It’s not the time for happy talk about Michigan’s economy
I did a post after the Michigan presidential primary about how the results sent a clear message that Michigan was not back. Which is the story we have been told over and over by our political and business leaders for the past six years. That post is obviously as relevant––if not more so––after the general […]
Books to understand today’s economy
We are going to feature more in these posts and our newsletter (sign up here) recommended readings that have helped us understand constantly changing economic realities, the skills that are required to do well in the context of those realities and what we as individuals, families and communities can do to succeed in that context. […]
Men not adjusting to economic realities
As we recently explored the decline in 25-54 year old males labor force participation is a growing and serious problem. An excellent report from the President’s Council of Economic Advisors provides an overview of the challenge. That report shows that the decline started a half century ago. That it is occurring at all ages. That it […]
Kansas’ failed tax cut experiment
Amazing Bloomberg column entitled Kansas Ends Bad Economic News by Not Reporting It. Its written by Barry Ritholtz, founder of Ritholtz Wealth Management and formerly chief executive and director of equity research at FusionIQ, a quantitative research firm. Turns out that Kansas has canceled its quarterly reports on the state’s economy. Why? As Ritholtz reports: “The problem was […]
Kasich on economic realities
In an Business Insider interview Ohio Governor Johh Kasich did something almost no politician does today. He clearly states that we can’t go back to a factory-driven economy. Business Insiders writes: But the notion that states such as Ohio are dependent on manufacturing jobs returning is one with which he vehemently disagrees. “Manufacturing is still […]
Lessons from the ITT Tech collapse
CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities Daniel Hurley’s blog The Closure of ITT Tech and the Crash-Landing of the For-Profit College Industry is worth checking out. It provides a good overview of what led to the closing and more broadly the systemic problems of for-profit colleges, particularly those which focus on occupation training in […]
Talent, not low taxes, delivers prosperity
Terrific Inc. column by University of Michigan Ross Business School professor Jeff DeGraff entitled It’s the Talent Stupid. DeGraff makes the case that low tax states and regions do not have the best economies. Rather it is those who have the best talent. We are now living in an economy where talent is the asset that […]
Cars as a service
One of the new realities is that we are now a service-providing rather than a goods-producing dominant economy. And that high-paying work is now knowledge-based rather than factory-based. These are realities that politics/policy can’t change. Those individuals and communities that align with, rather than resist, will do best. Lyft co-founder John Zimmer in his Third […]
Autonomous vehicles and 3D printed cars too?
Its clear that autonomous vehicles are coming. Its a question of when, not if. And that means radical change in the industry that drives Michigan’s economy; in how we live our lives; and how our communities are structured. For an insightful and fascinating take on how this will all play out check out The Third […]
Candidates can’t deliver more manufacturing jobs
Terrific New York Times magazine article entitled Why Are Politicians So Obsessed With Manufacturing? It details the reality that no matter what candidates from both parties promise manufacturing jobs are not coming back. (Edward McClelland explores this topic specifically about Michigan in a recent New York Times op ed. He cites our “The New Path to Prosperity: Lessons […]