The dollar amount of tax revenue seems far more likely to be a function of the size of the state's economy than of its tax rates. This means that if…
This op-ed appeared May 21, 2018 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. There’s an old saying where I’m from: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The…
New data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that between 2000 and 2016, job growth was strongest on a North West to South East axis along the Mississippi and…
The passage of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December, the biggest overhaul of the tax code in more than three decades, offered Minnesota an opportunity to look…
Despite what the Economic Policy Institute might claim, the data show that since Governors Dayton and Walker took office, Minnesota's economic growth has lagged Wisconsin's.
Preliminary data for 2017 from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that, once again, Minnesota's economic growth lagged that of the nation. This continues a trend going back to at…
American Experiment Economist John Phelan argues for mining jobs and against jerks.
Minnesota's corporate tax rate is the third highest in the United States. For the sake of future economic growth, we should hope that Rep. Joe McDonald's bill proposing a modest…
Between 2000 and 2017, increased transfer payments accounted for 48% of the increase in Minnesota's per capita personal income. This trend-also seen at the national level-is unsustainable.
In his final state of the state address last week, Gov. Dayton sought to take credit for Minnesota's economic achievements. But the evidence suggests that the credit really belongs to…
January's data saw the continuation of a trend. Minnesota's job growth is being driven by relatively low productivity jobs.
There is no shortage of economic data in the United States. If you want to look at it yourself to become better informed, where do you start? The Bureau of…
The high productivity jobs provided by mining are vital to Minnesota's economic future. A way can be found to square this in northern Minnesota without ruining the environment. With increased…
Minnesota has low unemployment but creates jobs at a lower rate than the nation generally. And the jobs it does generate have been in lower productivity sectors of the economy.
Minnesotans would have been $3,500 better off in 2016 if the state's workers were as productive as the national average. Why aren't they? We discuss this in our new report, The State…
Minnesota's economy grew more slowly than 43 other states in the second quarter of 2017. Much depends on trends at the national level, but the variations suggest that local factors…
Minnesotans work hard and greater numbers than the national average. But they produce less than the national average. So, while GDP per capita is relatively high, GDP per worker isn't…
Minnesotans have a higher level of personal income than Americans generally. But in recent years the main contributor to its increase has been rising transfer payments. And, odd as it…
As Paul Krugman writes, "Productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run it is almost everything." Productivity drives earnings and data showing that Minnesota's workers are less productive than the national…
In the 21st century, Minnesota's economic growth has lagged that of the United States generally. Is this just because our state is already above average and is bound to grow…
If people want to vote for higher taxes that is one thing. But if they do, they should pay them and not expect others to pick up the tab. By…
Mining is vital to Minnesota's economic future. A way can be found to square this in northern Minnesota without ruining the environment. Our state needs it, whatever the snobs might…
Yesterday, Gov. Dayton said something that we at the Center have been arguing for a long time; “I’ve always believed environmental protection and economic growth can be complementary objectives”. Everybody…
Minnesota added 6,400 jobs in September. But, more importantly, a number of the the new jobs were higher up the value chain.