John Phelan

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

The state government forecasts that, in coming years, spending growth will outpace economic growth. This means a growing share of the state's economy swallowed up by government.

John Phelan, Economist at Center of the American Experiment, released the following statement in response to Minnesota’s February Budget and Economic Forecast: “With a $1 billion surplus and state tax…

A surplus of $1.0 billion poses the same questions as a surplus of $1.5 billion does. Should lawmakers spend it? Leave it with the state's citizens? Hold fire until the…

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

Taxes are incentives. Change them, and you'll change behavior. Sen. Warren's assumption that 'the rich' will make no response to her wealth tax is completely unrealistic. 

In terms of revenue the politicians in Saint Paul have never had it so good. Why, then, are they pleading poverty and planning to take more of their citizen’s money…

If policymakers are going to jack up housing costs with ever more onerous environmental regulations, they should stop bleating about a lack of 'affordable housing'.

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

If 'the rich' are going to pay for everything then somebody had better be rich.

The cons of the West 7th streetcar are that it will be expensive, disrupt the neighborhood for three years while it is built, serve fewer people, lengthen the journey, and…

Lower refunds are a result of more accurate withholding through the year. This has meant fewer and smaller interest free loans to the government, which is a good thing.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2019 Issue of Thinking Minnesota, now the second largest magazine in Minnesota. To receive a free trial issue, send your name and address to [email protected]. When…

Belief in minimum wage hikes is about as close to belief in Milton Friedman's mythical 'free lunch' as you will find. They seem to offer the prospect of benefits for…

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

Taxes are incentives. If we tax something, we get less of it. Indeed, this is what so-called 'sin taxes' are based on. High rates of taxation on income from investment -…

Minnesota has taxes above the national average and Research & Development spending below. New research suggests that the two might be linked.

If you want to help low paid workers its simple; you just vote in politicians who promise to make it more expensive to buy their labor and employers will just…

Improved productivity is the main source of per capita income growth. The two main drivers of that are education and Research & Development. Our state performs below average in both.…

Minnesota's education rankings are generally a source of pride for the state. A new report suggests that we ought to think again.

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

If you take a walk down to the Szabadság tér which runs around the parliament building in Budapest you'll see a statue of Ronald Reagan, who gave his farewell address…

***SPOILER ALERT***

Q) Why do we need to spend up to $2 billion on a streetcar from Union Depot to the airport and the Mall of America when the 54 bus already…