While writing a recent post about how Minnesota’s economic growth is below average, I was struck by the diverging post-COVID-19 growth rates of our neighbors. As Figure 1 shows, from…
In an article summarizing the economic policies of Tim Walz and Scott Jensen — candidates in tomorrow’s gubernatorial election — Dave Orrick writes for the Pioneer Press: The Federal Reserve…
Last week I submitted an op-ed to two of the state’s major opinion platforms correcting some of the egregiously false statements made recently about Minnesota’s economy. Both declined to run…
Last week I submitted an op-ed to two of the state’s major opinion platforms correcting some of the egregiously false statements made recently about Minnesota’s economy. Both declined to run…
I submitted an op-ed to two of the state’s major opinion platforms last week correcting some of the egregiously false statements made recently about Minnesota’s economy. Both declined to run…
In our new report ‘The Cost of Lockdowns and Shutdowns: Part I: Counting the economic costs of government policy responses to COVID-19‘, my colleague Martha Njolomole and I write: In…
In March 2020, COVID-19 hit Minnesota. State and local governments enacted several measures intended to slow the spread of the virus, chief among these being “lockdowns” of individuals and shutdowns…
A couple of weeks ago, I saw a post in a Facebook group for residents of my neighborhood where a desperate mother was asking if anyone knew a store that…
Shortly after moving to Minnesota in 2017, my wife and I went to see a Saint Paul Saints game. Arriving early, we went for a walk around Lowertown. We loved…
Yesterday, I wrote about employment growth in Minnesota since the trough of the COVID-19 recession in April 2020. Despite a period of below average employment growth, we still have a…
Gov. Walz gave his state of the state address Sunday night and in it, noted that, Nationally, we have the fifth lowest unemployment rate among states, the third highest job…
In March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the Consumer Price Index had risen by 7.9% over the previous year, the fastest year-on-year rate since January 1982. Stripping out volatile…
Census Bureau data show that, in 2021, Minnesota lost 13,453 residents to other states, its biggest net loss of domestic migrants to other states in at least 30 years. Data…
A new report from the Minnesota Department of Health lays bare a looming problem for our state’s hospitals: a staffing shortage. The report — Three Key Trends for Minnesota Community…
Minnesota’s unemployment rate has fallen in recent months, but this is entirely due to Minnesotans leaving the labor force. Our state actually ranks 8th in the United States for the…
On Jan. 13, Mayors Melvin Carter of St. Paul and Jacob Frey of Minneapolis announced that, to fight the spread of COVID-19, as of Jan. 19, patrons at restaurants, bars,…
I’ve noted recently how the vaccine and testing regime imposed on Minneapolis by Mayor Jacob Frey last month has hit businesses in the city that were already hurting. I have…
Despite what Mayor Jacob Frey might say, restaurants in Minneapolis do not appear to be coping well with his new vaccine and testing regime. Data on restaurant bookings in the…
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey tweeted last week about how on the first Friday of his new vaccine and testing regime (Jan. 21), his phone had “been flooded with pictures of…
On Jan. 15, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a mandate requiring proof of vaccinations or negative tests for entry into food or drink establishments in the city beginning Jan. 19.…
New Census Bureau population data show that Minnesota’s population grew by just 225 people in 2021. One particularly alarming aspect of this was a loss of 13,453 residents to other…
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, extended previous measures that expanded eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits to workers who are typically ineligible for state UI programs (Pandemic…
In our new Policy Briefing ‘Minnesota should join the national Nurse Licensure Compact,’ we explain why state policymakers should sign our state up to this arrangement. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit,…
In our new Policy Briefing ‘Minnesota must lift its hospital moratorium,’ we explain why state policymakers should repeal this law that restricts hospital capacity for no good reason. This law, which…