Prices have been on the rise for all sorts of goods. Turns out, this trend might persist for a long time. About a week ago, the Wall Street Journal reported…
A month ago, there were more jobs open in Midwest than there were unemployed workers to fill them. “Midwest” might be a slightly awkward geographic entity to analyze but you…
Economic growth KPVI: Minnesota ranks 5th worst in new economic outlook analysis State and local taxes and spending Sun This Week: Burnsville will study ‘participatory budgeting’ Pioneer Press: With divided…
Earlier today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published employment numbers for June. And according to the data, Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 850,000 in June, and the unemployment…
Mississippi just became the latest state to pass a universal occupational licensing bill. This means that 12 states now recognize licenses from other states, making it easier and less burdensome…
When Chipotle raised its minimum wage to $15, it also hiked food prices by 4 percent. “It made sense in this scenario to invest in our employees and get these…
I have commented a few times recently on the puzzle of elevated numbers of unemployed Minnesotans at a time when there are large numbers of jobs available. This puzzle becomes…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Minnesota Legislature agrees to nearly $1 billion in tax cuts The Center Square: Minnesota liquor taxes fourteenth-highest in nation MPR News: Tax…
As data from the Minnesota Department of Economic Development (DEED) shows, Minnesota’s employment situation is improving. In May, the unemployment rate reached 4.0 percent, down from 4.1 percent in April.…
In other news, a journal has retracted a study that claimed that vaping kills as many as 650,000 people a year. While minor, this presents a victory against the rising…
Minnesota’s businesses are struggling to find workers. Some are cutting back their hours. Some are offering higher wages. But, of these latter, who is going to cover the higher wages?…
A version of this op ed appeared in the Duluth News Tribune on June 21, 2021 In March, the median price of a home sale in Duluth hit $217,000, up…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Latest tax collection report reveals the state of Minnesota is pretty much rolling in cash Bemidji Pioneer: Commentary: State needs to fix…
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released the employment numbers for Minnesota. According to the new data, in May, Minnesota added 14,800 jobs, and the Labor force…
In April, I had an op-ed in the Star Tribune titled: ‘A new unemployment problem: it pays too well.’ In it, I noted the phenomenon of elevated levels of unemployment…
A new report by EPI is calling for a $15 minimum wage in order to help childcare workers, but that would also raise childcare costs for parents.
When you point out the phenomenon of lots of job openings coexisting with elevated numbers of people unemployed, a common response is, “Well, they should just pay them more.” Well,…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Is a state government shutdown looming in Minnesota? Naaaaah. Minnesota Reformer: Lawmakers poised to miss self-imposed deadline on $52 billion budget Southernminn.com:…
The minimum wage in Minneapolis is set to increase beginning July 1st.
I wasn’t a fan of President Trump’s trade policy. In April 2018, I wrote: ‘Trump’s tariffs could spark trade war that will cost many Americans‘; in May 2019, I wrote:…
For much of the past year, a good number of office workers have been working from home as a measure to fight COVID-19. As the threat recedes, will people go…
On Monday morning, representatives of Minnesota’s craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries gathered at the state capitol to urge legislators to pass the ‘Drink Local Economic Recovery Package’, SF 1176 and…
Recently I wrote about the Panelház of Budapest, dwellings which were mass produced in parts by the communist government of Hungary and assembled onsite. I didn’t write about these grim…
Economic development Minn Post: In the new economy, lifelong learning is mandatory WCCO: Enbridge Ready To Resume Line 3 Construction In June Stillwater Gazette: Writer misguided about Line 3 pipeline…