American Experiment on Minnesota's Economy

News Alert: Environmentally Responsible Mining Will Boost Minnesota’s Economy $3.7 Billion a Year and Create 8,500 Jobs

Minnesota Economy Reports

Unearthing Prosperity: How Environmentally Responsible Mining Will Boost Minnesota’s Economy

Written by Isaac Orr on Aug 13 2018

Executive Summary Minnesota’s unique geology makes the state a treasure trove of mineral resources. In 2017, Minnesota mined $3.18 billion in metals and minerals primarily iron ore, sand and gravel,...
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The Cost of Minnesota’s Estate Tax

Written by John Phelan on Feb 22 2018

Executive Summary Minnesota taxes estates more heavily than most states. It is one of only fourteen states plus the District of Columbia to levy an estate tax. Eight of those fourteen states and the D...
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The State of Minnesota’s Economy: 2017: Performance continues to be lackluster

Written by John Phelan and Tori Roloff on Nov 11 2017

Executive Summary Money isn’t everything, but a strong and growing economy is vital for many of the things we take for granted living in Minnesota. Without high incomes we would struggle to cope wit...
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Minnesota Economy Articles

Oxfam is wrong about ‘obscene’ wealth

Posted by Peter Zeller on Jan 27 2017

Last week Oxfam released a sensational report that said eight people have “obscene” wealth, as much as the poorest half of the world’s population. I don’t dispute this statistic, but is inequa...
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How much is ‘Green Bling’ costing your town or city?

Posted by Kim Crockett on Jan 23 2017

Edina’s expensive foray into feel-good environmental projects is a case in point. Sunday’s front page featured a story about how Edina and other suburban communities are installing solar proje...
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Michael Saltsman: Painless? Study on $15 Minneapolis wage doesn’t add up

Posted by Peter Zeller on Oct 14 2016

It draws on research funded by same unions pushing for hike. If a new economic report commissioned by the city of Minneapolis is to be believed, a proposed $15 minimum wage in the city will bring mo...
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Minnesota Economy Posts

What are the prospects for wages in Minnesota?

Posted by John Phelan on Sep 21 2018

Wages have been rising in nominal terms in Minnesota, but inflation has taken much of that increase. Fortunately, if the Federal Reserve does its job, the prospects look better. ...
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Star Tribune Fooled by Cherry-Picked Data: How the Left Demagogues on Climate Change

Posted by Peter Zeller on Sep 20 2018

A recent Star Tribune editorial (“Climate change is real in Minnesota, too,” Sept. 13) compared precipitation for two periods, 1941-70 and 1981-2010, and found that in the Twin Cities it was up 20...
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Metro transit, unable to hire enough drivers at $19.94 an hour, launches an apprentice program

Posted by John Phelan on Sep 20 2018

If Metro Transit can’t hire drivers at $19.94, there is no need at all for a legally mandated minimum wage of $15....
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Teamsters Logo Perfectly Illustrates How Antiquated, Inflexible Unions Have Become

Posted by Isaac Orr on Sep 18 2018

Yesterday, American Experiment held a luncheon celebrating the Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME featuring Mark Janus and Rebecca Friedrichs. The Teamsters Local 320, a labor union...
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Minnesota’s ‘labor shortage’ offers the opportunity for higher wages

Posted by John Phelan on Sep 18 2018

The economy we should want for Minnesota should be one of high investment driving rising wages. It is the economic model Germany had so much success with in the post-war decades. The state's supposed ...
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