Economy and Government

Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers... - Spring 2009-Vol.21, No.1 - available PDF file

The results of a post-election Zogby poll reveal which political issues, both serious and ridiculous, captured the attention of voters. You decide whether or not voter awareness of these issues was influenced by the media.

Kerry, McCain, Bush and Obama - Spring 2009 - Vol. 21, No. 1 - available PDF file

Approximately 1.4 million Americans that voted for John Kerry in 2004, voted for John McCain in 2008. A whopping 47 million voted for George Bush in 2004, but voted for Barack Obama in 2008. Examine the differences in the demographics of these voters with shifting party allegiances.

Virtue in the middle," said the Devil... - Fall 2008-Vol.20, No.2 - available PDF file

A U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) study found that a state’s litigation environment influences almost two-thirds of corporations in their decisions about locating facilities or doing business there. Find out how your state is viewed.

Health care insurance requirements vary from state to state, resulting in tremendous variation on coverage costs. Some states actually mandate coverage for conditions such as alcoholism, in vitro fertilization and…are you ready for this one...hair prostheses? Site selectors may want to avoid states with the heaviest legislative hand.

Private Water, Public “Whoa!” - Spring 2008-Vol.20, No.1 - available PDF file

The 1990s began an upward trend in the number of U.S. cities that opted for privatization of their municipal water systems. Find out why some of those same cities pulled the plug on these contracts, lest their cities go down the drain.

Ironically, 2007 is the Chinese Year of the Pig as this article examines pork barrel spending among the states. Which states historically have the highest and lowest federal expenditures per dollar of federal taxes? Hint: Alaska (home state of “Bridge to Nowhere” Senator Ted Stevens) is lavished in lard while Massachusetts (home of Senator Ted Kennedy) feeds near the bottom of the pork barrel. Where does your state rank?

Can Granny afford to continue living in her home without dipping into its equity for her basic living expenses? This article examines the rise in senior citizens who are forced to liquidate or borrow against this most valuable asset to pay for food, utilities and spiraling healthcare costs.

When legislation seems to target a specific employer, you can’t help but wonder if “organized labor” is involved. In this article, it seems clear that Wal-Mart was forced out of their plan to open a major distribution center in Maryland (that would have created 800 jobs) all because labor unions had an issue with them. The legislation in question was to require employers with 10,000 or more workers to spend at least 8% of their payroll on healthcare. Wal-Mart, unlike the other four employers who fell into this category, could not escape the requirement and their expansion plans were thwarted. Though the ruling was overturned, the end result was a loss for all.

A lot rides on SAT scores and many things can influence them. To politicians, low scores can mean the difference between not only school funding, but also constituent votes. Despite any correlations that might be drawn from test scores and the population taking them, this article is quick to point out that funding decisions aren’t always based on what’s fair.

With the introduction of BAPTA (Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act) in 2005, bankruptcy filings have significantly dropped. Lawmakers, though, wonder if the law has slowed (not cured) the epidemic. Afterall, the root cause of bankruptcy and financial mismanagement in the first place remains a constant.

President Bush signed into law the costliest transportation bill ever on August 10, 2005. This article analyzes how this summer’s hurricanes may have changed some Republican porkers thinking about this lard-laced legislation.

Congress hogged more of our tax dollars for pork-barrel projects in fiscal year 2005 than in any other year – a whopping $27.3 billion. This article shows which U.S. states have the highest and lowest per capita pork spending. In addition, it explores which pork projects were the juiciest in 2005.

New data from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) and Grubb & Ellis suggests a manufacturing boom may be right around the corner.

This study examines the link between a countries level of economic freedom and the level of prosperity in that country. The United States ranks high in this index, but Europe is the big winner.

U.S. per capita income dropped to a 10-year low in 2001. The slow-down in growth was attributed to a substantial deceleration of personal income. A map of the 50 states reveals the personal income growth rate in each state, highlighting the top and bottom four in per capita growth.

History proves that after a crisis like September 11, 2001 we can expect the U.S. economy to not only rebound, but also become even stronger than before the tragedy.

Economic development initiatives centered on Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA) may be a thing of the past. The Mid-South, a 31-county region with Memphis as its hub, is evidence of this shift in thinking.

During a time of separating victors and victims in the economy, the manufacturing sector struggled as its activity dropped to low levels and employment declined with mass layoffs.

With the elimination of 574,629 jobs, what should laid off workers expect returning to the job hunt? Their expectations should be that of reemployment, fewer pay drops, less time finding a job, and an increase in median weekly earnings.

As a substitute for the common means of conducting business transactions, e-commerce allows for the business to consumer (“B2C”) and business-to-business (“B2B”) relationship packaged with many benefits, opportunities, and guidelines. This e-commerce market is expected to become a vital component in GDP growth and the U.S. economy.

The federal government’s modification to the methodology used to calculate the consumer price index has resulted in a reduction in the index versus previous years’ numbers.

Contrary to popular opinion, state and local governments are adding to their personnel - 1.5% over the past year, mostly due to increases in educational staffing. Texas leads government employment additions while New York leads in cuts.

The elderly in this country need their benefits; however, should it be at the expense of America’s youth? An examination of government spending programs for seniors and youth.

An analysis of foreign-owned companies in the US, by country of ownership.

Unfunded Mandates are those stipulations in federal law requiring municipal governments to take action by utilizing their own funds and resources. These mandates exact a heavy financial burden on local governments.

Japan’s Keiretsu system is beginning to falter due to a depressed Japanese economy and U.S. political pressure. Also, many small Japanese companies that are the base of the Keiretsu system are filing for bankruptcy, forcing larger Japanese manufacturers to rely on outside suppliers.

The EPA will require permits for storm water runoff, snow melt and surface water runoff from manufacturing and other types of facilities, as well as for construction of sites involving 5 acres or more.

Manufacturers experienced sharp increases in productivity in the late 80’s, while capital investment per manufacturing worker fell. New capital investment will be required to maintain the pace of growth while overcoming tighter environmental regulations, restricted access to capital and tight labor supplies.

A lot rides on SAT scores and many things can influence them. To politicians, low scores can mean the difference between not only school funding, but also constituent votes. Despite any correlations that might be drawn from test scores and the population taking them, this article is quick to point out that funding decisions aren’t always based on what’s fair.