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Economic Freedom Is Essential, but It Isn’t Just TaxesBusinesses and households prioritize standard of living among other factors.

The Labor Demand Shocks of Artificial IntelligenceThe unseen part of technology is how humans adapt it to complement their innate skills.

Misdiagnosing Housing ProblemsThe housing market faces a mix of supply-side and demand-side issues.

Previewing the Long-Term Effects of TariffsThe dominant effect of the Trump tariffs will be to raise production costs on almost every American manufacturing firm.

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Commentaries tagged with united states of america

June 1, 2025 Misdiagnosing Housing ProblemsThe housing market faces a mix of supply-side and demand-side issues.
May 25, 2025 Previewing the Long-Term Effects of TariffsThe dominant effect of the Trump tariffs will be to raise production costs on almost every American manufacturing firm.
May 18, 2025 It’s TDS to Suppose These Tariffs Are WorkingTrump has pushed the U.S. into an economic downturn that will be especially hurtful to Hoosiers.
May 11, 2025 Trump’s Tariff Recession Is HereMy new forecast, completed in late April, predicts a national recession began as early as March in reaction to Trump’s tarriffs.
April 13, 2025 The Stupidest of PoliciesThis whipsawing of tariff rates has unnerved financial markets, which on Wednesday, were toying with a liquidity crisis.
April 6, 2025 American Scientific Brain Drain Is Now HappeningUniversities need to be free, not conformist.
March 30, 2025 The Birth and Death of Rustbelt CitiesEducational attainment is the fundamental factor leading to city growth or decline.
March 16, 2025 What to Expect in This RecessionThere is risk of a lot of pain.
March 2, 2025 What Is Government Inefficiency?Different levels of government concern themselves with different problems.
February 16, 2025 The End of DEI and a Call to ActionHow can we ensure that everyone has equal access to schooling, health care and economic opportunity?
January 19, 2025 My 2025 ForecastThe Hoosier economy is growing, but at the same time falling further behind the rest of the nation.
December 1, 2024 Time to Learn a Real-World Lesson from TariffsTariffs are designed with the hope of pushing down our trade deficit.
November 24, 2024 Thanksgiving 2024For Americans, particularly poorer Americans, the current economy has never been stronger.
November 17, 2024 The Degrowth Movement Is Wrong and ImmoralDegrowthers are terribly mistaken in three big ways.
November 10, 2024 Economic and Policy Expectations for a Trump PresidencyIt is not hard to gauge the policy choices Trump will prefer.
November 3, 2024 My Apology to LogansportThe city is well known as an immigration success story in the Midwest.
October 27, 2024 Indiana Is Ground Zero for Anti-American IdeologiesBad ideas rarely die of their own accord.
October 6, 2024 Thinking About Marijuana LegalizationIndiana may look to neighboring states when considering policies and effects.
September 29, 2024 The Soft Landing MiracleThe hard part was ending inflation without also causing a recession.
September 8, 2024 You Maybe Don’t Want to Ask How We Can Balance our Federal BudgetIt seems like we could easily cut spending—until you understand what we are spending money on.
August 11, 2024 Project 2025 Is a Roadmap to DisasterThe document is alarming enough that former President Trump denied knowledge of its existence.
August 4, 2024 Childcare Problems Are Vexing and CostlyIndiana has both childcare and pre-kindergarten programs available to low-income households.
July 28, 2024 Biden’s Presidency Has Been Very ConsequentialBiden has held elected office for all but four of the last 54 years, serving on a city council, as U.S. senator, vice president, and, finally, president.
July 14, 2024 We Are Nearing Fed Rate CutsAll the talk of a crashing, risk-filled economy where people are struggling is unsupported by actual data.
July 7, 2024 Freedom Is DifficultSimply living in the United States is as easy as it gets, and almost always has been.
June 23, 2024 Some Good Reasons for Partisan Perceptions About the EconomyThe gap between rich places and poor places is growing in more ways than one.
June 16, 2024 What Is Driving Misperceptions About the Economy?In a recent survey, more than half of Americans said the economy is shrinking, when in fact it has been growing steadily for four years.
May 26, 2024 Why They DiedFor more than 235 years, our soldiers have died bearing true faith and allegiance to the Constitution.
May 12, 2024 The Good, the Bad and the Antisemitic Ugliness on CampusFor every one protesting student, hundreds of others were studying for final exams, completing term papers or preparing end-of-course presentations.
