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Previous Articles
One Fifth of Tucsons Unemployed "Not in Labor Force"
Why Your Job is Gone. Permanently
Unemployment Numbers and the Future of the Economy
Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow...Or Will It?
Understanding the Unemployment Rate
In the News...
August 13, 2010
Time to Revive Arizona's Film Industry
Alan Williams and Eric Schumacher are spearheading an effort to reinvigorate the film industry in Tucson. They want to create business partnerships to improve the economy for the state.
August 13, 2010
Fed Official Warns of Starting a Cycle of Boom and Bust
The President of Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is the lone dissenter on the Fed warning that presnt monetary strategy could create boom-and-bust cycles.
July 29, 2010
IMF Says U.S. Financial System May Need $76 Billion in Capital
The IMF said about $1.4 trillion of commercial real estate loans will mature from 2010 to 2014, almost half of which are already “seriously delinquent,” with payments 90 days or more past due, or “underwater,” with loan values exceeding property values.
July 29, 2010
With Recovery Slowing, the Jobs Outlook Dims
"With the government reporting a growth rate of just 2.4 percent in the second quarter and federal stimulus measures fading, the jobs outlook appears even more discouraging."
July 28, 2010
AP survey: A bleaker outlook for economy into 2011
The U.S. economic recovery will remain slow deep into next year, held back by shoppers reluctant to spend and employers hesitant to hire
July 27, 2010
Congressional Budget Office Directore Says Debt Unsustainable
"...investors would lose confidence abruptly and interest rates on government debt would rise sharply, as evidenced by the experiences of other countries."
July 27, 2010
Double Dip? New Normal? No Fun Either Way: Frank Aquila
Whether or not the second leg of a so-called double-dip recession is imminent, it is clear that the U.S. economy will struggle for some time to come.
July 26, 2010
Majority of Small Business Sector Facing Higher Taxes Under Obama
The business owner pays taxes on her small business by adding the profits to her income tax form. Therefore, personal income taxes are the same thing as small business taxes.
July 23, 2010
White House predicts record $1.47 trillion deficit
The government is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends.
Endgame Coming for Tucson's Business Bickering
Vic Napier
January 2010
Tucson business has been controversial for a long time. Business owners in Tucson complain that city officials are hostile to business and the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is ineffective in helping business succeed (Lopez 18 December 2009). Tucson has ranked at the bottom of the list in both state and national surveys of places to do business (MarketWatch 18 December 2009). A group of local business people has even organized a move to force changes in the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce leadership (Higgins & DeSimone 20 December 2009).
This is nothing new. Everyone has an opinion about doing business in Tucson, and those opinions are overwhelmingly negative. Some people blame the city council, others point to the Chamber of Commerce, while others blame local business owners themselves.
The arguing and acrimony itself now undermines Tucson’s economy. As jobs become increasingly scarce more people will likely consider starting businesses to generate income. Tucson is no longer the only game in town, and people considering establishing businesses are looking to other towns in the Tucson Metro area. Things are a lot calmer in Oro Valley, Marana, and Green Valley, and each of these cities has a more inviting business climate than Tucson.
If nearby towns begin attracting businesses that would otherwise make their home in Tucson the long term results could be disastrous. In economic terms, wealth would be migrating from the city center to the outlying areas – essentially the same thing that happened to big cities half a century ago because of suburbs, freeways, and cheap gasoline. A decade or two of wealth and business leaving Tucson could make the city look something like the inner city ghettos of the 1950’s and 60’s.
The solution? There may not be one. Maybe business and political players in Tucson are so polarized that there can be no compromises or accommodation. Perhaps the only thing that can bring movement is victory of one side and failure of the other. Tucson might have to fail so spectacularly that there are no doubts that new ideas and radical changes are required.
References
Higgins, J. & DeSimone, C. (20 December 2009). Status quo of Tucson chamber of commerce needs to be changed. Inside Tucson Business. Opinion. Retrieved from: http://azbiz.com/articles/2009/12/20/opinion/columnists/doc4b2bae58de9
Lopez, H. (18 December 2009). City's dismal business ranking rooted in leadership failure. Arizona Star Net. Retrieved from: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/biz-opinions/322706
MarketWatch (18 December 2009). MarketWatch survey: Tucson near bottom of best business cities. Arizona Star Net. Retrived from: http://www.azstarnet.com/business/321796