March 02 , 2015 - Emily Makings
The impacts of a bad reputation
U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez talked recently about how a good reputation can trump a good location when it comes to trade. Washington’s ports had enjoyed an advantage due to their location as a good access point to and from Asia, but the result of the West Coast ports work slowdown may be that that […]
March 02 , 2015 - Emily Makings
February 26 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Privatization and comparative advantage
This is a great story on a part of Washington’s economy: The boutique booze boom in Washington. It begins by talking about Westland Distillery’s Emerson Lamb: “It has been our stated goal to put Washington state on the map as the world class place to make single malt whiskey alongside Scotland,” said the 25-year-old Lamb. […]
February 26 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Rules proposed for Seattle's minimum wage
The City of Seattle has released proposed rules for implementation of the $15 minimum wage. According to the Seattle Times, the public comment period is open until March 6. The minimum wage ordinance takes effect April 1; it will gradually increase the minimum wage in Seattle to $15 (and index it to inflation) depending on […]
February 26 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Reputational damage at the ports
As an addendum to my earlier post on the deal at the ports, NPR has a good interview with U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. On the impacts of the slowdown, he says, There is so much collateral damage occurring. . . . You are playing with fire because, yes, the West Coast ports have the […]
February 24 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Education roundup
The AP reports that some are now estimating that the cost of complying with the McCleary decision on education funding could be in the ballpark of $6 billion. That number includes not only K-3 class size reduction, full day kindergarten, and materials, supplies and operating costs, but also takes into account that . . . […]
February 24 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Deal reached at the ports, but normalcy may be a long way off
On Friday, the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union came to an agreement on a new contract, averting a full shutdown of West Coast ports. A major slowdown had been ongoing for the past several months, which we have written about previously. According to the Los Angeles Times, The agreement, which […]
February 24 , 2015 - Emily Makings
February 23 , 2015 - Emily Makings