It would be artless this week to write an article on economics and business in Indiana without remarking upon the passing of John Fisher. Much has been written about his legacy over this past week, so I will make do with an anecdote and a lesson I have learned from him.
Unemployment often is a necessary and natural part of a healthy economy. But job losses that come when workers or even entire
industries become redundant are especially painful.
The worst is likely behind us, but difficult times lie ahead, especially for the unemployed.
Yhe budget concerns that Muncie and other local governments face are really a circular problem. Taxes got out of hand largely
because of an 18th century system of local government. That same system cannot fix the problem–for it is the problem.
General Motors Corp.’s bankruptcy marked the second-largest commercial failure in modern history. It is an opportunity for deep reflection.
Almost one-third of Chrysler’s investors are schoolteachers, college administrators, firefighters and police officers. These
“vultures” of Wall Street finance have seen the value of their hard work severely hampered by the Chrysler bankrutcy plan.
Many lament the loss of what might be called timeless values. I place these into two categories; both are exemplified and sustained by military service.
If Indiana is to be marketed as a region, government will be the one to do it.
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.
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.
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 lead us to a much cleaner, more prosperous future or it could devastate our economy.
Let’s reflect on the origins of the current income tax system to help understand it better.
The wages paid by a company to its employees are a distinctly private matter.
I am often asked the seemingly simple question, "Just what is economic development?"
When economists worry about the health of the banking system, it is primarily because we are concerned with a stable velocity
of money.
Markets, no matter how imperfect, not government programs, manage the economy.
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.
The most recent data on the U.S. economy continues to be worrying, but a little context remains helpful.
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.
