Is there hope for cutting through gridlock? John Brandl shows us a way
Brandl’s starting point for public policy was that “only competition and community can dependably channel the efforts of free people to public purposes.”
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.
Four more charts pointing to some deep problems with the labor market for people without a college degree
The situation is better for women without a college degree than for men. But that just raises some larger questions about the labor market as a whole.
Four charts showing that the labor market is utterly broken for men without a college degree
The data clearly shows something policy makers must come to terms with: that the labor market for men with less than a college education is not working.
Enjoy the Internet, GPS or student loans? Then you should celebrate Sputnik Day
Fifty-seven years later, the moon landing is only the most conspicuous result of Sputnik’s launch.
No, Minnesota is not ‘dead last’ in the Midwest in job growth
Like so many things having to do with the economy, the picture looks different depending on which data you consult.
Minneapolis is better than Detroit, Fargo is booming — and other things I learned from the most recent GDP estimates
Though this round of government data prompts more questions than answers when it comes to understanding what’s really going on with Minnesota’s economy.
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.
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.
