The Illinois economy is growing slower than the nation as a whole.

Since the 2008 downturn, a strong agricultural economy kept some job growth going, and even with the current softening of the ag economy, Dr. Geoffrey (Jeffrey) Hewing, head of the Economics Outlook Laboratory at the Univ. of Illinois says rural job growth continues to outpace urban job growth in the state.

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Even if taxes go up, says Hewing, that is less significant than the uncertainty we have because of the standoff in Springfield.

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Hewing adds all the talk about the state’s poor business climate, and financial struggles impact business and job growth, but by far the biggest deterrent to economic growth in Illinois is lack of a roadmap to solving the budget issue.