1.0/2.0 politics in a 3.0 economy
The two terrific articles on manufacturing in America I wrote about in my last post dramatically demonstrate how futile it is to try to recreate a mass middle class in a factory-based economy. Those days are gone. Factory work is no longer a source of long-term job growth. Nor of mass middle class jobs. As […]
The reality of factory work in America
Two terrific articles describe the present and future of factory work in America. The first from the New York Times on Apple’s production system. The second a more comprehensive look at American manufacturing from the Atlantic. Both have the same bottom line: employment in American factories is not now or in the future a major […]
Quick updates
Some interesting press coverage of topics I have written about recently. Worth reading. On the topic of welcoming to all (see my pledge of allegiance post) the Governor’s signing of the domestic partner benefit ban was a big step backwards. Two columns – one by Brian Dickerson in the Free Press and other by Tommy […]
Let the marketplace set higher education prices
Economics 101: The marketplace sets prices that balance the interests of those buying and selling a product; price controls don’t work; consumers are rational. Seems like our politicians and the media either didn’t take or forgot Economics 101 when it comes to public higher education. State policy makers have moved from a bad idea, jawboning […]
Progress on public investments?
Finally some good news on the public investment front. As you know, our research has led us to believe that public investments in preparing, retaining and attracting talent are the key to positioning Michigan and its citizens for prosperity in a flattening world. What has been so frustrating for years is that business and political […]
Lessons to learn: President Clinton
Former President Clinton has written a new book: Back to Work: Why We Need a Smart Government for a Strong Economy. Worth reading. The book basically covers two topics. His policy agenda for how the federal government should both get the economy growing again and deal with its structural deficit. And the case for why active […]
Politics vs. economics again
After the 2010 election I wrote two posts on how disconnected our politics are from the new economic realities of a flattening world. (You can find those posts here and here.) In an insightful column New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman writes the same disconnect occurred during the Iowa caucus campaign. In a column entitled […]
Lessons to learn: California billonaires
A recent LA Times story is headlined “California billionaires plan to put big tax hike on the ballot.” You read that right: private sector leaders pushing for a tax increase! What do they want to do with the increased funds? Invest in education and local government. Why more funding for education – both k-12 and […]
Lessons to learn: Mayor Bloomberg
Happy New Year! I want to start the year by writing about those who provide lessons and/or ideas on the agenda that can allow us to move towards Governor Snyder’s goal of a Michigan 3.0. Seems like I spend a lot of time in these posts criticizing what Michigan is doing. Rather than complaining, I […]