michael shuman 
Congratulations, fellow localizers! Our arguments are winning! Why else would the globalization elite be going out of their way to attack us? The lead editorial of the November 7th issue of the Economist skeptically asks, “Why Is the Idea of Import Substitution Being Revived?” Import substitution, of course, is a technical term for localization, where …
No, not the election. But a revolutionary change in securities law. Last week, in a 3-2 decision, the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) tweaked a bunch of regulations concerning investment crowdfunding. The headliner change increased the maximum amount a company can raise in a year from $1 million to $5 million, which means that many …
“Ooh, a storm is threatening My very life today If I don’t get some shelter Ooh yea, I’m gonna fade away.” – Rolling Stones We interrupt this election nail-biter for a special news flash: No matter who wins the presidency, the country is facing a staggering housing crisis. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, communities across …
As you deliberate over your ballot decisions in the next few days, one choice should be easy: Ask whether any candidate favors giving away taxpayer money to attract global companies. If the answer is “yes” – even a squishy conditional “yes” – throw the bum out. I have no clue where Vice President Joe Biden …
The summer of 2020 may be receding, but it now feels like the beginning of another summer, 1914, when a Serbian nationalist assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. What could have been an isolated tragedy escalated because of rigid alliances, heavy arms buildups, and stubborn pride. World War I ultimately killed …
(This blog is part of a 12-part series on emerging opportunities for local investment that are especially important in the post-COVID era. It’s drawn from my new book, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is.) —– In my last blog, I argued that if you have any significant savings to invest (say $50,000 or more), …
(This blog is part of a 12-part series on opportunities for local investment that are especially important in the post-COVID era. It’s drawn from my new book, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is.) The COVID economy is riddled with bad news, but there is one bright spot: Interest rates are at a historic low. …
ED. Everyone’s got it, and no one wants to talk about it. I’m referring, of course, to the wonderfully loopy world of economic development. While no blue pill can cure it, you might be able to help. Below are ten common phrases used by economic developers that suggest they are on the wrong track. If …
If you read columns by financial advisors or listen to their radio shows or podcasts, you will find no shortage of bullish prognosticators who will tell you that if you patiently leave your money in the stock market for many years, you can expect a rate of return of 10%, 12%, even 18%. Dave Ramsey, …
A tidal wave of red ink, precipitated by COVID-19 shutdowns, is now drowning towns, cities, and counties across America. Massive cuts in services loom ahead, as do huge tax hikes. Localities face unprecedented challenges in rebooting their economies. Where I live, in Montgomery County, Maryland, the County Executive recently empaneled about twenty businesspeople and economic-development …
