Hicks Commentary: The Unanticipated Effects of SB1
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks April 20, 2025 Gov. Mike Braun has signed the contentious Senate Bill 1 into law. This legislation was neither as good, nor as bad, “...”
Hicks Commentary: The Stupidest of Policies
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks April 13, 2025 The GOP is vacillating between contradictory claims that President Trump’s tariffs are either negotiating tactics “...”
Hicks Commentary: American Scientific Brain Drain Is Now Happening
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks April 6, 2025 As recently as 1900, American colleges and universities educated too few students and did too little research. One w “...”
Hicks Commentary: The Birth and Death of Rustbelt Cities
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks March 29, 2025 The economic forces that built American cities have disappeared. These fundamental economic changes left in their wa “...”
Hicks Commentary: What the Census tells Hoosiers about the Future
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks March 23, 2025 The most recent Census population data tell a pretty important story about Indiana’s future. Some of it is great, “...”
Hicks Commentary: What to expect in this Recession
This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael Hicks March 16, 2025 Recessions are caused by economic shocks that affect either the demand or the supply of goods and services. Presiden “...”
Hicks Commentary: A 1960s Rural Development Plan
This column was originally published on the Weekly Commentary blog by Michael J. Hicks. By Michael J. Hicks March 9, 2025 The Braun administration has published a rural economic development plan for Indiana. It looks a lot like plans offered by GOP and Democratic governors over t “...”
Hicks Commentary: What Is Government Inefficiency?
This column was originally published by the Weekly Commentary blog by Michael J. Hicks. By Michael J. Hicks March 2, 2025 Over the years, I’ve written frequently about government efficiency and inefficiency. I even wrote a book that, among other things, measured types of effici “...”
Hicks Commentary: I Am Confused by Tax Proposals
This column was originally published in the Weekly Commentary blog by Michael J. Hicks. By Michael J. Hicks February 23, 2025 I confess to often being confused by tax proposals, which might seem unusual given that I’ve authored dozens of tax studies. So, instead of trying to he “...”
Hicks Commentary: The End of DEI and a Call to Action
This column was originally published in the Weekly Commentary blog by Michael J. Hicks. By Michael J. Hicks February 16, 2025 I am thankful that the U.S., and especially Indiana, finds itself at a turning point in diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Gov. Mike Braun signed a “...”