Phoenix New Times - Inflation in Phoenix is Higher Than Anywhere Else in America No one likes paying more for less. But if you live in metro Phoenix, you’re doing just that. Inflation here is higher than anywhere else in the country, according to a recent study from...
Results
Re: Arizona’s Budget Stabilization Fund and the Relationship with the Business Cycle
As part of my presentation this session to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s Finance Advisory Committee (FAC), I briefly addressed concerns related to the economy eventually slowing. While I remain more bullish on Arizona’s economy than at any other time in my...
Peer Review of NRDC Report (9/24/18) on Prop 127’s Impact on the Arizona Economy
Rounds Consulting Group, Inc. (RCG) has been following this economic issue closely and decided to comment on the validity of the NRDC report dated September 24, 2018. Rounds Consulting Group, Inc. (RCG) has been following this economic issue closely and decided to...
Additional Discussion of K12 Costs – Bilingual Education Proposals
Our firm has been conducting a number of policy analyses related to taxation and K12 education funding. We have also begun examining how to best secure new tax revenue and deploy the funding to achieve the highest return on investment (ROI) possible. The efforts also...
Economic Development and Maximizing Profit
One of the better economic development professionals in the Greater Phoenix area made a good point a couple of weeks back. After I was complaining about Amazon’s tactics of aggressively soliciting incentives, he noted it was their job to look out for investors and...
A Personal View of DACA:
Despite my tight connections with our neighbors to the south, I am conflicted on certain points of the immigration issue because it's not a simple topic. The DACA debate and the impact on Dreamers is where I have no such conflict. Last week the Trump administration...
Tax Reform Sounds Good, but Economic Reform Sounds Better
The discussion has shifted from healthcare to tax reform. The discussion has shifted from healthcare to tax reform. We can do better with our definition though. I believe in small government and low tax rates. But, I also understand that the government is spending far...
Good Luck with Stock Market Timing…
I have been asked almost daily for an economist's perspective on the stock market. Here are my general thoughts. I have been asked almost daily for an economist's perspective on the stock market. Here are my general thoughts. 1) It is indeed overvalued when compared...
How to Identify the First Signs of Economic Trouble
Analyzing the U.S. economy gets messy. But, I find it helpful to focus on some very basic things. Catching the turning points can make or break a business or government budget. While I indeed look at scores of tables and charts, the following handful of items are what...
Part 1: How Can Cities Avoid Getting Sued for Incentive Use?
I’m asked this question at least a couple of times every month. My initial answer is usually: don’t do illegal stuff. Then, I elaborate. Each economic development project is different. I’m asked this question at least a couple of times every month. My initial answer...