My great-aunt smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and died in her mid-80s. Does this prove that smoking isn’t harmful? Of course not. Longevity is affected by many things.…
State and local taxes and spending Minnesota Reformer: Cheap insulin, expanded tax credits and other benefits now available for undocumented Minnesotans Winona Post: Winona County OKs first tax increase for…
During the last legislative session, the Minnesota House and Senate managed to pass a bill so wacky that it was too much even for Governor Walz. The bill required that…
When I have pointed out the record numbers of Minnesotans fleeing the state in recent years, one of the standard responses has been: …something like “breaking news: old people are leaving…
Labor market KROX: Minnesota labor force grows for four straight months KRWC: Wright County Unemployment Up in June, New High for Available Labor Force in Nearly Three Years KPVI: Metros…
Labor market Fergus Now: Job Growth Continues Across Minnesota Detroit Lakes Tribune: More Minnesotans have joined the workforce Star Tribune: New group will advise Gov. Tim Walz on what to…
It is ludicrous enough already that people are seriously touting Minnesota as the fifth-best state for business, but the situation is about to get even worse with the imposition of…
Arguing that payday loans are exploitative, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law restricting interest rates charged on such loans. But as it turns out, that has had some negative consequences.…
The Twin Cities have an affordable housing problem as the result of excessive taxes, fees, and regulations that effectively make it illegal to build affordable housing there. Occasionally, when I…
State and local taxes and spending KROC: Minnesota Fiscal Year Revenues Beat Forecast by a Half Billion $ KSTP: St. Paul voters to mull property, sales tax increases over next…
The 2023 legislative session saw a torrent of mostly bad policy passed into law. Gov. Walz, among others, called the session “Transformational” and I would not disagree. As I wrote…
Yesterday I wrote about how CNBC’s much heralded rankings of “America’s Top States for Business” actually told you very little that was useful about which American states really are top…
Minnesota’s media is always on the lookout for good news stories about the state, which might explain the coverage given to our ranking of 5th in CNBC’s annual “America’s Top…
It should be common sense, especially to our policymakers, that raising the price of one product or banning it induces consumers to shift to a cheaper alternative. Unfortunately, it isn’t.…
State and local taxes and spending Kare 11: Oops: A multi-million dollar mistake needs to be fixed in Minnesota’s tax law Minn Post: Error in tax bill would cost Minnesota…
Price floors and ceilings — Minimum wages and rent controls Public policymakers often intervene in economies using “price floors,” such as government-mandated minimum wages, or “price ceilings,” like rent controls.…
Minnesotans might have been surprised yesterday to see headlines such as “Minnesota ranks No. 5 among ‘America’s Top States for Business’ by CNBC,” “Minnesota knocks Texas out of Top 5…
Growing the economy is the best way to end poverty.
It’s too late to do anything to lure back the owners of a proposed $440 million wood processing mill that pulled out of the northern Minnesota project earlier this year…
On Sunday morning, I appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss a New York judge’s decision to temporarily block a planned city-ordered pay hike for food delivery workers. The New York…
State and local taxes and spending Alexandria Echo Press: An Echo Press Editorial: In defense of tax increases… Winona Post: County: Referendum on sales tax for jail next fall Pioneer…
Not long ago, policymakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were enamored of something called Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). This theory starts with a banal observation — that a government that issues the currency its debts…
Back in May, Reuters ran an article asking: “Why is UK inflation so high and how do other countries compare?” The authors offered various possible explanations for high inflation in…
State and local taxes and spending Twin Cities Business: Paying Your Fair Share! KSTP: Question on St. Paul ballot will ask for sales tax increase to fund road, bridge maintenance…