Archives

August 21, 2012 - U.S. vs. Europe on taxes

From Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog From the New York Times with an accompanying article about taxes and services. Not sure we want to be Italy, yikes, but Germany always makes an interesting comparator: high income country with a humming economy and yet a cripplingly high tax burden. Go figure.


August 20, 2012 - Store cams use face-scans via Facebook to recognize you

By Guest Opinion, A Nashville firm, Red Pepper, is expanding the use of facial recognition software to whole new level in a test project called Facedeals. By using store cameras with facial-recognition technology connected to Facebook to access a consumer’s profile in order to email them instant deals to their […]



August 18, 2012 - Seattle’s New Paid Sick & Safe Time Law Takes Effect in September 2012

By Keelin Curran Stoel Rives LLP, Oregon Law Firm Ahead of Schedule Blog As most Seattle employers know by now and as we blogged about earlier, beginning September 1, 2012, the City of Seattle will require that all but the smallest employers provide paid sick leave to their Seattle employees. […]


August 17, 2012 - Geography of job growth centers around “brain hubs”

Bookends: “The New Geography of Jobs” by Michael Hendrix  U.S. Chamber of Commerce [Excerpt] To economist Enrico Moretti, where you live matters more than ever. And it matters ultimately because of you. In his book The New Geography of Jobs, Moretti unpacks the forces that are reshaping America. Whereas the […]


August 16, 2012 - Oregon’s private & public sector growth trends

Oregon Employment, Public Sector Trends By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog Another monthly employment report was released this morning by the Oregon Employment Department. In July 2012, the unemployment rate increased to 8.7% from 8.5% and the state gained 1,800 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis. As […]


August 15, 2012 - ID thieves using political scams

By Oregon Better Business Bureau This fall, election scammers will be targeting unsuspecting voters. Better Business Bureau warns ballot-casters to be on the lookout for phony political donation requests, voter registration verifications, prize incentives for surveys, and tax credits or government-sponsored grants for economic recovery. “While politicians are lobbying for […]


August 14, 2012 - Four stages of Healthcare reform and it’s impact on business

Health Care Reform – What Have You Paid, What’s Next? By Betsy Earls By Associated Oregon Industries Oregon’s largest business advocate Now that the Supreme Court has cleared the way for continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is time to review the changes the law has already […]


August 13, 2012 - Oregon’s digital future tied to avoiding regulation mistakes

“Light Touch” Internet Regulation is the Key to Oregon’s Digital Future By Tom Gurr, Pacific Technology Alliance A recent article in The Oregonian touted Oregon’s booming tech sector while simultaneously issuing a warning of its “schizophrenic state.” The article demonstrates that Silicon Forest has shown much promise; venture capital investments […]