More people working means more goods and services which means a higher standard of living. But the purpose of work is production, it is not an end in itself. In…
If you missed the Center’s “Well-Done Roast of the Well-Seasoned” Mitch Pearlstein two weeks ago you missed a very special event. A sold-out crowd of 300 people came together to…
Al Franken has hit it big in Hollywood before, but arguably never this big. The Minnesota senator popped up on a huge billboard along the 405 freeway just in time…
The heat’s on at Driver and Vehicle Services. Not only over the botched roll-out of the new and not-so-improved high-tech MNLARS vehicle registration system that continues to cause chaos at…
Distrust of the council arises from a governance structure that allows this unelected body to exercise power over 3.5 million metro residents with little to no accountability. The council, reporting…
The Janus case is expected to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in January of 2018 so stay tuned. The case is first and foremost a defense of Free…
The Hennepin County Board will likely rubber stamp a proposal on Tuesday to change the name of Lake Calhoun, rewriting state history at the behest of a relative handful of…
Last Wednesday, the Star Tribune published an editorial about the proposed downtown Dayton’s development project that is worth commenting on. It was titled Back to the future with Dayton’s on…
Minnesotans would have been $3,500 better off in 2016 if the state's workers were as productive as the national average. Why aren't they? We discuss this in our new report, The State…
In 1980, Nobel prize winning economist Milton Friedman turned TV presenter. Over ten episodes, his PBS program Free to Choose explored the workings of the market economy and explained how…
Milton Friedman (1912-2006) was one of the greatest economists of the 20th century. But, along with his academic work, he was a gifted writer of economics for a lay audience.…
Tens of thousands of Minnesotans have been traumatized by a close encounter with the state’s new dysfunctional vehicle licensing system. It’s so bad that Gov. Dayton recently apologized for the…
A round-up of the last week's economic news stories in Minnesota.
Dear Friends, As always, we have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, starting with the fact that we live in America. Our country has delivered more freedom to more…
Contrary to much myth, free markets do have mechanisms to raise earnings. When wage rises are decreed by government, some workers lose out to pay for it. But when those higher wages come…
Despite getting the cold shoulder from the Dayton administration and its enviro activist allies, big-time mining companies continue to signal their renewed interest in northern Minnesota’s treasure trove of mineral…
Minnesota's economy grew more slowly than 43 other states in the second quarter of 2017. Much depends on trends at the national level, but the variations suggest that local factors…
Minnesotans work hard and greater numbers than the national average. But they produce less than the national average. So, while GDP per capita is relatively high, GDP per worker isn't…
A new report by Center of the American Experiment finds Minnesota’s economy continued to be lackluster in 2017 with slightly below average economic growth, lagging productivity and personal income gains…
Solar power developers routinely make the rounds at City Hall, targeting municipalities with the latest green gimmickery. The most popular go-to option these days allows cities to cash in on the…
Politicians passed high state tax rates into law. They told us high taxes are a good thing. They have repeatedly said that tax rates don't affect decisions about location, employment,…
Our Constitution gives the president of United States, whether you like him or not, the power to nominate federal judges. The Senate has the power to advise and consent, which…
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken got called out for bad behavior this week, not once but twice. Accusations that Franken kissed and groped Los Angeles broadcaster Leeann Tweeden grabbed most of…
In 1980, Nobel prize winning economist Milton Friedman turned TV presenter. Over ten episodes, his PBS program Free to Choose explored the workings of the market economy and explained how…