancing sensible, well-researched solutions to state and local economic policy issues." The Institute's research areas include tax and economic policy, education policy, and healthcare policy.

Overview

The organization was established in 2007 by Pete Ricketts, who was later elected governor of Nebraska. As of 2016, its CEO was Jim Vokal.

Issues

Taxes

In 2008, it released a study in partnership with Creighton University that showed Nebraska was the 8th most taxed state in the United States, a fact detrimental to its economy.

Health care

In 2009, it commissioned a study about the cost of health care by Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics.

County government

Also in 2009, the organization released a policy study which recommended reducing the number of Nebraska's counties, which stands at 93, as an administrative cost-saving measure.

Education

In 2010, it commissioned a report on charter schools in Nebraska by the Pacific Research Institute. In 2011, it commissioned another report by the PRI to promote virtual schools in Nebraska.

Government spending

In 2011, the organization argued that proposed changes to the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations would not substantially reduce government spending.