A recent study shows Illinois’ lack of a state budget is not only hurting social services, but ultimately hurts the state’s economy.

According to “The American Health Care Paradox,” if Illinois decision makers ultimately fail to enact a General Fund budget for FY2016 — which ends in less than two months — state spending on social services will end up anywhere from $400 million to $500 million less in FY2016 than last year.

While this lack of funding harms Illinois’ vulnerable populations by denying the support they need to lead better, healthier lives, the state’s economy will suffer too.

Here’s why. The State Journal-Register quotes the study, saying consumer spending represents 67 to 70 percent of all economic activity. The best consumers are low- and middle-income families, who generally spend most or all of their earnings.

But when state government cuts spending, what’s really getting cut is either the jobs or the wages paid to the workers who actually provide services to the public. For the most part, those workers are middle-income.

When they lose jobs or have their wages cut, they spend less in the consumer economy, generating private sector job loss.

Based on multipliers developed by Mark Zandi of Moody’s, the bond rating agency, the $400 million to $500 million in estimated social service spending cuts for FY2016 will cause the loss of some 5,000-plus jobs statewide.

Those job losses won’t be felt in higher income communities, says the study, but in communities that are low on the income ladder.