The leaders and the best and world class
Recently Thom Linn sent me the QS World University Rankings. Why? Because the University of Michigan is ranked as the 15th best university in the world. Turns out the QS rankings are one of three global higher ed rankings that are considered the most reliable. The other two The Times Higher Education World University Rankings […]
College attainment
Good news in the 2010 data on college attainment. Nationally 31% of 25-34 year olds have a four year degree or more. (Another 8% have a two year degree.) This is significant because, if sustained, it breaks a three decade long plateau in the proportion of adults with a four year degree which has pretty […]
The safety net and unions
The Paul Krugman column that I wrote about previously is as much about the value of a strong safety net and unions as it is about his belief that we have exaggerated the value of a college degree. Krugman argues that the current politics of weakening both the safety net and unions will lead to […]
the Snyder budget II
Most of the questions I have received have been about how well the Governor’s budget will help in growing the Michigan economy. In addition there also is the question of how well the proposal tackles the state’s structural deficit. They both matter. In terms of dealing with the deficit I give the Governor high marks, […]
Real school reform
The country has gotten serious about urban education reform. It has been a priority for both the Bush and Obama Administrations. For both moral and economic reasons we seem to understand that it is unacceptable that such a large proportion of our urban kids get an inferior education. That is the good news. What is […]
Detroit rising?
Last week Matthew wrote of the growing interest at U of M’s Ross School of Business in Detroit. And USA Today recently did an article on the growing number of young entrepreneurs choosing to start businesses in Detroit. It’s title: Entrepreneurs feed Detroit’s extreme makeover. This is the good news about the future of Detroit. It, […]
the Snyder budget
As you might expect, I have been asked a lot about my reaction to Governor Snyder’s budget proposal. The folks at Dome Magazine asked me to contribute a column along with others with differing points of view on our assessment of the Governor’s first 90 days. Here is what I wrote. If you have the […]
The irrelevance of business tax rankings
A thought experiment: State A has an unemployment rate of 6.7% and its per capita income is nearly $42,000. State B has an unemployment rate of 10.5% and its per capita income is above $32,000. Which state’s economy do you prefer? Of course, the answer is obvious. Now add the fact that the Tax Foundation […]
The value of a college degree
Lots of folks have asked for my reaction to the recent Paul Krugman New York Times column that a college degree is less and less a path to good paying jobs and careers. Krugman argues that globalization and technology are reducing the demand for high skill American workers so that: It’s no longer true that […]
The case for raising taxes
Talk about swimming upstream. That is what the Saginaw News has done in a terrific editorial where they argue the state needs to raise taxes to support higher education. The editorial is entitled: More college graduates would help Michigan grow, prosper. It is a must read. The editorial makes the case that: … Without an educated […]