http://www.econinternational.com/blog An informal look at economics, finance, and statistics Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:17:07 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/11/12/pew-center-on-the-states-will-oregon-follow-california-to-failed-state-status/comment-page-1/#comment-10200 Oregon is in recession, but the state budget is booming | Econ International Blog Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:17:07 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=442#comment-10200 [...] legislators are quick to complain that they had to find $2 billion in state budget cuts in the last legislative session. These  complaints are a bit disingenuous when, in fact, as the [...] [...] legislators are quick to complain that they had to find $2 billion in state budget cuts in the last legislative session. These  complaints are a bit disingenuous when, in fact, as the [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/11/17/oregon%e2%80%99s-in-recession-but-the-state-budget-is-booming/comment-page-1/#comment-10199 Oregon in recession, state budget booming - Oregon Business News Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:06:57 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=465#comment-10199 [...] This is what is known as the “colors of money” argument: Every dollar has a color—blue dollars can only be spent on roads, red dollars can only be spent on health services, green dollars are in the general fund, and so on. It is said that the colors cannot be mixed and the rules cannot be changed. But they can and the Legislature can change them. Read more: [...] [...] This is what is known as the “colors of money” argument: Every dollar has a color—blue dollars can only be spent on roads, red dollars can only be spent on health services, green dollars are in the general fund, and so on. It is said that the colors cannot be mixed and the rules cannot be changed. But they can and the Legislature can change them. Read more: [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/11/11/hoodwinking-our-way-out-of-recession-oregon-dhs-uses-economic-sleight-of-hand-to-sell-a-billion-dollars-of-new-taxes/comment-page-1/#comment-10190 Pew Center on the States: Will Oregon Follow California to “Failed State” Status? | Econ International Blog Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:49:09 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=425#comment-10190 [...] these “cuts” were actually an increase of $4.8 billion. But the more than $1 billion in tax increases that Democrats pushed through to balance the budget and pay for major new initiatives in [...] [...] these “cuts” were actually an increase of $4.8 billion. But the more than $1 billion in tax increases that Democrats pushed through to balance the budget and pay for major new initiatives in [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/11/02/oregon-officials-get-caught-fudging-the-costs-of-energy-tax-credits/comment-page-1/#comment-10188 Pew Center on the States: Will Oregon Follow California to “Failed State” Status? | Econ International Blog Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:57:24 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=400#comment-10188 [...] reaching the point where employment impacts published by state agencies cannot be trusted [1, 2, [...] [...] reaching the point where employment impacts published by state agencies cannot be trusted [1, 2, [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/02/02/oregons-persistent-unemployment-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-10187 Pew Center on the States: Will Oregon Follow California to “Failed State” Status? | Econ International Blog Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:57:09 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=228#comment-10187 [...] Oregon almost always has some of the highest unemployment in the U.S., whether or not the country is in boom or recession. While the decline in the timber industry and the housing bust may explain Oregon’s chronic high employment, eventually a time comes to ask whether the state’s policies are contributing to the unemployment. Some policy makers, including the governor, believe that one sector of Oregon’s economy, clean energy, offers hope. Oregon had a bigger share of its jobs in clean energy than any other state as of 2007, according to a Pew report. Kulongoski has worked hard to build a green legacy—insisting on generous tax credits for renewable-energy firms even as other Democrats sought to reduce them, for example, and publicly test-driving electric cars in an effort to lure their manufacturers to Oregon. … But some experts question whether the sector can lead Oregon out of its economic doldrums. “There are worries that we’re getting in a little late, especially with all the investment that China is doing,” said Jessica Nelson, an economist with the Oregon Employment Division. [...] [...] Oregon almost always has some of the highest unemployment in the U.S., whether or not the country is in boom or recession. While the decline in the timber industry and the housing bust may explain Oregon’s chronic high employment, eventually a time comes to ask whether the state’s policies are contributing to the unemployment. Some policy makers, including the governor, believe that one sector of Oregon’s economy, clean energy, offers hope. Oregon had a bigger share of its jobs in clean energy than any other state as of 2007, according to a Pew report. Kulongoski has worked hard to build a green legacy—insisting on generous tax credits for renewable-energy firms even as other Democrats sought to reduce them, for example, and publicly test-driving electric cars in an effort to lure their manufacturers to Oregon. … But some experts question whether the sector can lead Oregon out of its economic doldrums. “There are worries that we’re getting in a little late, especially with all the investment that China is doing,” said Jessica Nelson, an economist with the Oregon Employment Division. [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/02/23/betc-do-oregons-energy-tax-credits-help-or-hurt-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-10186 Bend Bulletin: Energy credit is under fire | Econ International Blog Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:31:00 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=250#comment-10186 [...] when directed to Fruits’ blog, which details the changes to the draft, Sen. Chris Telfer, R-Bend, called it “disappointing.” [...] [...] when directed to Fruits’ blog, which details the changes to the draft, Sen. Chris Telfer, R-Bend, called it “disappointing.” [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/08/25/white-house-economists-see-increasing-unemployment-for-the-next-12-months/comment-page-1/#comment-10181 Recovery Report Card: Unemployment breaks past 10% | Econ International Blog Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:06:44 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=363#comment-10181 [...] August, the White House projected that unemployment would peak at 10 percent sometime in the middle of next year. The BLS’s [...] [...] August, the White House projected that unemployment would peak at 10 percent sometime in the middle of next year. The BLS’s [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/08/26/portlands-bus-pass-giveaway-will-cost-the-state-of-oregon-as-much-as-3-64-million/comment-page-1/#comment-10180 5 Green Policy Mistakes in 2009 - Oregon Business News Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:11:06 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=372#comment-10180 [...] the state budget: Reported that BETC credits reduce state corporate tax revenues by 22 percent. Portland’s bus pass giveaway will cost the State of Oregon as much as $3.64 million: Highlighted the use of the BETC by non-taxpaying entities.  In this case the City of Portland is [...] [...] the state budget: Reported that BETC credits reduce state corporate tax revenues by 22 percent. Portland’s bus pass giveaway will cost the State of Oregon as much as $3.64 million: Highlighted the use of the BETC by non-taxpaying entities.  In this case the City of Portland is [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/01/04/oregons-incredibly-expanding-energy-tax-breaks/comment-page-1/#comment-10179 5 Green Policy Mistakes in 2009 - Oregon Business News Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:10:49 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=129#comment-10179 [...] are four more mistakes: Oregon’s incredible expanding energy tax breaks: First reported earlier low-balling of the costs of the BETC program. BETC: Do Oregon’s energy [...] [...] are four more mistakes: Oregon’s incredible expanding energy tax breaks: First reported earlier low-balling of the costs of the BETC program. BETC: Do Oregon’s energy [...]

]]> http://www.econinternational.com/blog/2009/01/04/oregons-incredibly-expanding-energy-tax-breaks/comment-page-1/#comment-10178 Oregon officials get caught fudging the costs of energy tax credits | Econ International Blog Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:55:09 +0000 http://www.econinternational.com/blog/?p=129#comment-10178 [...] Oregon’s incredible expanding energy tax breaks: First reported earlier low-balling of the costs of the BETC program. [...] [...] Oregon’s incredible expanding energy tax breaks: First reported earlier low-balling of the costs of the BETC program. [...]

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