On Tuesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard SF 4324, a bill that would revise childcare licensing standards in Minnesota. I testified in favor of several provisions in…
Last week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) belatedly released its migration data for 2022-2023. The data showed a net loss of 7,561 individuals from Minnesota to other parts of the United…
Economic growth KNSI: In search of affordability: How Minnesota ranks for cost of living Fox 9: Economic impact of ICE surge in Minnesota KTTC: New data suggests living in Rochester…
Approvals are 24% above the forecast rate A month ago, citing data over its first four weeks of operation, I noted that approvals for Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave…
On this day in 1776, Adam Smith published “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” It was one of the most revolutionary products of a…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Minnesota’s looming budget deficit now is a surplus but uncertainty remains Minnesota Reformer: Minnesota’s budget outlook improves CBS News: Minnesota’s latest economic…
Economic freedom and its (conservative) discontents Did the Industrial Revolution impoverish workers? Was Progressive-era regulation necessary to tame the extremes of capitalism? Was the Great Depression a failure of capitalism?…
Trade Minn Post: D.C. Memo: Scotus upends Trump tariffs that have roiled Minnesota farmers and state’s trade with Canada Star Tribune: Minnesotans hoping Supreme Court ruling brings swift relief for…
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared war on poverty, asserting that additional efforts were necessary to “strike down all the barriers” that kept many from taking advantage of increasing…
State and local taxes and spending Mesabi Tribune: School officials beat the drum on seasonal recreation property taxes The Ely Echo: More lodging tax drama West Central Tribune: Minnesota Opinion:…
Last week, the Star Tribune published an op ed on how to grow Minnesota’s economy. It was pretty wide of the mark, in my view, so I submitted a response.…
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) — formerly part of the Department of Human Services (DHS) — presented its new proposed childcare licensing standards before the House…
Economic growth Fox 9: Small business owners address ICE economic impact KSTP: Uptown businesses dealing with economic impact due to ICE presence, but help is on the way Sahan Journal:…
Last week, I noted that in its first two weeks of operation, Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave (PFML) scheme was seeing a rate of approvals that was 54% higher…
State and local taxes and spending Rochester Post Bulletin: Olmsted County administrator: Local tax increases are not sustainable KTTC: Pine Island City Council approves financial incentives for data center project…
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2026 issue of Thinking Minnesota magazine. Progressives’ fixation with inequality could undermine the U.S. economy In 1995, American Experiment published a groundbreaking report…
Labor market Albert Lea Tribune: Minnesota jobs stable over the month and grew over the year KRFO: Understanding Minnesota’s December Job Losses And Gains Austin Daily Herald: Latest DEED report…
The Census Bureau released its estimates today for state and national populations in 2025. Minnesota’s population now stands at an official 5,830,405. That is up 33,000 — or 0.6% —…
The Trump administration wants to make housing affordable. This is commendable. Unfortunately, among the litany of proposals, solutions that truly address what ails the housing market are missing. Allowing buyers…
Last week, I asked why Minnesota’s per capita income growth has lagged that of the United States since 2014. Using a technique called “growth accounting,” which breaks down the growth…
State and local taxes and spending Alexandria Echo Press: An Echo Press Editorial: Which tax do you hate the most? KROC: Minnesota Tax Collections Beat Forecast at End of 2025…
When Gov. Walz announced that he was ending his campaign for reelection, local media began to assess his legacy. The Minnesota Reformer carried an article titled “Gov. Tim Walz’s Minnesota…
Back in November, I noted that since 2014, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita growth in Minnesota has ranked 38th out of 50 states. Indeed, as Figure 1 shows, Minnesota’s…
State and local taxes and spending KNSI: More electric vehicles means less gas tax revenue: How this impacts Minnesota’s budget Alpha News: Coalition of Minnesota mayors calling for end to…