RALPH KINGSBURY
RALPH KINGSBURY: Good news continues, but keep fingers crossed 
North Dakotans soon will have a chance to find out what kind of people we really are. We are in an unprecedented positive economy that is not of our own making. This is happening, unlike the situation in Grand Forks in 1997, when the federal government is approaching economic disaster that is entirely of its own making.
By Ralph Kingsbury , July 01, 2011
Should we eliminate property taxes in North Dakota? You bet
What a mess our Minnesota neighbors are in — not just on the state level, but also because of a substantial program called Local Government Aid, which affects the county and local levels. Government units are significantly short of money all the way from the governor’s office to the local dog catcher.
By Ralph Kingsbury , June 17, 2011
RALPH KINGSBURY: Getting education right makes a difference
Cost at center of discussion in North DakotaHigher education is an important subject to this state. It is important because it costs a lot for the taxpayers and it costs a lot for the students.
By Ralph Kingsbury , June 03, 2011
RALPH KINGSBURY: GF is at equilibrium — not too hot, and not too cold
In my columns, I’ve explained many times the difference in the economies around North Dakota. I’ve written about the dramatic growth of North Dakota cities such as Minot, Williston and Dickinson, as well as the Oil Patch in general and provided statistics that showed and explained that growth. I have also explained what the statistics meant to growth in Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks.
By Ralph Kingsbury , May 06, 2011
RALPH KINGSBURY: N.D. has what nation, world need
This month, readers again will find some different tables. The North Dakota Legislature is close to making final decisions on the state budget, and I want to continue to present tables that may help readers consider comments they want to make to their elected officials.
By Ralph Kingsbury , April 01, 2011
RALPH KINGSBURY: Increase reign of free market in agriculture
“Let them eat cake.”
Marie Antoinette lost her head for saying that. I will take a chance that today, people are more reasonable than the French were at the end of the 18th century.
By Ralph Kingsbury , March 18, 2011
Time to end N.D.’s sales tax rebates
As the North Dakota Legislature moves beyond crossover and we enter the final stage of the session, I tried to anticipate some things that readers might want to know if they were to contact their legislators. So, for this month, I have made some changes in the statistics I am presenting.
By Ralph Kingsbury , March 04, 2011
North Dakota taxes oil at confiscatory levels
Get your hands off my oil. That was my reaction when I read about a bill introduced into the North Dakota Legislature that would give 8 percent of the oil royalty payments from a pool to the surface property owners.
By Ralph Kingsbury , February 18, 2011
In GF, ‘we have to make our own oil’
And so it continues in North Dakota. The industrial areas across the state look like the rest of the industrial areas of the U.S.
By Ralph Kingsbury , February 04, 2011
RALPH KINGSBURY: End of an aging era: N.D. getting younger, not older
In the past decade, the population of North Dakota increased by 4.7 percent to 672,591 people, the Census Bureau declared. That’s coupled with the Job Service’s announcement that the number of jobs in North Dakota increased by about 38,000 over the decade.
By Ralph Kingsbury , January 14, 2011
Lingering ‘slows’ dog GF’s economy
The year is over. Because deadlines vary among the different reports, some of the data this month can be considered year-end data. In other cases, we will have to wait until next month to see the actual year-end reports.
By Ralph Kingsbury , December 31, 2010
RALPH KINGSBURY: Even in N.D., budget challenges remain
The North Dakota Legislature and the governor should have an easy time in the upcoming session. The most recent data we have show that revenue through October is almost 1 percent better than projected in May 2009.
December 17, 2010
RALPH KINGSBURY: Mild news is good news in this day and age
This month, I have made some changes in the way this column presents statistics.
There are a couple of reasons for this.
By Ralph Kingsbury , December 03, 2010
RALPH KINGSBURY: Even N.D. voters prove to be skittish about the economy
“Highway 90, the jobs are gone,” is a lyric in the great country song “Gulf Coast Highway.”
It is a lament on the disappearing middle-class jobs along the Gulf of Mexico, but it sings to our country’s disappearing middle class in general.
Even in North Dakota, with the state’s huge budget surplus and oil play, it is what this election was about.
By Ralph Kingsbury , November 19, 2010
RALPH KINGSBURY: The best little place on Earth
After reviewing the statistics for this month, I am going to say, “Better North Dakota than any other place in the world. And better Grand Forks than any other place in North Dakota.”
By Ralph Kingsbury , November 05, 2010
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