One thing renewable energy advocates almost never talk about is that it is impossible to build a wind turbine without fossil fuels. Diesel fuel is used by mining trucks, freighters,…
A newly launched study by the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty at Arizona State University has ranked Minneapolis 40th among 115 cities in North America on the overall…
Heartland’s Jim Lakely takes over as host this week for Episode 216 of the In The Tank Podcast and interviews Ben Boychuk, managing editor of the conservative journal American Greatness…
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.
The government should not be playing a role in helping union labor officials collect their money. Unions, like other non-charitable organizations, need to be responsible for collecting their own dues.
I often hear that there is a massive demand for wind and solar power among utility customers, but if this were true, one would expect participation in programs like Xcel…
Kiplinger has released its 2019 ranking of the Least Tax-Friendly States for Retirees. Minnesota comes in fifth
I have recently joined the Center of the American Experiment as an economist to contribute to the Center’s research and analysis of Minnesota’s economy as well as various policy issues.…
School funding debates have led to several pretty costly spending proposals from the 2020 presidential candidate pool. There are three big concerns Americans need to consider before they jump on…
Beneath the surface Minnesota's economy shows inherent weakness.
Between 2010 and 2018, the US economy grew by 19.5% while Minnesota’s economy grew by 17.2%. Our state's growth matched that of the United States generally from 2010, but diverged…
High electricity prices are deadly. That’s the conclusion reached by a new paper produced by the National Bureau Of Economic Research (NBER), which investigated the relationship between electricity prices and…
Olmsted County residents owe nearly $1.5 million in uncollected fees for services they received this year. But as 2019 winds down the chances of collecting most of those funds appears…
Today, school districts that had their levy pass took to social media to share the news. But what was disturbing was how the news was shared—children were being used as…
Germany is often lauded as an example that Minnesota should follow by renewable energy supporters, but it turns out Minnesota isn’t the only part of the world that may have…
The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union decided to “explore” an endorsement process for Bernie Sanders back in September and is now working to “engage” members on this process before…
I’ve written about why Governor Walz’s plan to impose California’s fuel economy standards on Minnesota is not a good idea, namely because it will increase costs, reduce safety, and result…
The purpose of tax is to raise money to pay for government functions. On this score, Minnesota's estate tax is a loser and it should be repealed.
In Minnesota, groceries are fully exempt from the state’s sales tax base, but candy is treated differently than groceries and is therefore not included in the exemption.
Residents of Freeborn County in southern Minnesota could be facing more than a 5 percent hike in their property tax levy next year. But a portion of the tax hike–roughly…
The news broke last Friday that Xcel Energy is proposing a massive 15.2 percent increase in their electricity prices to cover the company’s desire to spend $466 million over the…
This op ed appeared in the Duluth News Tribune on November 1st, 2019 In a column on Twin Metals’ planned sulfide ore copper mine (Local View: “Arrowhead better served without…
The following story originally appeared at thedad.com: Halloween is a beloved holiday for children across the nation, but this Halloween will bring a little less joy than normal, as the…
Heartland’s Donald Kendal and Justin Haskins present episode 215 of the In The Tank Podcast. This weekly podcast features discussions that explore the work of think tanks across the country.…