Have the bosses of Target, Wal Mart, and now Amazon, have all suddenly been struck with a bout of generosity? Or that they are reacting as you would expect when…
In 2017, an increased number of American workers quite their jobs to look for a better offer elsewhere. This reflects increased optimism about the economy from American workers and bodes…
Taxes are too high in our state. In the forthcoming edition of our magazine, Thinking Minnesota, we set out some proposals for getting Minnesota's taxes back to a competitive level.…
Last week, the Star Tribune gave Seattle City Councillor Kshama Sawant space to comment on Saint Paul's proposed $15 minimum wage. Sadly for the Strib's readers, Ms Sawant took the…
According to Milton Friedman, one of the great economists of the 20th century, "One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their…
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.
Considering the likely origin of the cobalt in your phone, will you drop it in the bin? Or will you support environmentally sustainable mining in northern Minnesota? That is the…
Minnesota ranks 43rd on the Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate index, up three places from last year. This is a step in the right direction. But there is still…
Minnesota's supposed 'labor shortage' represents an opportunity for the state's workers to find higher wages. These increases will be sustainable, driven, as they are, by underlying economic forces, and not…
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.
Wages have been rising in nominal terms in Minnesota, but inflation has taken much of that increase. Fortunately, if the Federal Reserve does its job, the prospects look better.
If Metro Transit can’t hire drivers at $19.94, there is no need at all for a legally mandated minimum wage of $15.
"The only restaurants that are going to be able to survive this (minimum wage hike without a tip credit) are big corporate chains. Small restaurants just can’t afford it" says…
The economy we should want for Minnesota should be one of high investment driving rising wages. It is the economic model Germany had so much success with in the post-war…
In July, Saint Paul's Mayor Melvin Carter cancelled the city's Independence Day fireworks citing lack of funds. But the Star Tribune reports that he turned down private offers to fund…
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.
In the economic border battle, Minnesota is getting edged by Wisconsin. We need to heed this lesson and enact policies from a pro-growth playbook. And we want to see the…
We all want to see higher wages. They are the best way of guaranteeing a good standard of living. But, to be sustainable, they need to come from higher productivity,…
When you make the argument for mining in Minnesota, a common response is that it would threaten the region's booming tourism industry. Mining jobs aren't needed, so the argument goes,…
A recent paper by two Harvard economists argued that the economic benefits of mining would be outweighed by its negative impact on the recreational industry and on in-migration. But yet another of…
In a bad year for Minnesota sports, the Saint Paul Saints have made the American Association Championship for the first time since 2011.
A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.
As John Phelan noted last night, he and I spent yesterday in Washington, D.C., where I testified before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress on the impact of the Tax…
As government in America has grown bigger and assumed power over more and more of our lives, people on both sides of the political divide either look to it to…