Rhode Island Economy

Government Debt and the Danger of Historical Growth

By Justin Katz | October 13, 2012 |

In today’s Saturday column,Ted Nesi voices reasoning that is only possible in a society that’s become hubristicly accustomed to economic growth as an inevitability: If bond investors are offering Rhode Island the lowest interest rates in its history, shouldn’t the state be borrowing more money right now? Gina Raimondo has hinted she’s thinking that way,…

Town-by-Town Single-Family Home Sales, August

By Justin Katz | October 10, 2012 |

Checking in on single-family home sales across Rhode Island, as I did for July and 1Q12, reveals a mixed picture. Results for the state are mildly improving, but the “downward spiral index” worsened for 22 of the 38 listed cities and towns. The downward spiral index is the sum of the three percentages given in…

Things We Read Today (24), Thursday

By Justin Katz | October 4, 2012 |

West Warwick for all; the essence of education reform; declines in people births; declines in business births; the easy street to dependency. Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…

Things We Read Today (22), Tuesday

By Justin Katz | October 2, 2012 |

Economic development options, from all-government to government-dominated; the heartless-to-caring axis in politics; Southern New Englanders’ “independence”; solidarity between Romney and his garbage man; the media coup d’etat. Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…

Study Provides Positive PR Opportunity for Providence

By Marc Comtois | October 1, 2012 |

There’s always bad news to talk about around here–fish in a barrel. So when good stuff comes down the pike, we’ve got to be able to take advantage of it. KPMG recently did an international survey and analysis (PDF) of business tax costs around the world. Part of the survey included a ranking of U.S.…

Why Government as Business Doesn’t Work, at Least in Rhode Island

By Justin Katz | October 1, 2012 |

For comment on the Rhode Island Public Expenditures Council (RIPEC) report on the Economic Development Corp. (EDC) in his Sunday Providence Journal article, Paul Grimaldi turned to the Massachusetts affiliate of the free-market RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity, the Pioneer Institute. While the general sentiment that CEO Jim Stergios expressed is apropos, it is…

Things We Read Today (21), Weekend

By Justin Katz | September 30, 2012 |

Bob Plain’s petit four of class warfare; CA’s bid for more pension fund dollars; a martial metaphor for regionalization; a downturn for the never-recovered; Coulter v. View mention of RI. Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…

RIPEC’s EDC Report Another Indication of the Question Not Asked

By Justin Katz | September 27, 2012 |

Yesterday, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), a venerable Rhode Island policy “voice and catalyst” founded in 1932, released a report analyzing the structure of the state’s quasi-public Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and suggesting a reorganization.  Governor Lincoln Chafee requested the report in May, following the scandalous collapse of 38 Studios, which had been the…

Things We Read Today (20), Wednesday

By Justin Katz | September 26, 2012 |

Mainly on media culpability and the economy: RIPEC’s unquestioned report; skewed polls; the president’s reportorial zombies; and the reluctance to invest in the economy. Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…

August Employment Data for Rhode Island and the Nation

By Justin Katz | September 21, 2012 |

Once again, the headline is that Rhode Island’s unemployment rate fell another tenth of a percent, to 10.7%.  And at least it’s true, this month, that employment went up instead of down.  (The past few drops in the unemployment rate were a result of people giving up their job searches, so they weren’t counted in…