Missouri’s Reading Crisis: 42% of Fourth-Graders Can Barely Read

Cory Koedel on Dec 5, 2025

Corporate Welfare

Webster Groves, economic development sales tax, subsidies, corporate welfare, cronyism>

Webster Groves Should Not Institute an Economic Development Sales Tax

There is a long list of really dumb taxes in Missouri. The St. Louis and Kansas City earnings taxes are […]

Data center, Festus, data center construction, data center subsidies, consumer-regulated electricity>

The Data Center Debate Continues in Festus

Amidst great debate, a city commission in Festus recently moved forward with plans for a new data center development. Festus […]

Downtown Kansas City, creative class urbanism, municipal growth, Kansas City>

State and Local Government

New Observations Confirm Skepticism of Creative Class Urbanism

In a recent Vox column, Rachel Cohen Booth argues that many American cities pursued a “creative‑class” strategy in the 2000s […]

State and Local Government

Kansas City Homicide Rate May Be National Leader for 2025

A story in the November 20 issue of The Washington Post examines homicide rates in large cities across the United […]

Missouri state capitol, Missouri education leaders, education leadership, Missouri State Board of Education>

Watch: Help Build Missouri’s Legacy of Liberty

As 2025 comes to an end, we reflect on the progress made this year, from expanding MOScholars and strengthening property […]

The Missouri School Rankings Project

Click here to see where your schools ranks.

Events

Donate

Stay Connected

Read. Watch. Listen.

Giving Tuesday>

This Giving Tuesday, Support Liberty

On this Giving Tuesday, we hope you will stand with us as we work to build a more prosperous future for all […]

It’s Time to Hold DESE Accountable

A version of the following commentary appeared in the Columbia Missourian. For years, the Show-Me Institute has scrutinized the Missouri Department […]

State and Local Government

What Should St. Louis County Do about Its Budget Shortfall?

The two largest counties in Missouri are both having difficulties. Over in Jackson County, the assessment system is still a […]

Eliminating Missouri’s Income Tax, Subsidies for Gas Stations, and Early Literacy Reform

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join host Zach Lawhorn to outline what a responsible plan to eliminate Missouri’s […]

Missouri state capitol, state spending, municipal debt, Truth in Accounting, Reason Foundation>

State and Local Government

New National Debt Analysis Offers Fresh Lens for Missouri’s Fiscal Picture

Earlier this year, I wrote about the annual rating by Truth in Accounting (TIA), which found that Missouri earned a […]

What the Government Shutdown Was Really About with Elias Tsapelas

Susan Pendergrass is joined by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, to explain […]

Support Liberty in Missouri

Support the Show-Me Institute. Click here to learn how.

Support the Show-Me-Institute

Reprint permission for Show-Me Institute publications and commentaries is hereby granted, provided that proper credit is given to the author. We request, but do not require, that those who reprint our material notify us of publication for our records: [email protected].

Mission Statement

Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy.