Oregon Lawmakers: Get Proactive on the Economy
Who wouldn’t want to live in the Pacific Northwest? According to the 2010 Census, Oregon has enjoyed a relatively large population growth. There were 12 percent more people in the Beaver State in 2010...
View ArticleLower the Capital Gains Tax, Ignite Oregon’s Recovery
By Eric Revell As the state of Oregon struggles to ignite an economic recovery, barriers to economic growth must be removed. Oregon’s overall tax burden is among the highest in the country, both in...
View ArticleSailing Competitive Seas
By William B. Conerly, Ph.D. I picked up my beer at the yacht club’s bar and went out on the deck to watch the last few boats come in. It had been a good day’s sailing. We finished the race in the...
View ArticleSick of Government Sick Leave Policies
On March 6 the Portland City Council may vote on whether to require virtually all businesses that employ six or more people to provide them at least five paid sick days per year. Some supporters of...
View ArticleMandatory Sick Leave Hurts the Working Poor
By Marc Kilmer On March 6 the Portland City Council may vote on whether to require virtually all businesses that employ six or more people to provide them with at least five paid sick days per year....
View ArticleEmployer Mandate a Recipe for Unemployment
By Sally C. Pipes Walmart recently announced that it will not offer health insurance to new employees who work less than 30 hours a week. It’s reserved the right to do the same for existing workers....
View ArticleCan Government Be Run Like a Business?
We’ve all heard the adage that government should run like a business. The problem is that it really can’t. Briefly, here are some of the reasons why: By its very nature, government is often a monopoly...
View ArticleSmall Business Owners Say: $15 Minimum Wage Is a “Mortal Threat”
This week Seattle became the first city in the nation to mandate a $15 minimum wage. But far from being a victory for workers, a super-high minimum wage is likely to cause more harm than good by...
View ArticleSeattle’s Giant Job Killer
By Erin Shannon The city of Seattle made history last month with an ordinance that will force every employer in the city to pay every worker a $15 per hour minimum wage, which is the highest in the...
View ArticleThe “Sharing Economy” Benefits Homeowners, Guests
By Everet Rummel An emerging sector of many local economies is “homesharing,” or renting space in your home to strangers for a short term, usually a few nights. Smartphone apps such as Airbnb allow...
View ArticleThe Portland Seed Fund: Lots of Fertilizer, Little Growth
By Joel Grey The Portland Seed Fund (PSF) started in 2011 as a joint public-private venture intended to close a funding gap for entrepreneurs attempting to start a business. It invests $25,000 in each...
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