Economics

Fareed Zakaria is a TV talk show who knows the complex world of economics, the Mideast and international politics. His book "The Post-American World, Release 2.0," paints a world where the United States is no longer the sole superpower. Not that superpowers are measured in size of armies but rather in economic sense.
Zakaria writes well and with a tremendous fund of knowledge, and while he paints a grim picture for the USA, he doesn't write the country off.

CARSON CITY – Nevada has a new weapon in the fight against problem gambling.
A five-year strategic plan to provide treatment to the state’s problem gamblers took effect July 1.

"Larry Crowne," a romantic comedy now playing at the Fandango Galaxy in Carson City, is the second romantic comedy to hit the scene after the delightful "Bad Teacher," was a hit because of Cameron Diaz' loopy, wide grin.

Sadly, "Crowne"with Tom Hanks directing, writing and co-staring with Julia Roberts, can't come up with the wit and charm of "Teacher." Where "Teacher" is profane and clever, "Crowne" plots along predicable lines from the opening when Hanks as Crowne is laid off from a big box store (read Wal-Mart) because he does't have a college degree. Sure.

Some of the highest excise tax revenues among the states are collected in Nevada, a new report from the Mercatus Center shows.
Nevada is one of six states – along with Connecticut, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and West Virginia – that collect over $600 in excise revenues per capita.

By Mike Wolterbeek
RENO, Nev. — An impact study by researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno has found that the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act is not only good public policy but also good for the economy.

By Jane Tors
RENO — The Nevada Board of Regents today unanimously approved Chancellor Dan Klaich’s recommendation of Marc Johnson to serve as interim president of the University of Nevada, Reno. Johnson has served as executive vice president and provost at the University since 2008.

CARSON CITY – Nevada and Georgia tied as the two states with the highest entrepreneurial activity rates in the country, according to the “Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity,” a leading indicator of new business creation in the United States.
The annual index shows that Nevada and Georgia both had 510 per 100,000 adults creating businesses each month. They were followed by California at 470 per 100,000, Louisiana at 460 and Colorado at 450.

CARSON CITY – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a first-of-its-kind economic study today identifying stalled energy projects – including 10 in Nevada – that are costing billions of dollars in lost gross domestic product.
The study says the delays are costing the state’s economy $66.9 billion in GDP and that 86,700 jobs a year could be created in Nevada during the construction phase of the projects.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, says he is interested in changing the state’s tax structure.
He wrote in a weekly newsletter he might consider broadening the state’s tax base, an idea that he has talked about with UNR economics professor Elliott Parker.

RENO — While unemployment has been a frequent topic of discussion during the recession, underemployment and its effects have not, even though the number of underemployed workers has also increased.

A study published online last week in the Journal of Management, “‘I Have a Job, But…’ A Review of Underemployment,” by University of Nevada, Reno Assistant Professor Frances M. McKee-Ryan and University of Alabama Assistant Professor Jaron Harvey brings attention to the topic and its potentially detrimental effects to individuals, organizations and society.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – State senator Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, has had enough of percentages.
Just the numbers, please, was his basic request at a Senate Finance committee meeting this past week as various state agencies delivered their budget reports.

Carl Kuhl, a state Parole and Probation employee of six years, has created a plan that he claims will eliminate Nevada's budget deficit within two years.

In a news release issued on Tuesday, Kuhl said his plan not only will reduce the budget deficit but also help repair Nevada's economy at the same time. It is a pretty big claim, he admits, coming from an Accounting Assistant I, an entry level position.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Despite the need for drastic spending reductions to balance Nevada’s budget, the government program that provides health care to the poor continues to expand, consuming a growing share of the state’s scarce state revenues.

The Nevada Policy Research Institute today announced it has established a new public-interest law organization, called the Center for Justice and Constitutional Litigation, aimed at defending the rights of individuals as set forth in the state and federal constitutions.

One of the things that came out at Monday night's Nugget Project advisory was a setback for the business incubator part of the project.

It was announced by project consultant Mark Lewis that C4Cube, the business incubator in Reno that was considering operating the planned Carson City incubator, was no longer a part of their discussions. We don't know exactly what happened, but not having an experienced operator could threaten this part of the project.

CARSON CITY – Members of the Republican Assembly Caucus today called on state Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek to delay implementation of a new prevailing wage rate in Nevada until the Legislature has an opportunity to review the methodology.
The caucus is concerned a flawed process resulted in the new prevailing wage rate that took effect Oct. 1. There is a 30-day period to file an objection.

Wild Horse Theater Company is proud to present the world premiere of Robert Leonard Reid’s “None of the Above!”, a satirical song, dance, and comedy revue that lampoons the 2012 Presidential election. “None of the Above!”  will be presented in the Maizie Harris Jesse Theater at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King Street in Carson City. Show dates are Fridays and Saturdays, October 19, 20, 26, 27, November 2, 3 @ 7:30PM and Sundays, October 21, 28 @ 2:00PM.

by Scott Schrantz Source: http://aroundcarson.com/2010/08/29/vt_railroad_expands_schedule_adds_canyon_run

The city's new Business Resource and Innovation Center is now open for business.

Located across Proctor Street from City Hall, the center brings together the building, planning, business license and business development departments under one roof for the first time. The center also makes resources from the Carson City Library available for those who need to do research for starting or expanding their businesses.

CARSON CITY – A major study of a school voucher program operating in the country of Chile for the past 29 years has found both an increase in high school graduation rates and an increase in the number of students going on to college.

CARSON CITY – Nevada has crafted the proper policies of low taxes and small government that has helped it weather the current recession, and these same policies have positioned the state to respond favorably when the economic recovery takes hold, according to a report released today by the American Legislative Exchange Council.

These days, I get a chuckle when I see people engaging in philosophical debates over health care reform, or "socialized medicine" as opponents call it.

I understand and respect the positions of those who think government should not be a part of the health care system, that the free market will fix everything. It's an interesting philosophical position, but it faces the brick wall of reality.

Editorial by Dave Morgan

An article in the Nevada Appeal this morning attempts to get new information from the Nugget Project’s “go to guy,” Steve Neighbors. Neighbors, who is now the owner of the Nugget, is quoted as saying that the project still lacks a developer to shoulder the “private industry” half of the project. That’s about all that’s new from Neighbors, that they STILL don’t have a private partner.