Economists have performed a huge number of studies on the minimum wage and the results are all over the place. Some results show a drop in labor demand and others show little change. Seattle, with its aggressive minimum wage laws, is at the center of these debates and studies.
Economy
Yep, We Saved It All
Congress threw a stimulus party an nobody came: we didn’t spend the money. In the same month that Congress showered us with $138.4 billion, in the form of $600 checks, personal savings increased by $134.5 billion.
Is Boise Doomed?
Once the world discovers a place like Boise, it is hard to turn back. A critical mass of new, higher incomes tends to foster new amenities like restaurants and cultural institutions. This is a virtuous cycle that creates great cities, but, unfortunately, makes the amenity-cost tradeoff less attractive for lower wage workers.
Office Space: Empty Floors And More On The Way
The world of office work is clearly not going back to pre-pandemic patterns. It is also clear that many workers are anxious to return to people-centered environments.
So the question is, how much snap-back we see in office occupancy?
Fighting the Last War. . .Again
Maybe the most overused cliche in the political world: the generals are fighting the last war. But this time it really is true. The most prominent rationale for the new pandemic relief package is avoiding a repeat of 2009, when the federal government acted too timidly and recovery dragged on for years.