A tale of two Starbucks Downtown Minneapolis has been a strange place to go for more than a year now. First, COVID-19 hit in March last year. Businesses were closed…
Last Friday, the Minneapolis city council voted on two rent control proposals. The first proposal gives the city council legal authority to enact a rent control policy. Minneapolis residents will…
Economic growth Minn Post: How federal tax hikes would hurt Minnesota businesses Brainerd Dispatch: Reader Opinion: Helping our businesses Minnesota Reformer: Minnesota’s economic recovery in 8 charts Labor market KROC:…
Tobacco taxes hurt low-income Minnesotans, small businesses.
Rochester’s economy is heavily dependent on the healthcare sector. In 2019, Ron Wirtz wrote for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: It’s hard to overstate the influence of Mayo and…
When we talk about the negative effects of inflation, people often bring explan that inflation cannot hurt individuals when it is coupled with rising wages. This is true. During the…
Childcare has been one of the most heavily affected industries by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, providers got a lifelinefrom United States Congress. In Minnesota, most of the funds from the…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Let’s not rush to judgment on Minnesota’s new film and TV production tax credits KROC: Dear Rochester, Aren’t ‘Revenue Enhancements” Just Taxes?…
In an effort to address the housing crisis, the Minneapolis City Council made it legal to build rooming houses. According to the Star Tribune, The City Council last week approved…
In June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that inflation rose 5.4 percent in the last 12 months. Despite the claim that inflation was transitory, prices have continued to…
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, when humans used stone tools in their daily lives, it would have been virtually impossible to imagine a more sophisticated way of life. Yet…
Just weeks ago, Sen. Tina Smith, (D-Minn.) and her Democratic colleagues were cheerleading their big win in collaborating with Major League Baseball’s controversial decision to politicize the All Star game…
Getting out of the way of the economy.
Labor market Pioneer Press: Minnesota lost 600 jobs in June, first decline since 2020 Grand Rapids Herald Review: DEED: Minnesota’s unemployment rate holding steady Fillmore County Journal: Minnesota’s unemployment rate…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: St. Cloud will use federal relief to offset lost revenue KNSI: Minnesota to Finish Fiscal Year 2021 Stronger Than Expected Pioneer Press:…
In July 1921, the United States emerged from a depression. Though the economic statistics of the time were rudimentary by modern standards, the numbers confirm that it had been bad. By…
Minnesota’s craft brewers have been an economic success story over the last decade. According to the Brewer’s Association, there were 35 craft breweries operating statewide in 2011; in 2020, that…
Minnesota is struggling to create new businesses. In 2019, the state ranked 49th among the 50 states and D.C. for its rate of entrepreneurship per capita. And in the last…
When I wrote in the Star Tribune in April that ‘enhanced’ unemployment benefits were one factor explaining the puzzle of record job openings coexisting with elevated levels of unemployment, not…
CNBC reported the following today: People working minimum wage jobs full-time cannot afford a two-bedroom apartment in any state in the country, the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual “Out…
On July 9, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to increase competition in the U.S. economy. Citing heavy consolidation, Biden emphasized that his executive orders will save Americans from…
State and local taxes and spending Associated Press: Walz celebrates budget as House leaders credit ‘win-wins’ Southernminn.com: Legislature passes final budget bills Star Tribune: Minnesota’s new budget includes major spending…
June 27 saw the passing of economist Steven Horwitz at the age of 57. His loss will be felt by all who value not just human freedom and dignity, but…
Last weekend, the Star Tribune reported: This was going to be the big comeback summer for Minnesota’s tourism business. Freed from the limits placed on them last year during the…