May 5, 2024 US Debt Will Change Local Economic Development PoliciesThere’s no tax cut that will generate rapid economic growth, nor is there some magical spending mix that will cause a big spike in productivity.
April 21, 2024 Some Thoughts on the Caitlin Clark EffectAdvance ticket sales for WNBA games in Indianapolis are at record levels—and record prices.
March 24, 2024 The Lasting Effect of the KKK in IndianaIndiana had the highest share of residents in the Klan at any time in history.
March 10, 2024 Are We in the Early Stages of a Long Economic Boom?Economists aren’t yet sure why labor productivity is growing, but I can offer two educated guesses.
February 25, 2024 SB202 Offers the Wrong Solutions to a Real ProblemMy reference to ideological imbalance refers to the creation of an artificial close-mindedness that stifles debate, isolates important perspectives and diminishes the richness of a college education.
February 18, 2024 NATO Has Secured Our Peace and Prosperity The wars of the 20th century were economic disasters of historic proportion.
February 11, 2024 Some More Truth About Manufacturing and TradeManufacturing employment peaked decades earlier than manufacturing production.
January 7, 2024 What Does New GDP Data Tell Us About the Hoosier Economy?More than half of all the state’s new residents since 2020 live in one of two counties.
December 17, 2023 Great Economic Holiday GiftsThe end of year data is giving economy watchers plenty cause for holiday cheer.
November 26, 2023 The Best of ThanksgivingsWhether in times of peace or distress, we always find time to give thanks.
November 12, 2023 Defend Democracies on This Veteran’s DayOur Constitution offers the highest form of a liberal democracy.
October 1, 2023 Another Stupid Government ShutdownShutdowns are often a demonstration of clownsmanship, not statesmanship.
September 24, 2023 Don’t Expect the UAW to GrowThere is no evidence of a resurgence in the UAW or other industrial unions today.
September 17, 2023 Thoughts About Trump’s Tax PlanIn considering any tax change, first ask how it might eventually reduce the debt.
August 13, 2023 A More Thoughtful Understanding of Quality of LifeRunning through a hypothetical list of amenities is the worst way to think about improving quality of life.
August 6, 2023 Looking Back at Mistakes with a Critical EyeI was not alone in making these mistakes, but there’s no comfort in being wrong with a crowd.
July 9, 2023 Human Capital Is the Source of ProsperitySuccessful places are both good for business and good for families.
July 2, 2023 July 4th and American-Style ConservatismA true American conservative cannot believe that government should promote that faith, or treat those of other faiths differently.
June 18, 2023 New Labor Market Data Is Eye Opening But Under UsedThere’s been more data created on labor and education in the past 25 years than in the preceding 25 centuries.
June 11, 2023 “Of Boys and Men” by Richard Reeves Is a Must ReadThe gender gap in education is larger than any racial or ethnic gap.
June 4, 2023 Increasing Importance of Summer JobsThese jobs offer an opportunity to learn as well as earn money.
May 7, 2023 Money Illusion and InflationPrice fluctuation could cause inflation to last longer, but it didn’t cause the inflation, it simply extends the pain.
April 30, 2023 A Good Post-COVID Run for the Hoosier EconomyIndiana entered COVID with an already weakening economy.
March 26, 2023 Bank Failures Warn of Deeper Economic ProblemsDuring the Great Recession, a whopping 0.014 percent of banks were closed by the FDIC.
February 19, 2023 Balancing the Federal BudgetThere’s no silver bullet that will return our debt to comfortable levels.
February 12, 2023 What Is Happening to Labor Supply?Wishing to employ someone is not the same as labor demand.
January 29, 2023 The 2023 ForecastThe reason for worry about a recession is the Federal Reserve’s response to high inflation.
January 15, 2023 Three Types of Public DebtAll types of public debt are effectively transfers of wealth from the future to our present selves.
January 1, 2023 The CHIPS Act Was Wise LegislationSemiconductors are a key part of national defense, among other industries.
December 4, 2022 Inflation Will Make the Legislature’s Job Difficult This YearThe budget challenges faced by state legislatures are twofold.
November 20, 2022 Black Friday Is ChangingConsumers and businesses alike will adjust to these tighter labor markets.
November 13, 2022 The Timing of Economic PolicyCentral planning of economic activity likely will result in wasteful, ineffective policies.
October 30, 2022 Remarkable Productivity Growth in Hospitality and TourismA more productive business requires—and hires—fewer workers.
October 23, 2022 The Badness of National Conservatism IdeologyA political movement that rejects the fundamentals of our Constitution is, by definition, anti-American.
