Author Archives: timbartik

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About timbartik

Tim Bartik is a senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, a non-profit and non-partisan research organization in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His research specializes in state and local economic development policies and local labor markets.

Michigan Governor Snyder’s proposal for expanded preschool

Posted on February 8, 2013 by timbartik

On February 7, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder released his state budget proposal, which included a significant proposed expansion of state-funded preschool. This preschool proposal recommends expanding the state’s preschool funding from $109 million in fiscal year 2013, to $174 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood program design issues, Early childhood programs, Economic development | Comments Off on Michigan Governor Snyder’s proposal for expanded preschool

Link to results of my live chat on school funding and student achievement

Posted on January 31, 2013 by timbartik

I was part of a live online chat today at MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. The transcript of the chat comments and my responses can be found here. The chat was based on testimony I recently presented to the Kalamazoo School Board. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood programs | 1 Comment

Michigan Radio’s special on pre-K

Posted on January 24, 2013 by timbartik

I was interviewed by reporter Dustin Dwyer for a Michigan Radio special report on preschool that aired today. The “State of Opportunity” portion of Michigan Radio’s website has an edited transcript and audio of the special, and a guide with links … Continue reading →

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Yes, there is research supporting benefits of preschool for non-disadvantaged families

Posted on January 16, 2013 by timbartik

A recent article by Melinda Wenner Moyer at Slate got my attention with the following provocative statement: “Research suggests that preschool only benefits children from… disadvantaged families.” The article was in the contest of suggesting that affluent New York City … Continue reading →

Posted in Distribution of benefits, Early childhood programs | Comments Off on Yes, there is research supporting benefits of preschool for non-disadvantaged families

There’s nothing new under the Sun

Posted on January 11, 2013 by timbartik

Over the holiday break, and inspired by the movie Lincoln, I read an excellent biography of the well-known Pennsylvania politician Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868), written by the late Hans Trefousse. Stevens is best-known as an abolitionist leader and advocate for black … Continue reading →

Posted in Early childhood programs | Comments Off on There’s nothing new under the Sun

Universal childcare and preschool as a key to improving income mobility

Posted on December 12, 2012 by timbartik

Lane Kenworthy has a great op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor on the need for more government spending on kids. In this op-ed, he argues that  “The single most valuable step lawmakers could take [to increase opportunity for children from … Continue reading →

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Right-to-work laws and state economic development strategies

Posted on December 11, 2012 by timbartik

A high-profile issue right now, especially in Michigan, is the effects of state right-to-work laws on state economic development. As an economic development strategy, the adoption of a state right-to-work law is an uncertain and risky strategy, as I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Business incentives, Early childhood programs, Economic development | Comments Off on Right-to-work laws and state economic development strategies

The secret of political success for pre-K programs

Posted on December 5, 2012 by timbartik

Sharon Lerner has an outstanding article in The American Prospect on universal pre-K in Oklahoma. She highlights how Oklahoma has succeeded in providing both access for all and high-quality pre-K services. Ms. Lerner also provides a valuable brief history of … Continue reading →

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All business incentives are not created equal

Posted on December 4, 2012 by timbartik

Kenneth Thomas has a useful blog post pointing out that the New York Times database on business incentives, which accompanies Louise Story’s series, includes sales tax exemptions for business purchases of goods and services. Thomas’s figures, which are consistent with … Continue reading →

Posted in Business incentives, Economic development, Incentive design issues | 2 Comments

Film production incentives as economic development policy: why are they problematic?

Posted on December 4, 2012 by timbartik

Louise Story’s series in the New York Times on state and local business incentives concludes with an article (December 4, 2012) on film subsidies, highlighting Michigan’s experience. Why are film production incentives so problematic as economic development policy? I wrote … Continue reading →

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