Sunday, June 26, 2016

Brexit, Trade Policy and Jobs


The chattering classes are all atwitter about the Brexit vote and the potential damage to globalization.

To date globalization has been good for:
1) rich people
2) bureaucrats
3) workers in developing countries

To date globalization has been bad for:
1) existing middle classes (U.S. and Britain for example)
2) blue collar workers in developed countries


The elites (politicians, economists, really rich people) are still determined to create the new world order, but are now even admitting, timidly, that maybe there are some victims.

Which is why we are faced with Brexit and Donald Trump.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Upcoming Topics



Urban Policy in the Rust Belt

Infrastructure Policy in the Rust Belt

Construction Workforce in the Rust Belt

Manufacturing Workforce in the Rust Belt

Mama Don't let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Manufacturing Workers? 

Rust Belt Cities - Single Party Government

Will Air Conditioning Destroy the Rust Belt?

Trade Policy - Selling Out the Rust Belt?

.... and many more

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Toledo tries......




http://www.toledoblade.com/Featured-Editorial-Home/2016/05/08/Progressive-and-possible.html


(c) 2016 The Blade Company

The Down Side of Manufacturing in the U.S.


From Forbes, (c) 2016

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkiley5/2016/05/10/why-u-s-manufacturing-workers-are-on-food-stamps-and-medicaid

Decades of efforts to depress blue collar wages have paid off, for the 1% anyway.

We will address this in detail in the near future.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Everybody Loves Flint

Suddenly everybody loves Flint.

People who cannot find Flint on a map love Flint.

People who would never think of spending time in Flint (or in Michigan) love Flint.

People who support economic policies that damage the rust belt love Flint – especially when there are tv cameras in the area.

People who are opposed to fixing and improving infrastructure love Flint infrastructure.

The orgy of Flint-loving is hypocrisy on steroids, but then we are all hypocrites about something.


Sunday, March 13, 2016

Michigan Economic Development Program (sarcasm alert)


Michigan has a new economic development program!

By allowing the infrastructure to crumble, particularly the highways and roadways, the state is boosting business....

.....  for tire shops, alignment shops, body shops, car dealers.......

Sorry, "tired of buying tires."