Triumph of the city: the data
As we explored in my last post, Edward Glaeser in his terrific new book, Triumph of the City, compellingly makes the case that vibrant central cities that anchor big metros are the geographic engines of economic growth across the planet, not just here in the US. They are the most productive places and the places […]
Triumph of the City
In my post on ineffective green subsidies I featured a column by Harvard’s Edward Glaeser. To me the key take away of that column is his claim that: In the long run, America will be richer than China only by having smarter citizens, and that requires the skills that come from schools and cities, not […]
Effective, efficient and expensive
The Detroit Regional Chamber featured Geoffrey Canada at the recent Mackinac Policy Conference. A well deserved recognition for the CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone. The organization provides cradle to college services for all, predominantly low-income, children who live in a 97 block zone of Harlem. Canada has earned his recognition by getting results. Children […]
American workers as the priority III
More evidence that American companies are doing well and American workers are not. This time from an insightful study by Andrew Sum and colleagues at the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. Its title says it all: The “Jobless and Wageless” Recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-2009. Highly recommended! What the researchers found is […]
The future auto factory?
Two interesting pieces on the future of auto factories. One from Bill Vlasic for the New York Times on the factory that will build the new small Chevy Sonic here in Michigan. The other on the amazing new VW Transparent Factory in downtown Dresden, Germany on You Tube . Both are worth checking out. The Vlasic […]
Explaining Michigan’s lost decade II
Received a thoughtful comment from former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins to my post that Michigan’s lost decade can be explained by the fortunes of the domestic auto industry, not state tax and spending policies. Tom’s main point is that state leadership could have made – but didn’t – a difference by preparing Michigan […]
A decade of state spending restraint
Back to the must read new report from the Senate Fiscal Agency on state taxes and spending over the last decade or so. As you know, conventional wisdom is that the new Administration and Legislature took over from a high tax/high spending regime. Turns out to be complete baloney. The facts as laid out in […]
Welcoming West Michigan?
As readers of our work know, we believe that culture trump policy. In a world where economic growth is driven by knowledge and innovation, the most successful regions are those which highly value learning, an entrepreneurial spirit and being welcoming to all. The evidence is that Michigan is having trouble with all three. More evidence of […]
College: a better investment than stocks or home ownership
I’m frequently asked about the effects of rising and high tuition on college attainment. I answer in two parts. The first is obvious, of course, high tuition to some degree depresses college attendance. In a recent article AP’s Kathy Barks Hoffman provides an excellent overview of how declining state aid has been a major contributor […]
The value of a college degree
Public conversation these days is filled with talk of the declining value of getting a college education. Don’t believe it! The earnings premium from a four year degree or more is greater today than ever and almost certainly will grow going forward. Two terrific new articles make that case quite well. Both are worth reading. […]