Monthly Archives: June 2012

I learned a new term of art in the latest special “Next Economy” supplement to The Atlantic magazine:  “slasher.”  While slasher makes me think of Freddie Krueger or Jack the Ripper, it’s also a new term being applied to solo … Continue reading →

The US Senate is presently debating passage of the Farm Bill (officially known as the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012), the laws that authorize US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and related food initiatives for the next five … Continue reading →

While I was unable to join them this year, my colleagues at the Council for Community and Economic Research just concluded a very successful annual conference in Oklahoma City last week.    In addition to cheeering on the Thunder, the conferees … Continue reading →

Current wisdom in the business world is that the “skills gap” is one factor behind America’s slow economic recovery.   According to this theory, employers can’t find enough workers with requisite technical skills and basic “soft skills” as well. While these … Continue reading →

The old 1920s song famously asked:  “How can you keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paris?”  This question has always challenged rural leaders who know that the charms of small town life also mean doing without the … Continue reading →

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has declared 2012 to be Virginia’s Year of the Entrepreneur.  Because the Governor has been locked in tough budget negotiations with the Legislature, it’s been a slow year so far.  But, things seem to picking up … Continue reading →