Proponents of minimum wage laws often claim that the laws are responsible for increasing incomes of low-wage workers. In that case, employers are assumed to have significant market power, while…
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that inflation was 0.8 percent in February and 7.9 percent over the year (for the Midwest, the figures were 0.9 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively). This…
High prices are not problems in themselves; rather, they are symptoms of underlying problems which lead demand to outstrip supply. Digging into these underlying problems and their causes requires some…
The effects of minimum wage hikes on the workforce are well documented. According to research evidence, minimum wage hikes lead to job losses and may also cause employers to reduce…
State and local taxes and spending Owatonna People’s Press: Support the Drink Local Economic Recovery Act Duluth News Tribune: ‘Send the money back’: All Minnesota tax filers could see rate…
Earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released figures showing that, over the previous year, prices had risen by 7.5 percent, the fastest year-on-year rate since February 1982. Because…
Minnesota’s craft brewers have been an economic success story over the last decade. From 2011 to 2020, Brewer’s Association data shows the number of craft breweries increased by 520% statewide,…
Economic development Duluth News Tribune: Local View: Mining isn’t Minnesota’s future; natural resources are Finance & Commerce: Rochester-area fund looks to spur development Star Tribune: Counterpoint: We must welcome investment…
Americans are dying. More specifically, non-college-educated, middle-aged white Americans are dying at higher rates compared to older generations of non-college-educated white Americans when they were at the same age, as…
Minnesota leaders often boast about the state’s high business survival rate. Indeed, Minnesota ranks well when it comes to how many of its new businesses survive. According to the Bureau…
We at the Center write a lot about taxes and their impact on the state’s economy. We write less often about the impact of regulations. As we noted in our…
Willmar Radio carried the following story yesterday: Triple-A reports the average price for a gallon gas in Minnesota has jumped 10 cents in the last week. That’s the biggest increase…
Minnesota’s unemployment rate has fallen in recent months, but this is entirely due to Minnesotans leaving the labor force. Our state actually ranks 8th in the United States for the…
State and local taxes and spending KNSI: Lawmakers Visit St. Cloud In Renewed Push for Frontline Worker Bonus Pay Duluth News Tribune: Minnesota senators OK $2.7B plan to replenish jobless…
Restaurant and bar owners in St. Paul, already struggling to recover from COVID-19 and government responses to it, were dealt another blow last month when Mayor Melvin Carter imposed a…
Last week, I noted that in January, Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) was running at its highest year over year rate since February 1982. This is the inflation figure most familiar…
St. Paul’s rent control ballot is yet to come into effect, but the residents of the city are already seeing the consequences of the terrible policy. According to Pioneer Press,…
State and local taxes and spending St. Cloud Times: Don’t forget: Vote on 1.5% food and beverage tax in Sartell on Tuesday Brainerd Dispatch: Ruud works to phase out Social…
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that inflation was 0.6 percent in January and 7.5 percent over the year (the increase was 7.9 percent in the Midwest). This is the fastest…
Proponents of licensing — and other forms of regulation –– proclaim that customers usually lack sufficient information to measure the quality or safety of products. In this case, licensing signals a…
Economic development KIMT3: Rochester business gets state innovation grant State and local taxes and spending Alexandria Echo Press: Minnesota’s record $7.75 billion budget surplus is taking center stage as lawmakers…
In the year to December, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 7 percent, its fastest rate of annual increase since June 1982. “Core CPI” — which excludes more volatile food…
Despite what Mayor Jacob Frey might say, restaurants in Minneapolis do not appear to be coping well with his new vaccine and testing regime. Data on restaurant bookings in the…
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey tweeted last week about how on the first Friday of his new vaccine and testing regime (Jan. 21), his phone had “been flooded with pictures of…