News

Howard Baetjer explains the “demand” half of “supply and demand.”

Building on the concept of opportunity cost, Howard Baetjer explains how specialization and trade make us richer.

All economic behavior occurs at the margin. The decisions of economic actors are “bit by bit” decisions, not all-or-nothing ones.

Did you know that Minnesota has the highest population of wolves of any state in the country? The growing population has led to efforts from Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson to…

Howard Baetjer explains scarcity, the problem that any given good of finite supply can only ever be put to some of the many ends for which we might use it,…

Howard Baetjer outlines some basic concepts essential to understanding economics, including the natures of wealth and economic value.

Copper, nickel, and cobalt mining is a controversial topic in Minnesota, but is it more controversial than child labor? Like it or not, we all use these metals for nearly…

There is no problem with big businesses per se. If they have grown and stayed big by producing goods and services that consumers want to purchase, they are to be…

Companies throughout Australia are reconsidering whether they will indeed bring manufacturing jobs back from China after experiencing enormous increases in electricity prices as a result of the closure of an…

A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.

Like most manufacturers, the Uponor company in Apple Valley is confronting a skilled labor shortage. In October, the company—which is engaged in plastic pipe manufacturing—tackled this challenge in an exciting…

It turns out that labor demand curves do slope downwards after all.

Today sees a public hearing on a proposed $15 minimum wage in Saint Paul. Reports suggest that the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) has enough votes on the City Council to exempt…

The Minneapolis Fed’s most recent Beige Book report on current business conditions shows that Minnesota's labor market - like that nationwide - is a seller's market right now. That's a good thing…

Rising interest in skilled technical positions shows efforts to counter the image of manufacturing, construction and similar fields as dirty and dangerous work environments are succeeding. But it is important…

Last week's blockbuster jobs report showed that sound economic policy can enable strong growth and reveal the bankruptcy of notions of stagnation.

MPR recently ran a piece describing the issue of mining may have on the upcoming elections. The story cites our research, and then goes on to describe the positions politicians…

Steve Kalina, a veteran of more than two decades in manufacturing, is the still-new executive director of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association, having started in August.  He’s also (I’m guessing…

Giovanetti recognizes that saving for retirement is very hard for most people and addresses the problem of social security being a terrible deal for most Americans---the negative return for many…

A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.

Center of the American Experiment congratulates PolyMet Mining Corp. on receiving a Permit to Mine for its NorthMet copper-nickel project from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The proposed PolyMet mine is the most…

Large businesses in Saint Paul are already paying their workers at least $15ph and raising the city's minimum wage has always been about raising costs for the city's small businesses.…

This morning, I appeared on Kerri Miller's show on MPR and was asked how long businesses could get away with citing uncertainty as a reason for their lack of investment.…

If we can keep a growing economy with rising demand for labor and increased wages, the 'labor shortage' might be a nice problem to have.