Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/work-economy/economy/page/8/)
The debate over the merits of a constitutional amendment making Minnesota a right-to-work (RTW) state is heating up. Proponents of RTW contend that it will make Minnesota more business competitive and produce jobs. Opponents respond that it will lower family incomes. Continue Reading
I was delighted to recently read a profile of a tiny co-op in Norway on Stories.coop, a sit Continue Reading
Dave Barry was a kid when the Soviet craft sputnik was launched, sending out a “bleep” through low orbit all around the world. His teacher intoned to the math class that, “From now on, you kids are going to have to learn a lot more about math and science.” Barry added, “As if it was all our fault.”
The editor of an online publication revealed more than a little frustration. Continue Reading
Minnesota’s economy is improving and the state budget has begun its slow climb toward solvency.That’s the gist of this year’s February Economic Forecast, which predicts a $323 million surplus for the rest of the current two-year budget cycle. But despite the good news, top budget officials warned that the state still has a stack of IOUs it needs to pay.“That anticipated $323 million balance does not stick around long,” Minnesota Management & Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter said Feb. 29.Last December, MMB announced a projected $876 million surplus — the first in nearly five years. That money was used to shore up the state’s cash flow account and budget reserves, both of which had been severely drained during several years of tight budgets.Schowalter said the new surplus will mostly go to pay back K-12 school districts, which the state borrowed from during the course of the last several budget cycles. It’s not a matter of choice; current law requires the K-12 buyback before any new spending can take place. Continue Reading
We can all breathe a sigh of relief…at least for now. The February 2012 Economic Forecast, released on Wednesday morning, revealed that financial conditions continue to improve in Minnesota, resulting in a $323 million surplus for the current two-year budget cycle (FY 2012-13). Continue Reading
The recent structural failure on the Sabo Bridge was disconcerting, though thankfully far from calamitous. In the ensuing discussion, I was surprised—though probably I shouldn’t have been—to see how forthrightly people came forth and criticized the fact that the bridge was constructed with attention to form as well as function. One commenter wondered why we felt the need to spend so much money “to look like Copenhagen,” and another weighed in by suggesting that we need to be “fiscally responsible.” Continue Reading
Those of you who are regular readers know that one of the basic principles of Barataria is that over the long haul there are very few surprises. Great empires come and go, economies hum along and then break, and new technologies add sparkle to our lives – but people are still people. Continue Reading
Tax season is upon us again and the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is encouraging taxpayers to do some legwork before selecting tax preparation help. Doing your research ahead of time may help you avoid getting hit with fines and fees if your return isn’t correct or filed late. Continue Reading
Modern finance has seen many innovations in the last 20 years. The Black-Scholes-Merton theory promised risk-free investment if it was properly hedged, or insured through market based options. That spawned a whole new category of investment in derivatives, or re-selling of insurance that nearly anything might go wrong. Continue Reading