by Reed Stratton, Associate Professor of Business What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but the Vegas Strip is everywhere. Your email inbox is the Vegas Strip. Your chiming, pinging, glowing cell phone is the Vegas Strip. Even your walk through the store for milk is the Vegas Stip. The Vegas Strip, with its glittering, […]
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CBEI Central Wisconsin Fall 2023 Report and South Wood County Population Health Project
The Central Wisconsin Community As our Center for Business and Economic Insight (CBEI) mission statement underscores, our goal is to contribute to the success of the Central Wisconsin region through the dissemination of useful knowledge and information. It is in this spirit that we proudly present this issue’s special report, South Wood County Population Health […]
More...Federal Government Spending, Budget Deficits, and The Federal Debt
Funding the federal government (and government shutdowns) has become a hot political topic lately. This blog will explain what the government spends its money on, how the government is financed, and how and why federal debt has increased. Federal Government Spending Federal government spending consists of three major categories: mandatory spending, discretionary spending, and spending […]
More...Inflation, Interest Rates and the Labor Market: How They’re Related (or Not)
In September, the Federal Reserve decided to keep its target interest rate, the federal funds rate, unchanged. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began the upward trek for interest rates, with 11 rate increases occurring through August 2023. The objective of the rate increases was to lower consumer and business spending, which in turn would […]
More...PBS Wisconsin: Kevin Bahr on the Condition of the US Economy in 2023
UW-Stevens Point finance professor emeritus Kevin Behr joins PBS Wisconsin to explain how economic measures showing a booming job market, higher pay, falling inflation rates and interest rate hikes are impacting Wisconsin. Watch Now
More...Economic Update – Spring 2023
The economic ups and downs of 2022 continued through spring 2023. Inflation remains relatively high, but decreasing, interest rates continue to climb, the labor market remains strong, and slowing economic growth fostered uncertainty regarding future growth. In addition, spring 2023 witnessed a major bank failure and continues to endure the unresolved debt ceiling saga. This […]
More...CBEI Central Wisconsin Spring 2023 Report
Is it Spring yet? by Scott Wallace, Ph.D.Director and Editor, Center for Business and Economic Insight; Professor of EconomicsUW-Stevens Point School of Business and Economics Presentation Photos As I look out of the window on the last day of April, a wintry of mix of precipitation is falling over the Central Wisconsin countryside. This reminds […]
More...The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
On Friday, March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) became the second largest bank to fail in the United States. Silicon Valley Bank was uniquely positioned as a financial institution, as its client base was comprised of primarily tech companies and venture capital firms. According to Reuters, SVB was an important lender for companies in […]
More...UW-Stevens Point student presents income inequality findings at Research in the Rotunda
How does a college education impact income inequality? University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior Kyle Pulvermacher took on this question as part of research he presented at the UW System Research in the Rotunda event on March 8 in Madison. [View Photos] Held at the State Capitol, the event invites undergraduates from across the UW System […]
More...The Housing Market and Interest Rates
Overview 2023 began with much speculation about the economy. Would there be a recession? Would economic growth continue leading to a soft landing? The Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022 to reduce consumer and business spending to combat inflation. The Federal Reserve tries to accomplish this goal through targeting the “federal (fed) funds […]
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