State tourism advertising poses tough question
If Indiana is to be marketed as a region, government will be the one to do it.
Mike Hicks
Articles
EPA policies cannot force economic choices
We are at a critical moment in environmental policy. We suffer a dearth of frankness on the matter that imperils the quality
of our decision-making.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS EPA policies cannot force economic choices Almost five years ago, a colleague and I were sought out by a large think tank to help develop a study to value natural resources on federal lands. This was during the height of the Bush administration. Several dozen scientists were working on the project, and my […]
Build your economy by assessing community
Hard times present a fitting opportunity for communities to engage in useful self-reflection. In this case, deep thinking on the regional economy could best be served by focusing on the fundamentals first, not the outcomes.
‘Buy local’ offers no protection for bad businesses
These days, the "buy local" crowd seems to have a stronger voice. I am gleeful about this for a variety of reasons, but it
is helpful to view some of their claims with a bit of skepticism. At least that is what economists should do.
Cap and trade could be double-edged sword
Cap and trade could lead us to a much cleaner, more prosperous future or it could devastate our economy.
The tax system has fluctuated throughout the ages
Let’s reflect on the origins of the current income tax system to help understand it better.
Youth program may promote sense of purpose
Though I’m an economist, and not much skilled at matters of the heart, it seems to me there’s something amiss in today’s national psyche. There’s no real sense of purpose or unity. For those of us old enough to have had very close relatives who lived through the Great Depression, today just feels different from […]
Clawback provisions won’t hurt biz attraction
House Bill 1338 introduces a change to many (but not all) of our state’s tax incentives, adding what is known as a “clawback” provision, offering a reasonable and fair adjustment to our current tax incentives.
Bonus outrage poor excuse for good public policy
The wages paid by a company to its employees are a distinctly private matter.
Improving livability is economic development
I am often asked the seemingly simple question, "Just what is economic development?"
Answer to stimulus formula equals inflation
When economists worry about the health of the banking system, it is primarily because we are concerned with a stable velocity
of money.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Answer to stimulus formula equals inflation One of the reasons so many folks don’t like economics courses is that we economists use so much math. But, in our present circumstance, one equation is especially helpful, if not joyful. So, just stick with me for a few minutes. The “equation of exchange” theorizes that […]
Market, not bailouts, should stimulate refinancings
Markets, no matter how imperfect, not government programs, manage the economy.
CAFE standards not as effective as gasoline tax
The Obama administration recently reversed a Bush-era policy that prevented states from imposing some of their own environmental policies with respect to corporate average fuel efficiency, or CAFE, standards.
Stimulus just way too big to spend this year
After much debate, the U.S. House and Senate have come together on a stimulus package. Whether it will work remains to be seen. And the long-term impact of spending nearly $800 billion is a big concern.
Unemployment data paints worrisome picture
The most recent data on the U.S. economy continues to be worrying, but a little context remains helpful.
Proposed fiscal stimulus package has high costs
Expeditious and clever spending on roads, infrastructure and, in the half-dozen states where it is possible, a tax cut will determine the success of the stimulus plan.
Speed is critical to success of stimulus plan
All the serious talk in Washington for the next few weeks will center on an economic stimulus package. Up to now, the argument
has been for an extensive (perhaps a $1 trillion) program.
College-affordability debate focusing on wrong issues
College affordability has gained a lot of attention over the past few years, but I am not sure that the simple focus on costs
is the right way to think about the
problem.