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Commentaries are published weekly and distributed through the Indianapolis Business Journal and many other print and online publications. Disclaimer

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The views expressed in these commentaries do not reflect those of Ball State University or the Center for Business and Economic Research.

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Teacher Pay Is the Symptom of Deeper ProblemsState spending per Hoosier student is down more than 7.0 percent since 2010.

Questions from an Economic ForecastThe economic recovery is in the hands of vaccine distributors, not economic policymakers.

Stop Restricting Indianapolis GrowthIn the 21st century, a full 85 percent of the state’s population growth happened within the Indianapolis metro area.

Indiana’s Lagging Educational AttainmentFinancial security without a college degree is possible but not probable.

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Commentaries tagged with business

December 27, 2020 Some Thoughts on the Coal EconomyMany of the cities and towns born in the Industrial Revolution have lost their original economic reason for being.
December 20, 2020 Indiana’s Hospital Monopolies Worse than CaliforniaOur hospital monopolies are financially damaging to Indiana’s economy and Hoosier families.
December 6, 2020 The Private Sector Is the Hero of COVIDSmart, successful businesses chase consumer interests.
May 17, 2020 It’s the Disease, Not the GovernmentConsumer spending changed before any government restrictions were implemented.
May 3, 2020 What Are Essential Jobs?In normal times there is no such division as ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ workers.
April 26, 2020 Covid-19 Response May Be the Most Consequential Decision in State HistoryThe real policy question is whether the benefit of these decisions outweighed the costs.
November 3, 2019 Monopsony Problems Get Hearing in CongressSummary: Firms mistake the presence of monopsony power for a labor shortage.
May 30, 2019 Our ‘Business-Centric’ Model Is Wrong and HurtfulMistaking the economy of a nation or region as one giant company can lead to deep policy mistakes.
April 21, 2019 Casino Bill is About Taxes, Not JobsCasinos do not create jobs; they simply move employees from one business to another.
March 24, 2019 A Frank Column on Education, Subsidies and PayWe should be very careful about promoting job training in careers that offer low wages.
February 10, 2019 Monopoly Isn’t Just a Game AnymoreMarkets don’t always work perfectly, but they work well when competitive.
December 30, 2018 Understanding Job Numbers in 2018An announcement of new jobs reflects only one small part of the total job creation and destruction that occurs in an economy.
December 23, 2018 Thinking About Economic Growth Like an EconomistEconomists and businesses think about community growth in very different ways.
October 28, 2018 Thinking About the Next RecessionThe good is news is that labor markets seem strong, jobs are plentiful and wages may be rising.
October 7, 2018 Amazon and Some Harsh Facts About Pay and Labor ShortagesIn several industries, businesses are unwilling or unable to pay market wages for the workers they want.
March 4, 2018 Legislature Gets an "A" on Sunday SalesThe move to permit Sunday sales of alcohol is a step towards greater personal liberty.
November 5, 2017 The Need for Corporate Tax CutsCutting corporate taxes will have an effect on wages, but it won’t come in the form of direct wage increases.
September 24, 2017 Time to Quit Building Business Incubators, Co-Working Spaces and Maker’s SpacesThese spaces do not significantly improve the local economy.
September 11, 2016 Cut the Tax Cut Debate, Spend the Money WiselyLet’s focus on workers, not businesses.
August 14, 2016 Entrepreneurship Proposal Will Strengthen INPRS and IndianaThe proposal would do three big things in the long term.
February 21, 2016 Some Surprising Lessons from CarrierIt would be wiser to invest in making people more productive.
August 9, 2015 Who Actually Pays Taxes?All taxes are ultimately paid by households, either directly through various taxes or indirectly through price changes.
December 28, 2014 Labor Markets in 2014The data indicates this was a strong year for Indiana employers.
August 10, 2014 Corporate Tax Inversion Corporations should have a say in the laws that govern them.
July 13, 2014 Indiana Gets a Small Business RankingComplaints about high taxes might simply mean that local government isn't delivering sufficient quality for the cost of government.
December 29, 2013 The Fed’s End-of-Year ActionsThe question is simply, why is this level of monetary growth not having a more visible effect?
December 15, 2013 Economic Development Studies and Tax AbatementOur research of state and local economic development programs yield some surprises
December 8, 2013 The Forecasting SeasonA forecast is designed to provide the best possible prediction of economic activity in the future.
December 1, 2013 Great Places and the Sweep of Economic GeographyOur parents entered an economy focused on factories; our children enter an economy focused on services and amenities.
November 10, 2013 Veterans and Society in the Years to ComeRecent veterans comprise just over 1 percent of the population but will leave a lasting mark on business and society.
November 3, 2013 A New Minimum Wage DebateIf we really wanted to help minimum wage workers, we could do better.
October 20, 2013 A Still Uncertain EconomySomething remains terribly wrong in the U.S. economy, but there are some tantalizing hints
August 25, 2013 A New Antitrust CaseThe proposed business merger between two large airlines brings century-old anti-trust law to the forefront.
March 17, 2013 Economic Data Hold Little Good NewsDespite the delight in the media, the February data tell a wretched story.
February 24, 2013 Stagnant Wages for Low-Wage Workers Are a ProblemToday, the plight of low-wage workers is a real and growing concern
September 16, 2012 Corporations and GreedCorporations differ from other business in that their ownership is diffused across people who have purchased shares of the company.
February 20, 2012 Markets and GrowthMarkets rule supreme, but they also work imperfectly and will do so as long as humans themselves remain imperfect.
April 25, 2011 Profits and the Profit MotiveProfits and the motive for getting them are the most critical part of an economy.
September 20, 2010 Business Locations: Taxes, Clusters and WorkersOver the long run, and especially during the good times when labor markets are tight, firms worry most about the availability of workers.
September 6, 2010 Labor Unions, Trade Unions and Labor DayTrade unions remain strong because they work with, not against the businesses that employ them.
July 31, 2006 The Truth About Small Business "About 53 percent of net job growth in the last decade has come from businesses with more than 100 employees."
November 18, 2005 Distinguishing Ourselves From the Competition"In the coming decade, it’s a pretty safe bet that distinctions between Midwest states like Indiana and the rest of the country will become more blurred, but that day isn’t here yet."
July 29, 2005 Another Solid Quarter for the National Economy "Particularly heartening for the Indiana economy is the news on business spending."
May 13, 2005 Expect More Tightening by the Fed "The list of commodities whose prices are rising is as long as your arm – including aluminum, energy goods, paper and many plastics."
December 10, 2004 Reversing the Exodus of Corporate Headquarters "The reason why Indiana has so few headquarters today is that we aren’t planting enough seeds – in the formation of new companies – for the future."
November 26, 2004 Do the Colts Add to the Economy? "The idea that spending by local residents on anything – gambling in casinos, buying cars, or attending sports events – can propel the overall economy to greater heights is something we should all be deeply skeptical of."
August 6, 2004 Small Business and Economic Growth "Higher rates of job destruction – matched by high rates of job creation – are consistently associated with faster economic growth."
April 23, 2004 The Business Cycle Turns Up for Indiana "It has been a good first quarter for job growth in the Indiana economy."
October 4, 2002 Meeting Business Halfway on Ethics "... we should recognize that what is said to be ethical, and what is encouraged by the law, are often two very different things."
July 12, 2002 Indiana Gets Its Tax House in Order "The list of roadblocks to business spending that are being removed is quite impressive."

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