Newly elected Saint Paul mayor Melvin Carter is seeking to copy Minneapolis in its job killing $15 minimum wage. But declaring what the wage will be from the comfort of…
Super Bowl LII is in the history books now and it was a lot of fun. But, looking at the cost in the cold light of day, was it worth…
UPDATE (2/3/18): Minnesota companies big and small continue to pass along the financial benefits of the federal tax cuts. Best Buy just announced the biggest across the board federal tax…
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota
Americans are on the move to economically freer states. This means Minnesota, with its high taxes and regulations, is losing out.
Minnesota's policymakers impose lower business tax rates on craft brewers to stimulate their growth. Why not apply this logic across our state's economy?
Burger chain Red Robin responds to minimum wage increases by cutting low skilled staff. This is exactly what theory and evidence suggests would happen, so why do policymakers ignore it?
Wages are driven by worker productivity. Minimum wages don't boost productivity so they don't boost wages, all they do is outlaw low productivity jobs.
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota
“3M, in the groove as global economy thrives, raises outlook on tax-law gains.” The accelerating global economy lifted 3M Co.’s sales and profits past expectations, and executives on Thursday raised…
Capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than anything else in human history. Countries which remain poor need more of it, not less. And, to become rich themselves they…
At our first quarterly lunch forum of 2018 we will discuss a topic that impacts us every day: Taxes. The recent tax reform law is just beginning to take effect,…
Minnesota's policymakers use high tax rates on cigarettes to discourage smoking. Won't the high tax rates they levy on labor discourage work?
UPDATE (1/25/18): The list of Minnesota companies sharing the financial benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with their employees and communities just got longer with the addition of…
California's policymakers seem to recognize that high tax rates incentivize individuals to move to jurisdictions with lower rates. But, for some reason, they think that if they impose higher rates…
We wrote about Amazon’s plans for a massive second corporate headquarters, and the Twin Cities’ bid to be considered for its location, here, here, here and here. The last linked…
As demand for Minnesotan labor continues to expand relative to supply, wages are starting to rise. To maintain increases in income per capita in the future, we need to focus…
This article appeared January 20, 2018 in the West Sherburne Tribune. The recession that hit the U.S a decade ago may be over, but Minnesota’s economy hasn’t kept up with…
From California comes the latest news of the loony left. The federal government’s tax reform, which dramatically reduces the U.S.’s formerly highest-in-the-world corporate income tax rate, has already sparked a…
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota
"The economy, stupid", was famously one of the three talking points in Bill Clinton's presidential campaign back in 1992. Elections aren't always focused on the economy, but Minnesota's 2018 gubernatorial election…
Reforming excessive state-based occupational licensing requirement is the issue that has a U of M labor professor sounding like a disciple of Milton Friedman and expressing strong support for legislation…
We do. Sunday’s Pioneer Press had a long article about refugees in Minnesota that featured an admirable family: the Sivasundarams, who have come to Minnesota from Sri Lanka, by way…
The Twin Cities are out of the race to attract Amazon's new HQ. When the company announces the winning bid and their reasoning later this year, it should give Minnesota's…