October 16, 2022 Partisan Effect of Disinformation on COVID DeathsNationwide, at least 250,000 Americans died of COVID because they chose not to be vaccinated.
October 9, 2022 A Recession Is Time to Think About the Long TermManufacturing employment is now a smaller part of our economy than it was in previous downturns.
October 2, 2022 Recession Likelihood GrowsIt is too early to predict a recession but not its effects.
August 28, 2022 Student Loan Forgiveness Is a Policy MistakeThis addition to federal debt during this time risks worsening inflation.
August 21, 2022 Limiting Future InflationOverreacting to inflation can be worse to the economy than underreacting.
August 14, 2022 SB1 Will Be Deeply Damaging to Indiana’s EconomyPublic policy is about trade-offs, it is just imperative to know what they are.
July 10, 2022 The Tensions of Economic Policy in a Volatile TimeDiffering political views can lead to very different policy choices.
July 3, 2022 The 246th Anniversary of ‘The Great Experiment’Our nation may be at its most divided, but I have great hope.
June 26, 2022 Inflation Affects Each Family DifferentlyWe understand earthquakes and hurricanes better than we do inflation.
May 29, 2022 Let Us Ask More of Ourselves on Memorial DayToday’s challenges demand an understanding of evolving facts and trends.
May 15, 2022 Inflation Is a Policy and Political ProblemWe should all be humble in our criticism of the federal government in causing inflation.
May 8, 2022 The Lives of Mothers Through the Last CenturyThe women of the 20th century witnessed the most stunning technological and economic growth.
March 20, 2022 Quality of Life Spending Is a Conservative PolicyHome prices and wages signal the desirability of communities.
March 6, 2022 We are in a Difficult and Costly ConflictThe future belongs to liberal democracies, where respect for individual rights, political freedom and the rule of law are nurtured.
February 27, 2022 The Cost of Russian WarStopping tyrants is less costly done early on.
January 16, 2022 Americans Are Quietly Realizing Dr. King’s VisionMLK’s words are part of the canon of American political writing, and belong to a long tradition of Enlightenment thought.
January 2, 2022 2021 Was an Unnecessarily Horrible YearFrom political unrest to vaccination and economic woes, this year was heavy.
December 5, 2021 Some More Talk About Inflation RisksA price increase does not equate inflation.
November 28, 2021 A Time to Give ThanksIf Mr. Lincoln could find reason to call us together for a day of gratitude, we can now have no cause to do otherwise.
November 14, 2021 It Is Time to Be Honest About Debt, Spending and TaxationSpending that makes us more productive often pays for itself through increased GDP that is then taxed.
October 31, 2021 Who Can Fix Our Supply Chain Issues?Congress could ease logistics problems in any number of ways; the private sector is already at work.
October 17, 2021 Market Adjustments Aren’t InflationToday, inflation is running far less than 1.0 percentage point off trend.
September 19, 2021 Vaccine Mandates Are Huge Cost SavingsMost individuals have dodged the financial cost of COVID health expenses, but insurance premiums are likely to rise.
September 12, 2021 Lessons from Afghan Refugees and September 11Our fight against the extremists who attacked us 20 years ago is ongoing.
September 5, 2021 The Evolving Nature of WorkWork has the potential to provide meaning and satisfaction, unconnected to the economic importance of the task at hand.
August 1, 2021 Slowing Economy Caused by the UnvaccinatedIn just the last three months, more than 32,000 Americans died of COVID.
July 18, 2021 Free Speech and Senate Bill 414The origin of free speech problems on campus lie primarily outside the classroom.
July 4, 2021 The Ideals of Independence DayLiberty flows from the simple act of being human, not from government, religion, ancestry or race.
June 20, 2021 Looking Back at a Century of Father’s DaysThe lives of our fathers and their fathers are representative of the early and mid-20th century.
May 23, 2021 Thoughts on the Infrastructure PlanThis plan is perhaps too large but could be more effective than expected.
April 11, 2021 Economic Development Should Be About Value, Not CostIn the late 1970s–80s, you were taught that low tax rates and capital investment were the key to growth and prosperity, but that theory has not panned out as anticipated.
January 31, 2021 How This Recession Is UnfoldingIt appears now that we’ll end 2020 with a downturn that ranks in the top five to seven worst years since the 1920s.
January 24, 2021 A Recap of Mr. Trump’s PresidencyLet’s review the good, the bad, and the ugly.
