Why the Great Recession was even worse than you thought
And now — with interest rates at historic lows — we’re missing a golden opportunity to make important long-term investments.
Macro, Micro, Minnesota
Macro, Micro, Minnesota analyzes the big stories in the news through the lens of economics. It is written by College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University professor Louis D. Johnston.
Yet more evidence that trying to prop up industries won’t work
A new paper estimates that the net number of jobs lost in the United States from 1999 to 2011 due to import competition is far bigger than anyone thought.
Steel dumping decision might be good politics in Minnesota, but it’s bad economics
The decision is only a victory for those who think international trade is a zero-sum game.
The government releasing ‘prototype statistics of GDP by state’ is thrilling news. Really.
For the first time, economists are able to see what is happening quarter-by-quarter in the individual states, giving a more nuanced view of the economy.
100 years after it opened, why the Panama Canal still matters
Why it was built. How it makes money. And how a Minnesota connection was instrumental in its construction.
GOP candidates say Minnesota should be more like Kansas and Wisconsin. The numbers say otherwise
When it comes to economic growth, job creation and employment, Minnesota is more than holding its own.
Double-checking the data: McFadden overstates unemployment in northern Minnesota
Seasonal effects are quite strong, but the annual data show that unemployment in Bemidji, as on the Iron Range, rose during the recession and has now returned to its 2007 level.
Are mega events in the Twin Cities worth it?
Economists — at least those not associated with host committees — find that economic impact studies overestimate the benefits of events like the All-Star Game and the Super Bowl.
What to do about steel dumping? There are better responses than imposing tariffs
Rather than reacting to each individual economic problem as it comes up, let’s think systematically about how we can build a better labor market for everyone.
Railroads, Kenwood and metro corridors: Tensions go back a long, long time
How did we come to be fighting over this route? The answer is rooted in how metropolitan economies developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hobby Lobby ruling: The crux of the problem is employer-provided health insurance
How did we get in this mess to begin with? As usual in American public policy, it’s a combination of historical accident and a chronic fear of centralized power.
Indexing the minimum wage is a good idea — by any measure
In resolving the dispute, there’s no sense in getting hung up over how to measure inflation.
Goodbye, Ben Bernanke: We can’t wait to hear your story
Who knows how long it will take to sort through the seismic economic events of the past eight years?
How to replenish both social capital and good will toward MN Orchestra, Target
The Minnesota Orchestra could stage a series of free concerts throughout the state — paid for by Target.
Minneapolis Fed should expand — not limit — ties with University of Minnesota
Collaboration between the Minneapolis Fed and the university has been a fruitful model for other universities and Federal Reserve banks.
Latest Nobel prize reflects how economics works — and what economists don’t know
Economists still don’t understand how financial markets work — and this shouldn’t bother us.
Looking beyond Yellen: How to build a strong bench at the Fed
Naming Janet Yellen to the the Federal Reserve Board is a beginning, but there are at least three, and perhaps four, other positions coming open.
Economics behind orchestra dispute: slouching toward the Lake Wobegon Symphony
The orchestra’s governing body probably is betting on economic rules that could result in costs declining and revenues increasing.
Why is the U.S. labor force declining and struggling?
Economists have several theories, and I have a hunch that we’re going through something we’ve been through before.
How to keep the Bakken oil boom from becoming a bursting bubble
North Dakota and Minnesota must act wisely to avoid the “resource curse.”
