What if you gave away health care and no one showed up? by Eric Fruits EconInternational Back October, I contributed to some research on state spending priorities. One of the recommendations was to eliminate a new program called Healthy Kids Connect. The program was funded with hundreds of millions of […]

By Tim Duy, Oregon Economic Forum sponsor, KeyBank. The University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators™ rose 0.2 percent to 87.2 (1997=100), the second consecutive monthly increase. Compared to six months ago, more than half the index components declined while the UO Index fell 5.9 percent (annualized). Highlights of the […]

Oregon and World Exchange Rates By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has issued a report that creates a real trade weighted value of the dollar for each state. This is weighted by the specific countries where the state exports to and imports from and […]

Lawsuits Take School’s Swing Sets Away From Kids by Mike Lepage US Chamber of Commerce Everyone has favorite childhood memories. For many people, those memories include rolling down slides, dangling off of monkey bars and swinging on swing sets at their local neighborhood playground. But elementary school students in Cabell […]

New economic study highlights international trade as a strength for both the Portland-metro region and the state Data show that International Trade sector gives Oregon and Portland substantial competitive advantages; provides jobs By Portland Business Alliance PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, business and community leaders released a report showing that international […]

Employee Gifts: How to Give Tax-Free By National Federation of Independent Business As you decide on an appropriate holiday gift for your employees, it’s important to consider not only what they’ll enjoy but also how taxes will come into play. Because a “gift” is often considered by the IRS to […]

By Ian Crawford Stoel Rives LLP, Oregon Law Firm OSHA compliance recently became harder and costlier, and may continue to do so, thanks to several developments at the federal and state level. (Click here for a prior post on OSHA reform.) You may go to prison if you discipline or […]

Welcome to Oregon … things look bleak here by Eric Fruits EconInternational Some bad economics news coming out of Oregon. First, Portland’s mayor rejects an economic study because it doesn’t blow enough sunshine about the city’s business environment and its livability. Next, the the governor elect, speaking at the business/politician […]

Earlier Departure, Longer Commute by Gail Krumenauer Oregon Employment Department, Oregon workers spent a combined total of 35.2 million minutes traveling to their jobs in 2009. That’s down from 36.8 million minutes spent on the one-way trip to work in 2007. As employment levels dropped off from their peak in […]

Texas Free Market Policies Beat California’s Economic Strategy By Oregon Tax News Texas managed to pull itself out of the recession with its free market policies during a time when California’s economy continues to decline. The Chief Executive magazine ranked California as the worst business climate in the nation, while […]