January 17, 2021 An Attack on America’s EconomyThis was not a protest, nor was it an accident.
December 13, 2020 How to Stop Worrying About National PoliticsLocal government requires pragmatic competence, not ideological showmanship.
November 8, 2020 Some Places of Economic CompromiseWe are in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and that gives us a chance for Congress to compromise.
November 1, 2020 The Economic Policies of the Losing Party Also MatterEach party may face identity crisis depending on the outcome of the election.
September 20, 2020 The Real Problem with Our National DebtIt’s important to explain how the debt does and does not matter.
August 23, 2020 What’s Up with Stocks?Prices of stocks will signal where the best investment options lie.
August 16, 2020 State and Local Tax Support Is an Urgent NeedWhile many businesses are able to adapt, the underlying loss of permanent jobs is alarming.
August 9, 2020 Some Thoughts on the COVID Impact on SportsSports provide great opportunities and lessons to young athletes and the industry generates billions of dollars in employment.
August 2, 2020 Our Poor Response to COVID-19 Pushes Us to the Edge of a DepressionShutdowns disguise two indicators of a weak economy.
July 26, 2020 Challenges for Indiana’s Colleges Threaten Long-term GrowthSome of the costs of COVID-19 on US colleges are already emerging.
March 29, 2020 We are Still Underreacting to COVID-19 RisksThis is a recession of choice, in the same way rationing in World War 2 was a choice.
March 22, 2020 Time for Timidity Is OverThe direction of our economy depends on the path of this disease and how we respond.
March 1, 2020 Pandemics and Market EffectsTo prepare for Covid-19, we study past disease outbreaks.
December 15, 2019 Slow Growth, but Not a Recession in 2020In thinking about our current economy, it is important to discuss the current policy environment.
November 17, 2019 Beware Claims of a Golden Age in Our EconomyWe cannot go back, and are naïve to want to do so.
November 10, 2019 A Reunion of VeteransIt is no secret that military service in the U.S. has long been a family business.
July 21, 2019 Remembering Apollo 11I remember clearly the night of the landing, the grainy images on a small black and white TV, and the suited newscaster.
July 7, 2019 Independence Day ReflectionsPersonal liberty in the US has broadly expanded in both breadth and depth.
June 9, 2019 Recession Looking More LikelyBeyond employment and wages, other data indicate trouble ahead.
May 26, 2019 Honoring Our War Dead Demands Honoring the ConstitutionThe experiences of military service draw out the best and worst in soldiers.
May 12, 2019 Taking Seriously a Socialist CritiqueWhat part of criticism of our market economy is right, and what should we do about it?
December 16, 2018 Slowing Growth and Greater Risk in 2019We look to data indicators to anticipate changes in the new year.
November 11, 2018 Some Real Lessons of Veteran’s DayI think myself lucky to have been a soldier of this nation.
September 2, 2018 The NAFTA Deal Is Pure BaloneyNAFTA effects were mitigated by changes in productivity.
October 1, 2017 Tax Reform a Bipartisan IssueBoth corporate tax rates and income tax rates should be revised and standardized.
May 28, 2017 Public Corruption through the Prism of Memorial DaySome serve their country nobly, and some do not.
June 12, 2016 A Bad Jobs Report and the Limits of Economic PolicyPredicting a downturn is not the same thing as preventing one.
May 8, 2016 The Great Hoosier Jobs Lie of 2016Productivity has lead to a growing manufacturing industry, but fewer, better-educated workers.
April 17, 2016 Free Tuition a Gift to Rich FamiliesMost students already receive some sort of tuition discount.
March 20, 2016 Mysteries of Economic PopulismDiscerning actual policy recommendations from Mr. Sanders and Mr. Trump is not a trivial task.
August 16, 2015 What Drives the Fed Rate Hike Decision?What is the nature of their agreement and disagreements and how does it play into the public debate over economic policy?
July 12, 2015 Hazards to Our Recovery: China, Greece and TimeWith 84 months of (often sluggish) expansion, roadblocks lie ahead.
January 4, 2015 Oil Prices in 2015Petroleum prices are part of the costs of almost all goods and services.
November 30, 2014 Worries During the Forecasting SeasonAt this rate, our standard of living will double in 80 years.
November 2, 2014 Some Big Ideas for the ElectionThough a large swing is predicted to favor the GOP, it is clearly out of frustration with the current administration.
September 28, 2014 Deflation WorriesA deflationary world is one where consumers and business have too little money to chase too many goods.

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