Economic development Minn Post: In the new economy, lifelong learning is mandatory WCCO: Enbridge Ready To Resume Line 3 Construction In June Stillwater Gazette: Writer misguided about Line 3 pipeline…
Three years ago, I wrote: In 1988, The Economist magazine ran an article on Ireland titled ‘The poorest of the rich’. The title was well deserved. … But, when The Economist next came to…
The strong economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession is threatened by constraints on the supply side of the economy. Among these, though certainly not the only one, is a labor…
Two weeks ago Gov. Tim Walz and the two top leaders of the state Legislature struck what was grandly termed a ‘global agreement’ on the state budget for next biennium.…
Recently, I had an op-ed in the Star Tribune in which I argued that increased federal unemployment benefits were one factor behind the phenomenon of record numbers of job openings…
State and local taxes and spending The Globe: Column: Budget agreement supports Minnesota families, doesn’t raise taxes The Center Square: Combined capital gains tax rate in Minnesota to hit 53.3%…
A few years ago my wife and I were in Hungary on the trail of her ancestors. To help us, we hired a guide to take us out around the rural…
Back in March, I wrote that the so-called ‘COVID Relief Bill’ could block Minnesota’s next governor and legislature from cutting taxes: Senate amendments to the American Rescue Plan Act prohibit the use of any…
On May 13 2020, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ “Safer at Home” order. The tweet below, from DFL Chair Ken Martin, was typical of the reaction: As…
There was good news for the 120 year-round residents of Minnesota’s Northwest Angle last Friday when the Canadian government announced that residents driving through Canada to the United States will…
Eighty years ago today, Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota. As Bob Dylan, he would go on to become, probably, the most culturally influential Minnesotan in history. Dylan’s…
State and local taxes and spending WCCO: How To Spend Federal COVID Relief Hangs Over Minnesota Legislature Minn Post: Legislature agrees to deal on exempting unemployment, PPP payments from Minnesota…
In January 2020, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, announced that he and his wife the Duchess would be stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family,…
Minnesota’s craft brewers have been an economic success story in the last decade. In 2011, there were 35 craft breweries operating statewide, according to the Brewer’s Association. In 2020, that…
A six year old girl named Aniya died today after being shot in the head in Minneapolis on Monday evening. WCCO reports: She was riding in her family’s car as…
The April jobs report was bad news for the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Across the United States, employers added just 266,000 jobs and the unemployment rate ticked up to 6.1%. This…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Minnesota Legislature faces tough budget talks in week ahead Pioneer Press: Billions in federal stimulus aid will complicate the Legislature’s budget deal-making…
On May 14, 2020, Minneapolis Star Tribune Cartoonist Steve Sack drew a cartoon in response to the conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Governor Tony Evers (D) stay-at-home…
“If you build it, they will come.” This might be sound advice when it comes to supernatural baseball fields, but it is bad advice for government transit. Fox 9 reports:…
The April jobs report, issued on Friday, showed that, across the United States, employers added just 266,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked up to 6.1 percent. This…
Recently, I wrote an op-ed for the Star Tribune that argued that increased unemployment benefits are preventing employers from hiring. Most agree that there is an unusual situation in Minnesota’s…
Economic growth Star Tribune: Recovery is more visible as Q1 results at Minnesota companies emerge Star Tribune: Twin Cities construction activity grows just 1% in March Bemidji Pioneer: Rural Airbnb…
According to the Tax Foundation, Minnesota currently has the fifth highest top rate of state income tax in the United States, 9.85%. The budget currently proposed by the Minnesota House…
As the pandemic passes and national and state economies reopen, what is in store for the economy? Some basic macroeconomics might tell us. Theory The macroeconomics of a pandemic When…