A state economy that is strong and growing (Growth) provides a decent standard of living for all (Justice). We look at government's role through this strategic lens, focusing on a few key policy areas most able to promote a prosperous, fair and sustainable economy.
Education Studies repeatedly show that the best predictor of economic growth is
an educated workforce, and people with a college degree are far more
likely to earn enough to support a family. Investing in human capital
is the best long-term investment the state can make. However, education
is already the largest budget item for state and local spending, so it
is important to be clear about where new or redirected investment would have the most
impact.
Taxes Fairly raising adequate revenue — who pays and how much — is one of the most contentious issues in government. But it is basic to everything else. Much of our work here focuses on how to raise money in ways that reduce the significant tax gap between high- and middle-income earners.
Smart Infrastructure What we call “smart infrastructure” includes roads, transit, high-speed communication networks, and development patterns that reduce sprawl and make efficient use of existing public physical assets. Our investment in infrastructure affects business, public safety and overall quality of life.
Government Accountability While many Minnesotans are willing in principle to invest more in their state, they want assurance the money will be well spent. Public trust in the accountability and effectiveness of government is perhaps the greatest barrier to creating the economic future we envision. But there are other challenges as well, such as agreeing on measures of effectiveness and maintaining a strategic direction through changes in power.
Healthy Communities
Prosperity is not just about income, but also about living well.Most of the policy attention on health matters focuses on how care is delivered rather than on how healthy we are — and what impact the health of our population has on its ability to learn and work productively. Although Minnesota ranks 3rd nationally in healthy life expectancy, we have some solvable pipeline problems that are likely to cost us in future years if we fail to address them.
