I’ve been talking to a lot of out of state investors lately, and the subject of weaknesses and opportunities for this region comes up every time. While I know that any discussion of substance on this would take a while, I though that I would put together a couple of lists off the top of my head. If you think there’s something missing off of either of the lists send me an email at list@MichProps.com.…
Category: Rants and Observations
Ok Ok We’re In a Recession Already
Now, What Are You Going to Do About It? It looks like the rest of the country is finally waking up to the fact that yes, we really ARE in a recession in the US. A recession that is being led by the decline in real estate values. How can that be, you say. Real estate, while a large and important part of the overall economy, does NOT have the power, by itself, to drive…
Housing Cools, Inflation’s Up. See I Told You So . . . .
Two short months ago I wrote about the unbelievable action that the Federal Reserve took to prop up our sagging stock market by injecting billions of dollars into the economy, and that it didn’t take a freshman econ whiz kid to tell that this would undoubtedly lead to an increase in the inflation rate. Strangely enough I found very few business reporters that even discussed the impact of the Fed’s foolhardy actions, and fewer still…
California Dreaming . . . . .
I just got back into town after spending four days in my old stomping grounds of northern California. The San Francisco peninsula to be more specific, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. My wife and I lived there for six years after grad school until we moved to Michigan. The occasion was my wife’s 30 year High School Reunion. I think you get the picture. While she and I did get the chance…
Michigan out 28,000 jobs – August’s 7.4% jobless rate is 14-year high.
Excerpted from the Detroit News this morning. . . .  Michigan‘s unemployment rate in August was the worst since since September 1993.  Massive automotive buyouts and a sharp decline in residential construction were cited as factors for the state’s jobless rate. Last month 28,000 jobs were lost in Michigan, bringing the total number lost since this time last year to 96,000. Since August 2006, employment in Michigan has dropped by 2 percent while nationally it has increased by…
You Never Could Tax Your Way to Prosperity
Lest you think that this is a diatribe related to politics, relax. Long, long ago I gave up letting the micro-brains in government (both elected and unelected) impact by disposition. No, this is a post about economics. And basic economics at that. I have long believed that the framers of our constitution should have included a minimum number of basic economics courses at the university level as requirement for holding any elected or unelected position…