California economy
Back to homepageMinimum wage kills minimum-wage jobs
As I noted six weeks ago, I’ve been noticing higher restaurant prices since California boosted its minimum wage on July 1, to $9 from $8 an hour; with a $10 increase coming in 2016. A new study by the Heritage
Read MoreGarcetti shows why minimum wage kills jobs
In backing a higher minimum wage for his city, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti inadvertently explained how it would kill jobs. From the Times: “Garcetti pitched his plan to gradually boost the minimum wage across the city, critics argued that
Read MoreChina surpassing USA economy
Business Insider ran a map provided by Deutsche Bank about the rise and fall of some of the world’s largest economies, showing China’s return to global preeminence. This is crucial because we’re on the Pacific Rim and enjoy vast trade.
Read MoreMissing from CA’s economic ‘comeback’: Los Angeles
Gov. Jerry Brown’s daily push to depict California as being in a sharp rebound from the 2007-2009 economic meltdown ignores the fact that the recession never went away in a majority of the state’s 58 counties, especially those in inland
Read MoreCA, Tesla and the slippery slope to crony capitalism
The decision of Tesla to locate its “gigafactory” in the Reno area instead of California offers critics of the state’s business climate a chance to once again knock Gov. Jerry Brown and other state leaders for failing to care about
Read MoreDebate: Kashkari closing channels Reagan in 1980
Questioner asks about high cost of UC, CSU being barrier to poor students. Kashkari sympathizes and cites student loan burders. Brown notes, correctly, how many CSU and UC students pay no tuition because of waivers and says CA students have
Read MoreDebate: Brown defends realignment as ‘success’
Questioner asks Kashkari about his key role in the Troubled Asset Relief Program under Presidents Bush and Obama. He strongly defends his record, says TARP made all money back, and notes Brown praised TARP’s effects. Brown: “When you hand out
Read MoreL.A. restaurants make plain there’s no such thing as a free lunch
Is it a passive-aggressive way for independent businesses to let customers know about the cost of government regulation? Or just a trick that allows those businesses to charge more than they normally would without prompting grousing from their customers? Whatever
Read MoreLegislature should have heeded Brit regulators on plastic bags
Dubious bills often get passed on the final night of the state legislative session, and 2014 was no exception: A measure to make California the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic bags. SB270 passed despite fierce opposition
Read MoreKiplinger: CA taxes highest — and state hostile to retirees, too
Over the years, when I’ve reported that the nation’s CEOs continue to rank California as the most anti-business state in the country, I’ve gotten some blowback in emails and comments that question whether the ranking was manipulated. This is goofy
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