While the Federal Reserve does not have the power some critics claim — Alan Greenspan never was the most powerful man in the world — it does play an important role in the economy. Appointments to its Board of Governors…
State’s diverse economy will ride out storm
A recent conversation about the worsening economy ended on a sardonic note. ‘Well,’ my colleague said, ‘Don’t worry too much. Just remember the economy is highly resilient!’ His comment was a jab at Art Rolnick, the Minneapolis Federal Reserve economist…
Good information crucial to competition
In elementary economic theory, competitive market pressures force people selling nearly identical products to offer them at about the same price. If one seller tries to raise price unduly, buyers will spurn his product and buy cheaper elsewhere. In real…
City’s red tape ties up blighted homes
My wife and I face the same basic issue as the city of St. Paul. Fix it up or tear it down? For us, it is the unsatisfactory back porch on our 109-year-old house. For the city it is the…