Hicks Commentary: A Data Center Study
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks October 5, 2025 Data centers have almost no local economic effects, with one possible exception. That’s the result of my r “...”
Hicks Commentary: The Resurrection of Keynesianism—in a MAGA Hat
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks September 28, 2025 Federal Reserve’s 0.25% interest rate cut, announced Sept. 17, will have little economic effect by itself. “...”
Hicks Commentary: Summoning Better and Braver Angels
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks September 21, 2024 The assassination of Charlie Kirk was an evil, vile and pernicious act that targeted not merely one man, but als “...”
Hicks Commentary: I’m Not Trying to Change Your Mind
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks September 14, 2025 Readers frequently offer advice on my columns, with a common theme of helping me be more persuasive. I apprec “...”
Hicks Commentary: The Real Lesson of the China Shock
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks September 7, 2025 A fantastically high share of our debate over economic policy involves a false lesson of the China Shock and i “...”
Hicks Commentary: The Socialist Presidency
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks August 31, 2025 In the past few weeks, President Trump has moved the U.S. closer to socialism than any president in history. By “...”
Hicks Commentary: America Is Not in Decline, but Trump and Sanders Could Change That
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks August 24, 2025 One great irony of our times is that the claims of economic decline that animate both the MAGA movement and the Dem “...”
Hicks Commentary: What Made Us Fumble Education Policy?
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks August 17, 2025 Indiana made a billion-dollar mistake based on a flawed jobs forecast a decade ago, and we’re still paying “...”
Hicks Commentary: Grim Recessionary Facts
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks August 10, 2025 In March, I predicted the U.S. economy would enter recession and in April I explained how Indiana would be esp “...”
Hicks Commentary: Some Easy (and Not So Easy) Spending Cuts for the Next Budget
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks August 3, 2025 The coming decade is almost certain to see Americans take more seriously our large national debt. I see this as “...”