Jobs and the U.S. Economy

May 27 2011
Blog

Wait a minute, how low should wages go?

One of the things that makes America a stable First World country with a prosperous Middle Class is that our workers earn a good living.  They earn good wages, and thus can contribute...
May 17 2011
Blog

Skilcraft Pens: A Pen Rich in American-Made History

On the surface, a Skilcraft pen looks like much like many other ballpoint pens out there: Black steel barrel, black ink, and retractable with a click. But these unassuming pens have a fascinating...
Apr 30 2011
Blog

Building a Better White House: A look back at the Truman Renovation (1948-1952)

In 1949, shortly after his inauguration, President Harry S. Truman closed the White House to visitors and launched a major renovation and reconstruction of the entire building.  Throughout...
Apr 24 2011
Blog

Wal-Mart and Other Misconceptions about Labor Costs

In a post at IN THESE TIMES, Mike Elk provides an excellent analysis of why Wal-Mart could afford to pay its workers more, but doesn't. There's a longstanding view that Wal-Mart "could...
Apr 19 2011
Blog

Calling All U.S. Manufacturers of Screws, Clamps, Light Fixtures, Paper Towel Racks, Door Stops, Etc

Economist Michael Mandel has reported something fascinating (and disconcerting)… Mandel was doing some research through the Federal Register and came across a March 21, 2011 item showing...
Mar 18 2011
Blog

CHART OF THE DAY: Want to Grow Jobs and Cut Deficits? Boost Manufacturing.

  As the above chart prepared by the Alliance for American Manufacturing's (AAM) Sam Morgante demonstrates, lost manufacturing means lost revenue for the U.S. economy:...
Mar 03 2011
Blog

ABC News Fills a House with Made In America Products

As we've previously reported, ABC World News has been spotlighting "Made in America." Their challenge: trying to fill three rooms in a suburban U.S. home entirely with...
Feb 16 2011
Blog

China’s Economy and China’s Living Conditions Don’t Match Up

China manufactures many first world conveniences.  For example, the iPhone, iPad, iPod etc. But anyone who has been to China will more than likely tell you that living conditions there...
Feb 16 2011
Blog

Manufacturing: Still Waiting for a True Recovery

The January 2011 jobs report contained some good news for U.S. manufacturing: 49,000 manufacturing jobs were added that month, the highest monthly gain since August, 1997.  From January 2010...
Jan 04 2011
Blog

What is Still Made in Baltimore?

The Baltimore Sun just published an article on the manufacturers, big and small, who still choose to keep production in a once-booming industrial American city.  From big companies like Under...